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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201800159 Correspondence 2018-11-06H Margaret Maliszewski From: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Sent: Friday, December 07, 2018 2:14 PM To: Margaret Maliszewski Subject: Re: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing Hi Margaret, Thanks for the reminder about the ARB application form! I get them into the Intake desk this afternoon. Thanks, Sherri Sherri R. Tracinski, Architect PO Box 8 Trevilians, VA 23170 srt_tracinski.com ph: 540-967-5653 cell: 540-223-1949 On Dec 7, 2018, at 2:05 PM, Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> wrote: Sherri, I appreciate the digital copy, but Intake still needs the hard copies at this point in time. Please don't forget the application form. Thanks. Margaret From: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Sent: Friday, December 07, 2018 1:50 PM To: Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> Subject: Re: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing Hi Margaret, I'll be printing the official two copies of all the paperwork and handing it in later today at the front desk, but I'm attaching the files here as well in hopes that this might speed things up a bit. Let me know if these electronic files will suffice and I'll save the paper and ink. Many Thanks, Sherri Margaret Maliszewski From: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2018 10:01 AM To: Margaret Maliszewski Subject: Re: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing Hi Margaret, Sorry I wasn't available when I said I was going to be yesterday. My 2pm meeting that was supposed to happen in cville, ended up being held (last minute) out in a hollow in Keswick where I get little to no cell service. Your phone message and this email show me that we seem to be on the same page. Thanks, I really didn't want to make things more murky. But would there be a good time for us to chat today? I'd like to make sure that what we're thinking of for the fencing is something that would be acceptable. All the previous ARB documents stress a black picket style fence. I'd just like to get your take on what sorts of things the ARB likes and dislikes for visible fencing along the EC. I'm here working at my desk the rest of today-540-967-5653. Many Thanks, Sherri Sherri R. Tracinski, Architect PO Box 8 Trevilians, VA 23170 srt(a)-tracinski.com ph: 540-967-5653 cell: 540-223-1949 On Dec 4, 2018, at 3:35 PM, Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.ore> wrote: Sherri, Here's what I'm thinking: You've found that the 2014 site plan does show the fence (at least in part). We're just not sure how/when it was approved. The 2014 plan does not include a detail illustrating the design of the fence in question. If the fence location is not moving, then an amendment to the site plan isn't needed. To ensure an appropriate appearance for the EC, we need to document the full fence location and the proposed design. We can do this in an ARB application for a Countywide Certificate of Appropriateness for fencing. (Checklist, application) This would be a staff level review with no fee required. We can copy this information to both site plan files. Does this approach make sense based on your research? Margaret From: Sherri Tracinski <srt tracinski.com> Sent: Monday, December 03, 2018 7:51 PM To: Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> Subject: Re: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing Hi Margaret, Thanks so much. I've got a bunch of meetings/appointments tomorrow, but I should be available by cellphone around 11am tomorrow, and again around 3:15-3:30 tomorrow. Otherwise, I'm more ch more available on Wednesday at my office line: 540-967-5653. Thanks, Sherri Sherri R. Tracinski, Architect PO Box 8 Trevilians, VA 23170 540-967-5653 Cell: 540-223-1949 Sent from my iPad On Dec 3, 2018, at 12:43 PM, Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.ore> wrote: Sherri, I'm headed to an ARB meeting that will take up much of the afternoon. Let me see if I can find the site plan you are referencing and I'll give you a call — hopefully tomorrow. Margaret From: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Sent: Monday, December 03, 2018 12:32 PM To: Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.ore> Subject: Re: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing Hi Margaret, I've been doing research about how it came to be that Mountaintop Montessori has a fence along 250 that is not on the approved plans. Could you please call me when you've got a moment —I just want to make sure we're not making things more murky with the new critter fencing project. It seems to me that doing a Minor Amendment to the SDP-2008-98 set of plans might not be the most correct way to go about it. As much as I think this might make things more difficult on our end, I really want to make sure we're following the correct procedure. Here's what I've found: I've read through some (maybe all?) of the documentation relating to Mountaintop's zoning violation regarding the chain link fencing and the wood privacy fencing. Much of this dates to 2007. The June 2008 Phase I —Final Site Development Plan shows the removal of the safety fence on Drawing "Demolition Plan 02". These documents also show a proposed fence located around the new Upper & Lower Elementary building, but in later documents this horizontal board fence was dropped. Aoft� Aft But the June 2014 (SDF2014-00032) set of plans titled Phase 1— al Site Development Plan, Minor Site Amendment states on Drawing "Demolition Plan 02" that "All existing fencing visible from the entrance corridor to be removed by September 1, 2009." This note corresponds with a July 2009 accounting payment of "replace 290' of wood/chain link fencing on property line along rte 250 per ARB." But in the same set of documents, on Drawing "04—Phase I Layout and Dimension Plan" the location of our existing rail fence around the garden and greenhouse IS indicated —it begins off the NW corner of the LE2 building, turns a 90 degree angle and heads toward the greenhouse. This fence location is also shown on all the remaining documents of this set. Granted, this set of drawings doesn't show the greenhouse, or the full length of that fence. This seems to indicate that somewhere between the demolition of the chain link/wooden privacy fence and this approved set of documents, our existing garden fence was located and approved by the County and ARB. I'm hesitant to proceed with a Minor Amendment to the 2008 documents regarding something that was approved (or had already been approved) by the 2014 documents. When you and I discussed this in November, I think you indicated that the fence location had not been approved and that we would need to do the Minor Amendment for the new fence to approve not only the fence design, but its location. But I think that what we really need is approval to replace the existing fence, itnits existing location, with a new fence that is intended to be invisible from the 250 EC. If everyone is okay with the idea that we are simply doing the Minor Amendment to the 2008 documents simply because it still has 1 remaining LOR, then I am fine going forward in this manner, though I'm concerned that this will cause further confusion of the documents by retroactively approving something. Margaret, do you see what I mean? Please call so that we can discuss this. Many Thanks, Sherri Sherri R. Tracinski, Architect PO Box 8 Trevilians, VA 23170 srtta' -tracinski.com ph: 540-967-5653 cell: 540-223-1949 On Nov 7, 2018, at 4:34 PM, Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> wrote: Sherri, Here is the link to the Letter of Revision application. (Here is the link to the Minor Amendment application.) I've searched the approved plans in our development tracking system. Here is the link to the documents associated with SDP-2008-98. This plan has 2 approved LORs and it shows the LE2 Building and the greenhouse (the location of the fencing in question). The later minor amendment, SDP-2014-32, has 3 LORs (the max allowed) and does not show the greenhouse. Consequently, SDP-2008-98 is the one to amend. This amendment will be the 3Id and final LOR for 08-98. I'm copying Megan because she will distribute the LOR for review once it is received. Megan, this is to add/revise fencing at the Mountaintop Montessori school. Sherri, if you have questions, just let me know. Thanks. Margaret From: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2018 9:46 AM To: Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> Subject: Re: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing Hi Margaret, 4pm today should work fine. I may still be at the school at that time, so try me on my cellphone first. Thanks so much, Sherri Sherri R. Tracinski, Architect PO Box 8 Trevilians, VA 23170 540-967-5653 Cell: 540-223-1949 Sent from my iPad On Nov 7, 2018, at 9:27 AM, Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> wrote: Sherri, Are you available at 4:00 today or anytime between 2:00 and 5:00 tomorrow to talk on the phone? Margaret From: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2018 12:32 PM To: Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> Subject: Re: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing Hi Margaret, Thanks for getting back to me. Tomorrow or Thursday is fine with me. I've got a pretty full schedule of meetings this week, so if you want to chat on the phone, let me know and we can schedule a time. Mountaintop's winter holiday break is the last week of December and the first week of January. I'm not sure that they intend to do all the work then, but winter is the time that the kids are out of the garden. Thanks, Sherri Sherri R. Tracinski, Architect PO Box 8 Trevilians, VA 23170 srt(a-tracinski.com ph: 540-967-5653 cell: 540-223-1949 On Nov 6, 2018, at 10:58 AM, Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> wrote: Good morning, Sherri. Thanks for your message. I have a deadline I need to meet before I can focus on your question. I hope to bet back to you tomorrow or Thursday. In the meantime, can you tell me your winter holiday dates? 5 ® Thanks. Margaret From: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2018 10:05 AM To: Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.org> Subject: Re: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing Hi Margaret, I wanted to update you on developments of the critter fencing around Mountaintop's Garden. Mountaintop is looking to get this critter fencing rebuilt this December. As we've talked to fencing experts, we discovered that attempting to attach critter fencing to the existing rail fencing along 250, we're just creating a situation that looks unkempt and functions poorly. We are now looking at a proper deer/critter fencing that will entirely replace the existing rail fence. We wanted this fence to be as invisible from 250 and from within the campus as it could be. Here's is what we are now looking at doing: We want to replace the existing rail fence. Now that we get a really close look at that fence, it is in pretty rough condition and is hardly salvageable. We'd like to replace it with a tall deer fence made from widely spaced (between 8'-10' between posts) cedar posts that would blend in to the tree line and just look like more tree trunks. Between the posts, we would install welded wire hardware cloth (see link in previous email) with openings about 1.5" x 3" from ground level to the top of the posts-8' high. And as we talked about before, we would also be doing the smaller -spaced hardware cloth on the lower 18" of the fence, with another foot of the fence buried beneath the ground to keep out those pesky groundhogs. While this would be a much taller fence than the existing rail fence, it would be more invisible from 250: the unfinished cedar posts we plan on using will blend right in with the existing tree trunks and the mesh of the wire hardware cloth couldn't be seen from 250. 1 know you might be thinking that this might look like a chain link fence —I hate those as much, or more, than you do! The diameter of the hardware cloth wires is about five times smaller than the wires of a chain link fence. From several feet away, this hardware cloth is barely noticeable, making it invisible through the trees. Now that we have a team set to do the fencing over the winter holiday break when the children are off campus, we are excited about finally keeping the groundhogs out of the children's garden. We are getting concerned about how tame these creatures are getting around the children —they no longer stay away during daylight hours. The school is getting pretty concerned about a potential run-in between a child and a groundhog. We love nature at this school, but not that much! Anyway, I know this is a change from what we've discussed before, so please let me know how you want me to proceed. Do you want me to get a building permit first, or make a proposal to the ARB first? Kind Regards, Sherri Mountaintop Montessori, Building & Grounds Committee Chair Sherri R. Tracinski, Architect PO Box 8 Trevilians, VA 23170 srt@tracinski.com ph: 540-967-5653 cell: 540-223-1949 7 On Apr 27, 2018, at 8:44 AM, Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albemarle.ore> wrote: Thanks for the additional information, Sherri. I am waiting for comments from Zoning on the road/SP issue. I will send a reminder today and get back to you as soon as possible. Margaret From: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 3:53 PM To: Margaret Maliszewski <MMaliszewski@albem arle.or > Cc: Sherri Tracinski <srt@tracinski.com> Subject: Mountaintop Montessori Fencing and SUP question Hi Margaret, Thanks for meeting with me the other week about Mountaintop Montessori's Master Plan. As promised, I'm sending you links to the types of 8 materials we are thinking of attaching to our existing 250 fencing to keep the critters out of the garden. On our internal garden fence, we are looking at poly deer fencing like this: http://www.invis ible-deer- fence.com/12roducts/ro lls/polypropylene/flat- strand/heavy-duty= reinforced.htmAnd for the outside of the fence, we are looking to bury a section of welded wire hardware cloth to keep the groundhogs out of the garden, like this: http://www.mcni chols.com/products/w ire-mesh/s uare- opening- 2?navCode=avc:AV- 82487 The buried fencing needs to be on the outside of the fence so that burrowing rabbits and groundhogs run into the fence, rather than being able to burrow underneath the wire cloth. Apparently, the veggies the children plant are pretty tasty looking! Neither fencing would be visible from 250, and frankly, both would be nearly invisible from several feet away. Our main reason for needing this fencing is the numerous groundhogs that live on the � 4 hillside facing 250. There are regulations that prohibit us from humanely trapping and relocating the groundhogs and no one at the school has any interest in taking any more drastic measures. We are hoping that by installing this enclosure, we can make sure that all the work the children put into planning and planting the gardens, will actually end up on their lunch plates in our Garden to Table program. Otherwise, we might have to rename that program the Garden to Groundhog program. Also, you were checking into our SUP regarding the roadway that links the two parts of our campus. I knew that it was on our Master Plan, but was unaware that the roadway and the amphitheater construction were tied to our Special Use Permit. The roadway has not yet been built mainly because the school was financially unable to do so at the same time as the new classroom building was constructed. And the current amphitheater design is being reconsidered because we feel that it 10 disrupts the landscape too much and would require cutting down too many beloved trees. Redesigning the amphitheater in a way that more naturally fits with the current grading is one of our current major goals. The roadway is also a very important link between our campuses, but the school is not financially ready to undertake its construction before this October. Please let me know what you've found out about the roadway and amphitheater and how that affects our Special Use Permit. Many Thanks, Sherri Sherri R. Tracinski, Architect PO Box 8 Trevilians, VA 23170 srt(a)-tracinski.com ph: 540-967-5653 cell: 540-223-1949 11