Subject:
Title
Recommendations to Board of Zoning Appeals on request to amend an existing Conditional Use Permit, and to Town Council on request for modifications of site plan requirements, for Green Hedges School, located at 415 Windover Ave NW, in the RS-12.5 Zoning District.
...Body
This item is a continuation of the discussions from January 14, 2026, and January 28, 2026, regarding two applications from the Green Hedges School to 1) amend an existing Conditional Use Permit (CUP), and 2) request modifications of site plan requirements.
At the January 28, 2026 meeting, the Planning Commission heard an updated presentation from the applicant, asked clarifying questions of staff, and discussed issues related to enrollment, noise mitigation, buffering, and site operations. The Commission did not reach consensus at that time and agreed to continue the discussion to the February 11, 2026, meeting to allow staff, in coordination with and independent of, the applicant, to develop draft conditions and options reflecting the issues raised.
Attachment 1, the Staff Report Addendum for February 11, 2026, summarizes new information and includes a list of materials submitted since the January 28 meeting as well as the additional attachments to this report.
Background materials, staff reports, presentations, and public comments from the January 14 and January 28, 2026 meetings remain part of the public record and are available through the Town’s meeting agenda links for those dates.
• January 14: <https://vienna-va.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7799671&GUID=6AB0636A-D48D-47C0-B49A-2CB8B955CD42&Options=&Search=>
• January 28: <https://vienna-va.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7858444&GUID=D6302F99-C47A-4AC4-BB95-E96C5BB3708D&Options=&Search=>
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
1) Modifications of Requirements (Recommendation to Town Council)
Option A - Recommend Approval
“I move to recommend approval to the Town Council for the modification of requirements to lot coverage, frontage improvements, parking and loading standards, landscaping, buffering, bicycle parking, and duration of valid permit for Green Hedges School, located at 415 Windover Ave NW, in the RS-12.5 zoning district, described as tax map 0383 21 0008A, as proposed by the applicant in the revised letter dated February 6, 2026.”
OR
Option B - Recommend Approval (all or selected modifications) with conditions
“I move to recommend approval to the Town Council for the following modification of requirements: ___, ____, ___, etc. (lot coverage, frontage improvements, parking and loading standards, landscaping, buffering, bicycle parking, and duration of valid permit); and to recommend denial to the Town Council for the following modification of requirements: ____, ____, ____, etc., for Green Hedges School, located at 415 Windover Ave NW, in the RS-12.5 zoning district, described as tax map 0383 21 0008A, as proposed by the applicant in the revised letter dated February 6, 2026, with the following conditions:”
1. The School shall install sound isolation fence membrane adjacent to the playground prior to commencing construction for the first phase of development.
2. Prior to issuance of an Occupancy Permit for the gym/multipurpose room, the School shall demonstrate that the buffers approved have been installed.
3. All canopy, understory and shrub species proposed to be planted in the buffers must be species appropriate for the anticipated post development conditions of aspect, exposure (light/shade), hydrological conditions, and contained within the area allotted for vegetative buffer. A landscape buffer maintenance plan shall be provided to demonstrate the ability of the School to provide consistent buffer functions as vegetation matures and replacement of materials due to neglect, injury, age, pest, and disease. Understory trees and shrubs should primarily be composed of species with flat-scale and broadleaf type evergreen foliage (e.g. ilex, juniperus, thuja, etc. species). Understory and shrub species with uniform foliage density throughout their mature height should be prioritized to provide consistent screening functions. Spacing and location of all buffer materials shall be such that competition for resources shall be mitigated to the greatest extent possible while providing for uniform development of buffer vegetation within the approved buffer areas.
4. Should a demonstrated need arise, the School will provide secure indoor bike storage without necessitating amendment of the site plan or CUP.
5. If Phase 2 is not constructed within 6 years, the deferred buffer plantings will be installed to meet Town regulations.
6. {Plus any other conditions recommended by the Planning Commission}
OR
Option C - Recommend Denial
“I move to recommend denial to the Town Council for the modification of requirements to lot coverage, frontage improvements, parking and loading standards, landscaping, buffering, bicycle parking, and duration of valid permit for Green Hedges School, located at 415 Windover Ave NW, in the RS-12.5 zoning district, described as tax map 0383 21 0008A, as proposed by the applicant in the revised letter dated February 6, 2026.”
OR
Other action deemed necessary by the Planning Commission.
2) Conditional Use Permit (Recommendation to the BZA)
Option A - Recommend Approval
"I move to recommend approval of the amendment of the conditional use permit to the Board of Zoning Appeals for Green Hedges School, located at 415 Windover Ave NW, in the RS-12.5 zoning district, described as tax map 0383 21 0008A as proposed by the applicant’s CUP conditions dated 02.06.26 and related plans and supplemental attachments.”
OR
Option B - Recommend Approval with Additional/Amended Conditions
"I move to recommend approval of the amendment of the conditional use permit to the Board of Zoning Appeals for Green Hedges School, located at 415 Windover Ave NW, in the RS-12.5 zoning district, described as tax map 0383 21 0008A, as proposed by the applicant’s CUP conditions dated 02.06.26 and related plans and supplemental attachments, revised as follows ___, ____, etc.”
(Add any conditions the Planning Commissioners wish to include).
OR
Option C - Recommend Denial
"I move to recommend denial of the amendment of the conditional use permit to the Board of Zoning Appeals for Green Hedges School, located at 415 Windover Ave NW, in the RS-12.5 zoning district, described as tax map 0383 21 0008A”
OR
Other action deemed necessary by the Planning Commission.