§ 27-443. Private schools.

(a)

Private schools permitted (P) in the Table of Uses in accordance with this Section shall be limited to schools which offer a complete program of nursery school education accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education or a complete program of academic elementary (including kindergarten), junior high (middle), or senior high school education, and shall be subject to the following:

(1)

Requirements.

(A)

The school shall be located on property of at least five (5) acres, in size on which the maximum enrollment shall be four hundred (400) students, unless the school is located on property which was previously used as a public school by the Board of Education, in which case, the minimum acreage requirement shall be four and one-half (4 1/2) acres. For each acre over five (5), the total enrollment may be increased by one hundred (100) students. State and local health, education, or fire regulations may reduce the number of students permitted to be enrolled. The school may be located on a parcel of at least two and one-half (2 1/2) acres provided that:

(i)

The property had obtained an approved Special Exception use as an eleemosynary or philanthropic institution;

(ii)

The property abuts parkland owned by the Commission containing at least two and one-half (2 1/2) acres; and

(iii)

The maximum enrollment shall not exceed one hundred thirty (130) students.

(For the purposes of this Section, enrollment shall mean the total number of students enrolled in the institution at any one (1) time. If there are separate morning, afternoon, and evening sessions, each of which is attended by different students, enrollment shall mean the number of students enrolled in the session having the largest number of students.)

(B)

The property shall have frontage on, and direct vehicular access to, a street having a paved surface at least thirty-six (36) feet wide. This width shall not apply where the property is located in sparsely settled or farm areas, or where the Planning Board determines that adequate passenger debarkation areas are provided.

(C)

An outdoor playground or activity area shall be provided. It shall contain at least one hundred (100) square feet of usable space per student. The area shall be located at least twenty-five (25) feet from any dwelling on an adjoining lot and buffered from adjoining uses in accordance with the provisions of the Landscape Manual. The play area shall be enclosed by a substantial wall or fence at least three (3) feet high for grades six (6) and below, and at least five (5) feet high for other grades, with the following exception:

(i)

A private school which has been in continuous operation since January 1, 1970, may satisfy these fencing requirements by providing another type of barrier that is subject to approval by the State Department of Human Resources.

(D)

The requirements of this Section shall not apply to the use of existing public schools which have been conveyed by the Prince George's County Board of Education to either Prince George's County or any municipality within the County, provided the County or municipality:

(i)

Maintains ownership of the facility and operates a school in it; or

(ii)

Leases the facility for use as a private school, (of any type).

(2)

Site plans.

(A)

A Detailed Site Plan shall be approved for all private schools, in accordance with Part 3, Division 9, of this Subtitle.

(b)

A private college or university may be permitted in the R-R Zone and the R-A Zone, subject to the following:

(1)

General requirements.

(A)

The subject property shall contain at least three hundred (300) contiguous acres.

(B)

The property shall have frontage on, and direct vehicular access to, a street or streets with sufficient capacity to accommodate traffic generated by the campus.

(C)

All development and uses, including all building setbacks, shall be shown on a Detailed Site Plan approved by the Planning Board.

(D)

All parking and loading facilities needed for campus employees, students, visitors, and residents shall be located on the subject property. They shall be located at least:

(i)

One hundred fifty (150) feet from adjoining land zoned or used residentially or proposed to be used for residential purposes on an approved Basic Plan for a Comprehensive Design Zone, approved Official Plan for an R-P-C Zone, or approved Conceptual or Detailed Site Plan;

(ii)

Fifteen (15) feet from any adjoining street; and

(iii)

Ten (10) feet from any other land.

(E)

All perimeter setback areas on the site shall be buffered or screened in accordance with Landscape Manual requirements. The applicant shall demonstrate that the required buffer yards will provide reasonable sight and sound barriers.

(F)

At least forty percent (40%) of the net tract area of the site, or as revised by the District Council, shall be devoted to open space.

(G)

Regulations in the R-R Zone restricting location, height, coverage, density, frontage, and yards of buildings and structures shall not apply to a private college or university. The dimensions and percentages shown on the approved site plan shall constitute the development regulations.

(H)

Notwithstanding Section 27-118.01, more than one (1) building may be located on a lot containing a one-family dwelling.

(2)

Uses.

(A)

Only uses shown on an approved site plan or a revised and approved site plan are permitted. The campus must provide a harmonious, balanced mix of educational, residential, and limited commercial uses, which may not include a full-service gas station. All uses must serve educational purposes and be deemed consistent with a campus atmosphere.

(B)

Every campus shall contain a college or university facility at its core, development which may include the following uses:

(i)

Educational facilities, including professional offices, laboratories and testing facilities, clinical facilities, training centers, and accessory uses;

(ii)

Residential facilities for faculty, students, or employees;

(iii)

Day care centers for persons (children or adults) under the care of students, faculty, or employees;

(iv)

Retail commercial and service uses, including a hotel or conference center, consistent with the educational purposes of the campus, to serve residents, employees, students, and visitors. Business signs are not permitted, but identification signs to show the location of commercial, service, or other uses are permitted;

(v)

Recreational and social uses, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, athletic facilities, community centers, or assembly halls.

(3)

Site plans and submission requirements.

(A)

In addition to what is stated in Section 27-296(c) and in Part 3, Division 9, the site plan shall set forth the:

(i)

Use, character, and zoning classification of all adjoining properties;

(ii)

Existing and proposed right-of-way and paving widths of adjoining streets;

(iii)

Existing and proposed topography of the site, at contour intervals of two (2) feet or less;

(iv)

Existing and proposed drainage patterns;

(v)

Existing vegetation and other natural features;

(vi)

Provisions for erosion control, sediment control, and stormwater management.

(4)

Addition of land.

(A)

After approval of a Detailed Site Plan, each addition of contiguous land to the campus may be approved after review of an amended site plan. The amended site plan shall include all site plan information required for previously-approved uses and the same information for the proposed additional land.

(CB-1-1989; CB-135-1989; CB-76-1994; CB-94-2000; CB-16-2002)