Planning Commission looks at school, park, pharmacy

Along with taking up a rezoning for a proposed Walgreens in southern Stafford, the Planning Commission will look at conditional use permits that would affect Stafford High School and Chichester Park. (Here’s the full agenda.)

The first concerns the height of the rebuild of Stafford High School, off Enon Road. The new school will be built on the 115 acre lot, next to where the existing building stands.

The maximum allowed height is 35 feet, so the School Board is asking the county for a conditional use permit to increase that. Built in 1975, the 287,836-square-foot building is over capacity, with 1,933 students.  The school complex has three parking areas, six playing fields and a driver’s education area. The existing height of the building is 38 feet.

The permit would allow for a 65-foot height on 4.2 acres of the lot. Plans for the new three-story building call for a total 274,561 square footage, located where the existing fields and tennis courts are located.

Also up for public hearing is a conditional use permit to allow lighting up to 80 feet at Chichester Park, 45 feet taller than currently allowed.

Located next to Stafford High School and bordering northbound Interstate 95, the 38 acre lot is undeveloped. The permit would apply to just 3 acres. Park plans include five diamond fields, picnic shelters, playground, 261 parking spots and a future 12,000 square foot building. Lights would not be used after 11 p.m. and would be directed only onto the fields.

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