HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA198900008 Action Letter 1989-02-15 ALA.,ir c ek
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COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Zoning
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596
(804) 296-5875
February 15, 1989
VMDO Architects
Gwyn Gilliam-Turner
116 2nd Street, N.E.
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Re: Board of Zoning Appeals Action
VA-89-8, Tax Map 78, Parcel 17F2
Dear Ms. Gilliam-Turner:
This letter is to inform you that on February 14, 1989, during
the regular meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning
Appeals, your application for VA-89-8 was approved with the
following conditions:
1. that the freestanding business sign not exceed thirty (30)
square feet in area and thirteen (13) feet in height.
2 . that no other freestanding business signs be erected on
the property, and
3 . that at such time as the sign must be relocated due to
expansion of the state right-of-way, the applicant agrees to
be responsible for the cost of said relocation.
This variance approval allows relief from Section 21. 7 . 1 of the
Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to reduce the setback for a
freestanding business sign from the required thirty (30) feet to
ten (10) feet.
If you have any questions, please contact our office.
Sincerely,
Charles W. Burgess, Jr.
Zoning Administrator
CWBJr/st
cc: VA-89-8
Inspections Department
STAFF REPORT - VA-89-8
OWNER: The Clean Machine, Inc.
TAX MAP/PARCEL: 78/17F2
ZONING: Highway Commercial (HC)
ACREAGE: 1 Acre
LOCATION: Southeast corner of Route 250 and
South Pantops Drive
The applicant seeks a variance from Section 21.7.1 of the Albemarle County
Zoning Ordinance, which states:
"21.7 MINIMUM YARD REQUIREMENTS
21.7. 1 Adjacent to public streets: No portion of any structure
except signs advertising sale or rental of the property
shall be erected closer than thirty (30) feet to any public
street right-of-way."
The applicant at present has a freestanding business sign erected on the
property in compliance with the required thirty (30) foot setback. The
applicant states, however, that the sign does not provide good visual access
to motorists and seeks a reduction of the setback of the sign to ten (10)
feet. The existing sign is located on the north east corner of the property
and is not visible to west bound motorists on Route 250 due to the grade
difference between the applicant's property and the adjacent property (Moore's
Building Supply). The proposed location of the sign would be at the northwest
corner of the property. The existing freestanding sign has a sign area of
thirty (30) square feet and has a total height above grade of thirteen
(13) feet.
It should be noted that at such time as the Route 250 right-of-way is expanded,
the preliminary plans for such improvement indicate that the proposed sign
location will become part of the right-of-way, thereby requiring relocation
of the sign. The applicant's agent has been advised of this possibility.
RECOMMENDATION
The staff recommends that the applicant's request be approved for cause:
1) The applicant has tried to erect a sign in compliance with the setback
requirements but due to the difference in topography between the applicant' s
property and the adjacent property, the sign is not readily visible
to motorists.
2) The applicant's hardship is not generally shared by other properties
in the general vicinity.
VA-89-8
The Clean Machine, Inc.
Page Two
3) The granting of the variance will not be of substantial detriment to
the adjacent properties, nor will the character of the district be altered.
4) That the variance be approved subject to the following:
a) That the freestanding business sign not exceed thirty (30) square
feet in area and thirteen (13) feet in height.
b) That no other freestanding business signs be erected on the property.
c) That at such time as the sign must be relocated due to the expansion
of the state right-of-way, the applicant agrees to be responsible
for the cost of said relocation.