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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA198700020 Action Letter 1987-04-16 .ov A1.(ji, C t, COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 April 16 , 1987 Alliaace Bible Church c/o Robert L. Damron , Trustee 1008 Blenheim Avenue Charlottesville , VA 22901 Re : Board of Zoning Appeals Action VA-87-20 , Tax Map 61 , Parcel 127 Dear Mr . Damron : This letter is to inform you that _on April 14 , 1987 , during the regular meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals , your application for VA-87-20 was ap- proved . This variance approval allows relief from Section 4 . 15 . 3 . 3 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to allow a 50 square foot wall sign to be erected . If you have any questions , please contact our office . Sincerely , e/,aide4 W. & cteid Charles W. Burgess Zoning Administrator CWB/st cc : VA-87-20 L STAFF REPORT - VA-87-20 OWNER: Alliance Bible Church TAX MAP/PARCEL : 61/127 ZONING : R-2 (Residential) ACREAGE : 4 . 894 acres LOCATION : East side of Rt . 631 at its intersection with Rt . 652 The applicant seeks a variance from Section 4 . 15 . 3 . 3 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance . Specifically , the applicant proposes to erect a fifty (50) square foot wall sign on the west side of the church building . Wall signs are not listed as a permitted sign in a R-2 District . The proposed sign would con- sist of individual letters and is to be illuminated by an ex- ternal light source . At present a non-conforming freestanding sign exists on the property . The existing sign identifies the Merridale School , a pre-school use which is also conducted on the premises . The applicant states that there is no need for additional signage on the property. The Zoning Ordinance does not provide for adequate signage for churches located in a R-2 District . The applicant ' s only alternative by right is to erect a two (2) square foot identi- cation sign on the property with a required setback of twenty- five (25) feet . The staff is of the opinion that this allowable signage is inadequate for identification of a church . Unfortu- nately, the staff cannot support the applicant ' s request in that the Zoning Ordinance through omission of wall signs in Section 4 . 15 . 3 . 3 has effectively prohibited such signs in the R-2 District . RECOMMENDATION The application should be denied for cause : 1) The applicant has not provided sufficient evidence to show that a strict application of the Zoning Ordinance would produce a demonstrable hardship approaching con- fiscation as distinguished from a special privilege or convenience . 2) The applicant has not demonstrated that the perceived hardship is unique to his property in contradistinction to other properties in the same zoning district and general vicinity . 3) The applicant has not provided evidence to demonstrate that the authorization of the variance will not be of substantial detriment to the adjacent properties or that the character of the district will not be altered .