HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP200600117 Review Comments Letter of Revision 2 2019-03-05'AL
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County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road,
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Memorandum
To:
Brian Midock
From:
Andy Reitelbach, Senior Planner
Division:
Planning
Date:
March 5, 2019
Subject: LOR#2 — SDP200600117 Birchwood Place — Final; 2°d Review
The County of Albemarle Planning Division will grant or recommend approval of the Letter of
Revision referenced above once the following comments have been addressed. Code numbers
included below refer to Chapter 18, the Zoning Ordinance, of the Albemarle County Code unless
otherwise specified.
1. [Application Form] Provide a request letter from the owner or authorized agent
describing the proposed changes. Comment addressed.
2. [Application Form] Show the proposed changes on the previously -approved landscape
plan (sheet 16 of SDP2006-00117), so that the revisions can be reviewed against what is
currently required by the existing site plan. Indicate on the revised landscape plan
what is proposed to be added, what is proposed to be removed, and what is
proposed to be shifted in location from the original plan approved in 2007, so that
these elements can be distinguished from what is proposed to remain unchanged.
In addition to the stated changes. it also auuears that the monument sign and
adiacent nandinas are changing locations from the 2006 plan, and there are
serviceberries shown on the original plan which are not shown on the revised plan,
along the street frontage in the general area of the monument sign. These changes
also need to be identified on the plan.
3. [General Comment] As this property is in the Entrance Corridor Overlay District,
complete and submit a separate application for the Architectural Review Board (ARB),
including any applicable fees, so that this proposal can be given an ARB case file number
and be reviewed in accordance with ARB requirements. For more information, please
contact Heather McMahon, senior planner for the ARB, at hmcmahonkalbemarle.org.
ARB application received. File number ARB201900020. Heather McMahon is the
lead reviewer of the ARB application, and all future questions about the ARB
application should be directed to her.
4. [32.7.9.5; 32.7.9.6; 32.7.9.81 Landscaping Along Streets; Landscaping within a
Parking Area; Tree Canopy Revise both the landscaping plant schedule and the
landscaping calculations from the original landscape plan (sheet 16) in SDP2006-00117
to reflect the proposed new landscaping. In revising the calculations, please ensure that
all requirements for street landscaping, parking lot landscaping, and canopy coverage
continue to be met. The plant schedule needs to be revised to state there are only 3
red maples, as opposed to 4, since the one near the ancillary structure is to be
removed.
In addition, with the removal of this red maple, it appears that the required
landscaping within a parking area of 5% [Section 32.7.9.6(a)] will be short one tree.
The approved site plan states that 43 trees are required for the project, and 43 are
proposed. Because there were no additional trees proposed over what was required,
the loss of this red maple must be offset with another tree located somewhere else on
the plan.
Please contact Andy Reitelbach in the Planning Division at areitelbachkalbemarle.org or 434-
296-5832 ext. 3261 for further information.
Comments from Other Reviewers:
Architectural Review Board (ARB) — Heather McMahon, hmcmahongalbemarle.org — Please
see the attached comments.
Review Comments for SDP200600117 Final — Non-residential — Adminis-
Project Name: Birchwood Place - Final
Date Completed: Friday, March 01, 2019 Departmenb'Division/Agency: Re►+iew Status:
Reviewer: Heather McMahon
rnn ARR Requested Changes
1 _ Note that your proposed shrub species Nandina domestics Firepower;' while an approved species listed in the
Albemarle County Recommended Plants List, is considered an invasive non-native species in the Southeastern United States
according to the Invasive Plant Atlas of the Unites States and other sources. The County is in the process of updating its
recommended and approved plants list; at which time staff will re-evaluate the appropriateness of listing this species. In the
interim; we highly encourage applicants to choose species that are native to the Piedmont region of Virginia. Please consider
selecting a locally native species in lieu of the chosen Nandina domestics Firepower_'
_ Note that the approved sign application (oA issued 1 / 4/19) for the proposed monument sign must be modified to
include the proposed landscaping shown on this site plan minor amendment.
3_ Also note that the proposed Nandina domestics Firepower' around the approved monument sign matures to a
height of 1-2 feet and that the landscape schedule provided states that the Nandina domestics Firepower' will be planted at a
height of 18-4 inches. The approved monument sign has a base with a height of 6_5 inches. If Nandina domestics Firepower'
are planted in front of the double -sided sign; they will grow to obscure the text at the bottom of the sign_ Please also note that
your landscape plan also includes the required note. which acts as a pledge: "All site plantings of trees and shrubs shall be
allowed to reach; and be maintained at; mature height: the topping of trees is prohibited_ Shrubs and trees shall be pruned
minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant_' Reconsider either the choice or placement of the proposed
Nandina domestics Firepower_' Low groundcover may be ideal for the 6. 5-inch-tall base of the monument sign; or consider
shrubbery placement to the sides of the sign rather than in front of the sign_ Also note that if shrubs are proposed around the
monument sign. as per Entrance Corridor Design Guidelines criterion #35; "shrubs should measure 24 inches in height::
when planted. Again; depending on the placement of such shrubs. this may obscure the bottom of the proposed monument
sign text.
4. This proposal includes the removal of one mature red sunset maple on the north side of the site. adjacent to the
proposed drive -through canopy_ This existing red maple must be drawn on the site plan in a manner that distinguishes it from
the existing vegetation to remain and from proposed (new) vegetation_ This can be achieved through lightening the line weight
to a grey value or through hatching or dash marks. Label this tree TBR ("to be removed::) and provide in the label the size of
the mature tree and its species.
5. Furthermore; change the quantity of red sunset maples in the "site plant list': (landscape schedule) from 4 to 3 to
reflect the number of red sunset maples to remain/being proposed_
6. Two matureAllee Chinese Elms in the interior of the site; abutting the building pad. and approximately -4 Foster
hollies on the north end of the site; adjacent to the proposed drive -through canopy; may be adversely affected by the
construction of the building and the ancillary structure_ Adequate tree protection fencing should be shown on the site plan.
Additionally; areas designated for preservation in the final Certificate of Appropriateness should be clearly delineated and
protected on the site prior to any activity on the site_ This protection should remain in place until completion of the
development of the site_ Preservation areas should be protected from storage or movement of heavy equipment within this
area. See Entrance Corridor Design Guidelines criteria #41-43_