HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP201800022 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2019-01-16County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
Memorandum
To: Mariah Gleason
From: Kevin McCollum, Planner and Amelia McCulley, Zoning Administrator
Division: Zoning
Date: 1 /16/2019
Subject: Initial Comments for Dogtopia Indoor Commercial Kennel Special Use Permit
(SP201800022) TMP 45-109
The following comments are provided as input from the Zoning Division regarding the above
Special Use Permit Application.
Proposal — SP for Commercial Kennel in a Highway Commercial Zoning District (Section
24.2.2 of the Zoning Ordinance)
a. Dogtopia proposes a commercial kennel use in the old Mattress Firm space in
the Rivanna Plaza shopping center. This space is part of "Building A' as shown
on the site plan (SDP-2008-90 "Rivanna Plaza Final"), approved January 14,
2010.
2. Required Parking
a. The approved site plan, mentioned above, establishes 153 parking spaces in the
Rivanna Plaza shopping center area. "Building A," where Dogtopia is proposed,
is classified as retail and shows the parking requirement as 5.5 spaces / 1000
gross square feet of building area.
b. Based on the architectural drawings provided, there is roughly 1,258 square feet
of gross floor area. The parking requirement for this amount of space would
therefore be 7 spaces.
c. In their submittal, Dogtopia suggests they will need up to 12 parking spaces for
their use. Because this is a larger parking demand than we had required during
the site plan, Dogtopia needs to get with the property owner to make sure there
are sufficient spaces available to them.
i. Because retail uses are approved through clearances for this shopping
center, if a proposed use requires more parking than what the site plan
Zoning Review Comments for Dogtopia SP-2018-22
appropriates for that amount of space and if it is approved then the site
will essentially use up all the available parking and won't be able to get
further clearances.
d. Will they be holding training classes? Training classes could cause parking
demands to be even higher than the proposed 12 needed and may cause further
issues with parking on site.
3. Outdoor Lighting (Section 4.17)
a. The proposal states that the outdoor lighting for the dog play area will follow
General Regulations Section 4.17 for Outdoor Lighting
4. Supplementary Regulations — See Section 5.1.11 Commercial Kennel, Veterinary
Service, Office or Hospital, Animal Hospital, Animal Shelter
a. All of the supplementary regulations in 5.1.11 appear to be met.
5. Concept Plan
a. The concept plan shows the location of the outdoor play area. Additionally, an
LOR has been submitted (during the ARB meeting on 1/7/2019 they said an LOR
was submitted) to show the location of the fenced area, the exterior lighting, and
landscaping intended as screening.
b. The conceptual sketch also shows grading information.
6. Additional Zoning Info
a. The addition of a commercial kennel use to the site will not cause issue with the
proffers associated with ZMA-1995-7, approved November 14, 1995.
i. http://www.albemarle.org/weblink/search.aspx?dbid=3&searchcommand=
%7b%5bCDD-
Planning%5d:%5bApplicationNumber%5d=%22ZMA199500007%22%7d
b. There are no pending zoning or building violations associated with the property.
7. Potential Issues
a. Sound
i. Dogtopia says that the interior walls will be soundproofed to limit impact
on adjacent business.
ii. Dogs will have certain outdoor play hours, between 10:00am-11:30am
and 3:OOpm-4:OOpm
b. Because this property is surrounded by commercial uses we would like Dogtopia
to submit a certified engineers report for sound. Section 4.18 outlines
performance standards for commercial zoning. An engineer's report can confirm
that the maximum of 60 decibels can be achieved.
8. Possible Conditions
a. We would like to draft a condition for the outdoor play hours. Suggested
conditions: Dogs can be outside no earlier than 8am and no later than 7pm.