Title
Use Permit Application by Terry Riddick to Operate a Private Club/Lodge at 20 W Mercury Boulevard [LRSN 8001841]
Purpose
Background Statement:
This use permit application is a request to operate a private club/lodge within an existing commercial building, located at 20 W. Mercury Boulevard [LRSN 8001841]. The proposed hours of operation provided by the applicant are: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, daily, for main office hours and youth programs and activities; and 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM, Friday, and 1:00 PM to 11:30 PM, Saturday, for fundraising events/activities.
The proposed private club/lodge would be for the daily operation and events of “Best Kept Secret - Stop the Violence,” a fundraising and charity organization whose intent is to advocate for and provide resources to at risk youth of the city. Their stated mission is to keep youth focused on education and to help them make right decisions, encouraging them to choose better alternatives. This organization has been run by the applicant, Terry Riddick, and his family since 2005 with the help of short-term donations, long-term funding, and volunteer time. Daily activities of the facility include mentoring and counseling young people as well accepting donations and distributing resources. In addition, the applicant intends to host fundraising events, primarily on the weekends. Such events include Christmas toy drive and giveaway, charity donation drives, and fundraising dinners. Although a typical charitable organization would be categorized as an office land use, this variety of events, including dinners and late evening functions, hosted on-site by the organization are what makes its function more similar to the private club/lodge land use.
The Hampton Community Plan (2006, as amended) recommends commercial land use for this site and the immediate surrounding area. The Plan sets out a vision that “Hampton will thrive as a diverse community which celebrates, supports, and encourages positive people t...
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