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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA198900014 Action Letter 1989-04-12 � OF Al.g�ti 1 rRGI^��°' COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 April 12 , 1989 William L. Schwab 118 Chestnut Ridge Road Charlottesville, VA 22901 Re: Board of Zoning Appeals Action VA-89-14 , Tax Map 62B3 , Parcel L4 Dear Mr. Schwab: This letter is to inform you that on April 11, 1989 , during the regular meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, your application for VA-89-14 was denied. Anyone aggrieved by a decision made by the Board can appeal the decision to the Circuit Court of Albemarle County within thirty (30) days of the decision. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Sincerely, i' /,GJ 'C..-f.,G.l-- e L-Cam( Lt-�. '" Andrew D. Evans Deputy Zoning Administrator ADE/st cc: VA-89-14 STAFF REPORT - VA-89-14 APPLICANT: William L. Schwab TAX MAP/PARCEL: 62B(3)/OL-4 ZONING: RA (Rural Areas) LOCATION: Located on the east side of Chestnut Ridge Road about . 1 mile north of its intersection with Wildflower Drive, in Key West Subdivision The applicant is requesting relief from Section 6. 5. 1 of the County Zoning Ordinance, which states: "6. 5 NONCONFORMING LOTS (Amended 9-21-88) 6. 5. 1 Any lot of record at the time of the adoption of this ordinance which is less in area and/or width than the minimum required by this ordinance may be used in a manner consistent with the uses permitted for a lot having the minimum area and/or width so required; provided that the rear, side and front yard and setback requirements of this ordinance shall be maintained; and provided further that no such use shall be permitted which is determined by the zoning administrator to constitute a danger to the public health, safety and general welfare. " The applicant wishes to construct a garage and requests relief from the required fifty (50) foot building setback line, to allow the location of the structure to be setback eleven (11) feet, a variance of thirty-nine (39) feet. (Previous Zoning RSI - Residential, required a fifty (50) foot front setback. ) The property is lot 4 located in the Key West Subdivision on Chestnut Ridge Road. A new residence has just recently been completed and ready for occupancy. A proposed buyer desires to construct a double car garage, but would give the appearance of a single car garage with a singular wide door access. Topography of the lot is such that the placement of the garage must be located closer to the front property line to avoid both the extreme slope of the area, plus the requirement of adding additional earthen fill to provide access to the entry side of the garage. The staff sees the practical difficulties that the location of the garage at a required fifty foot setback would entail, but it must consider the fact that a variance must be in harmony with the intended spirit and purpose of the ordinance. The staff would offer the following as comments to the application: A) The strict application of the ordinance would not produce undue hardship because the lot already accommodates a residence approved and ready for occupany. Use of the lot has not been restrictive in respect to location of a structure. Staff Report - VA-89-14 Page 2 B) Other properties in the same subdivision have similar topography. Not all residences within the subdivision have garages or carports, and such structures are accessory to the main structure or residence. You can not speak to specifics because other requests have not been made to establish any sort of data to the effect. (Some setback variances have been granted for residential structures and storage buildings within the same vicinity or subdivision. ) C) Whether are not by the granting of the variance a substantial detriment to the adjacent property occurs or that the character of the district will not be changed, is a judgement call. In the ordinance as written it promotes the discourage- ment of development on slopes of less than 25%, and septic system locations on less than 20% grades. The proposed structure is a garage, which increases stormwater runoff which does effect downhill and downstream properties. Again, as one structure it is a small request, but added to a number of others, it may become a situation of another volume of concern. The staff gives the aforegoing information to the Board of Zoning Appeals for their consideration.