HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA198900015 Application 1989-03-03 i
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`� 7. FILE NUMBER
APPLICATION FOR: _L (,I 9� 3 \ 9
(check one) `IIN ,C, \ �
lIANCE C) w, �� DATE SUBMITTED
❑ S• PECIAL USE PERMIT ?`
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❑ REZONING '"P FEE PAID (see reverse)
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❑ ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT IRGI14
❑ MOBILE HOME DATE OF PRELIM CONF.
❑ H• OME OCCUPATION Jn J
❑ A• CCESSORY TOURIST LODGING STAFF AT PRELIM. CONF.
OWNER (as currently listed in Real Estate) Day q 1 3-D
Name ,7i77f'.S ycoor �„/.vi r,€ �'f A'ce- Phone (_) r _ y C)
Address /2Z 2/ iF- L /
APPLICANT (if different from owner) Day
• Name -S.R,re- Phone (___) _-
Address tee'
CONTACT PERSON (if different from above) Day
Name Phone (_) --
Address
LOCATION: /22 �1 i� 7fvRti aVI,/7/3 i.., ,.e,✓h'rn itiLZ
TAX MAP/PARCEL NUMBERS (use reverse if needed)
1. L wZ - 0 L - o ? - p Q-3 Q (2 3. - - -
2. - - - 4. - - -
EXISTING ZONING i�- lb PROFFERED? Yes _ No _ Acreage if different
DESIRED ZONING R-IO PROFFERED? Yes _ No _ Acreage if different
EXISTING USE 5^y/E' FA7,/y 0„„-/,X 7
PROPOSED USE . S.9/r/E'
ORDINANCE SECTION(S): 7' //, 2, / ACc E'c t5 e y sSf t' vc,/,�z"
DESCRIPTION OF REQUEST: L is/I / ✓AtIAm✓« v-fo.r t /4'E-/ A i7//w de.Z
erty known as tax map 61W2 ,
VA-89-15. James E. Rice (owner) , prop
parcel 01-P3 , located in Birnam Wood Subdivision at 122 Blithe
Court,
zoned R-10. The applicant seeks a variance from Section I
the
4 . 1
1. 2 . 1 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance o redtwo (2)
to
setback forn accessory constructiontofcaure deckrom (6)
feet to allow
• The foregoing information is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge. I have read and understand the provisions of the Albemarle County
Zoning Ordinan.We applicable tt 's application.
• Signed �1�//4,.-/ , C (✓` - Date , 198 f
(Owner, Contract Purchaser, Agent)
I( I
Fee $ i/ lll... • Date Paid /_/ Received By
Notes:
6 Site Review Date: _/ /_ PLANNER: Recommendation:
g Planning Commission Date: _/_/
Action:
pBoard of Supervisors Date: /_/_ Action:
e Board of Zonin Appeals Date: '/ (l / S761 Action: o/0ir. a3 0 / sc
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— VA-89-15 Rice, James E. or Jennifer _RNAM WOOD
Tax Map 61W2-01, Parcel P-3 TOO PG S 392
sLoc.s A r1.04u F SEZTIGNI
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WYNRIOGE
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4441 444 444 44 44_1!4/ 44 411 \
lays 414 lee 400 44,••
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0190 TRUST OUT C 63 TO MINOR TOWNHOUSES wkiTIOV LAND LOTS R ES
DEED SOON 604 AMA$A AT 59 (2) 08. 724 PAGE 92-i07
LOTS Al-A10
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DEED11006 706 PAGE 641-PLA T SST
LOTS EN•-OM
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all —
. ILYA le MU CHARLOTTESVILLE DISTRICT SECT ION 6IW2
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INSPECTION REPORT
map ./C!/�
parcel e//-X%r
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SITE: O/R/17,4n/ G�/oYaC
PLAN NAME AND NO. : ��` 6Y-/.J
PROPERTY OWNER OR CONTRACTOR: L.7J&PIFS X?i
OBSERVATIONSS:: (note anyone you spoke /with)
A''4' /fi�%rJ y�.3�Ai��1S, ifo/?9.✓r irlivy ,In.oex t
Dat and Time
ACTION REQUESTED OF OWNER OR CONTRACTOR
Date and Time
FOLLOW-UP BY INSPECTOR: Comments
Date and Time
cc:
by
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\� fD
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Office of County Attorney
416 Park Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Telephone 296-7138
CO
COUNTti'ATTORNF
DAMES BOWLING, IV GEORGE R JOHNST.
DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY Y
May 3 0, 19 8 9
Ms. Sharon Taylor
Albemarle County Board of
Zoning Appeals
County Office Building
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596
Re: Rice v. Board of Zoning Appeals
Dear Sharon:
ich
. and
Here is a Petition for Writ °f Certiorari in connectionh withrd n al rof
s.
Rice have filed against the BZAsimilar to
their variance and several other variances exactly
theirs.
Please put this Petition and Order, in thf e neth S package
ck geer .sent
out to BZA members, along with a copy
recommend that the matter be placed back
the on BZA the
idoelet of the BZA
for reconsideration, but that is up
to Sincerely yours,
George R. St. John
County Attorney
GRStJ/tlh
Enclosure D \rJ
JuN 1 1989
/ALeEnnaR+-��ti��r�
April 25, 1989
The Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals held a second monthly
meeting on Tuesday, April 25, 1989, in Meeting Room 7, County
Office Building, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Those members present were: Jacquelyn Huckle, Richard Cogan,
William L. Rennolds, Carl Van Fossen; Vice-Chairman, and Max
Kennedy; Chairman. Other officials present were: Andrew D.
Evans, Deputy Zoning Administrator; and Mr. Jim Bowling, Deputy
County Attorney.
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 3 : 00 p.m. He
established that a quorum was present. He stated that anyone who
was aggrieved by a decision made by the Board could appeal the
decision to the Circuit Court of Albemarle County within thirty
days of the decision.
The first application was VA-89-15, James & Jennifer Rice, which
was deferred from the previous meeting.
Mr. Kennedy stated that the application had been deferred in order
to combine that with several other cases.
Mr. Evans stated that it could only be combined with one other
application because the other person had not made an application.
He stated that the Rice and Steigman cases could be heard
together.
The next application before the Board was VA-89-21, Thomas
Johnson.
Mr. Evans read the staff report.
April 25, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 2
VA-88-21. Thomas Johnson, property known as tax map 109, parcel
46, located on the east side of Rt. 718, +/- .8 miles north of its
intersection with Rt. 29, zoned RA. The applicant seeks a
variance from Section 10. 4 of the Albemarle County Zoning
Ordinance to allow the reduction of the side yard measurement from
the minimum requirement of twenty-five (25) feet to fifteen (15)
feet each to allow construction of a single-family dwelling. (See
the attached copy of the staff report. )
Mr. Evans read a letter of opposition into the record from Otto
G. Stolz who was an adjacent property owner. He also read a
letter from Robert K. O'Leary, Ph.D. , which suggested minimizing
the visibility of the new dwelling by restricting the cutting of
the existing trees and scrubs, putting in screening between the
properties, and using a natural stain for the house siding so that
it will blend into the natural beauty of the woods.
Thomas Johnson, property owner, was present to speak for the
application. He stated that he was going to build his house
800 feet back from the Old Lynchburg Road.
Mr. Van Fossen arrived at 3 : 20 p.m.
The Chairman invited public comment.
There being no further comment, the matter was placed before the
Board.
Mr. Cogan moved to approve the variance with the condition that
the house be built no closer than 500 feet back from Old Lynchburg
Road.
Mrs. Huckle seconded the motion.
The role was called.
Mr. Rennolds - Aye
Mrs. Huckle - Aye
Mr. Cogan - Aye
Mr. Van Fossen - Abstain
Mr. Kennedy - Aye
The variance was approved with the condition that the house be
constructed no closer than 500 feet to the road.
April 25, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 3
Mr. Kennedy asked Mr. Van Fossen to take over the meeting as
Chairman for VA-89-22 for Kay P. Steigman since he was involved
with the case. He left the meeting room.
Mr. Evans read the staff report.
VA-89-22 . Kay P. Steigman (owner) , property known as tax map
61W2 , parcel O1-P4, located in the Birnam Wood Subdivision at 120
Blithe Court, zoned R-10. The applicant seeks a variance from
Section 4. 11.2 . 1 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to
reduce the setback of an accessory structure from the minimum
required measurement of six (6) feet to zero (0) feet to allow
construction of a deck. (See the attached copy of the staff
report. )
Mr. Van Fossen stated just for her information last month Mr. &
Mrs. Rice were present and gave their presentation and the board
deferred their request since they understood that there were
several that shared the same problem. He asked that she present
her case.
Mrs. Steigman stated she was unable to attend last month's meeting
because she was out of town. She stated that last June she moved
into this location, but at the time the unit was bought there was
no deck at all, and showed the board some pictures of the site.
She stated that she hired a builder, had the materials delivered,
and applied for a building permit which was the first problem area
when they found out there was a setback requirement. She stated
that her neighbors on both sides liked the deck plans, and
unfortunately she listened to others and because there was a two
and a half month wait for this type of meeting and because of some
personal problems she was trying to attack at that time, she went
ahead and had the deck built and did not apply for the variance at
that time. She stated that she would take accountability for the
action of instructing the contractor to go ahead and procede with
the deck. She stated that after completion of the deck that she
ran into the fact of the variance having to be meet. She gave the
board some before and after photographs of the land. She stated
that Beebe Fulton of Gercke Construction and a previous owner of
an adjacent unit, who she happened to know, advised her that the
original reason for the construction of the deck was a very
serious erosion problem with those particular hill sides to the
extent of some flooding damage.
April 25, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 4
Mr. Van Fossen asked if she experienced any erosion problems with
hers before the deck was built?
Mrs. Steigman stated not coming into the house, but she did have a
problem with the dirt being tracked into the house.
Mr. Cogan asked what the dimensions of the deck were?
Mrs. Huckle stated that it appeared to be about 20' X 20' .
Mrs. Steigman stated that she did not bring that information, but
that sounded correct.
Mr. Evans stated that it was about 22 feet outward to the rear and
about 20 feet across.
Mr. Rennolds stated that she could have come out 16 feet.
Mrs. Steigman stated that they say hindsight is 100 percent.
Mr. Rennolds asked who the builder was?
Mrs. Steigman stated that the builder was Haven Construction or
Christopher Clark, but that she had taken responsibility for the
construction. She stated after talking with the Rices that she
knew their case was pending.
The Chairman invited public comment.
There being no further comment, the matter was placed before the
board.
Mrs. Huckle stated that she viewed the property and they looked
like wooden fences from the back which you are permitted to put on
your back line. She stated that it looks attractive, but it was
against the rules.
Mr. Rennolds asked what they would do with the rest of them?
Mr. Cogan stated that his concern was that the building permit was
not issued because of the problem of needing a variance and then
they just went ahead with it anyway. He stated that it also could
have been built 6 feet shorter and complied. He stated that he
could not support this. He made a motion to deny the application.
Mrs. Steigman stated that the deck plans were approved by the
Gercke Architectural Board.
April 25, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 5
Mr. Rennolds seconded the motion.
The role was called.
Mr. Rennolds - Aye
Mrs. Huckle - No
Mr. Cogan - Aye
Mr. Van Fossen - Aye
The application was denied.
Mr. Van Fossen stated that the board could not grant one and set a
precedent for the other cases.
Mrs. Steigman stated that she understood, but built it because
there were two already there.
Mr. Rennolds stated that the others would have to be dealt with.
Mr. Van Fossen stated that the Rices had stated that they could
not be present, but their intent was for them to act on it anyway.
He asked Mr. Kennedy if he had a conflict on this one too?
Mr. Kennedy disqualified himself on VA-89-15.
Mr. Van Fossen stated that the staff report had been read
previously, and the difference in the circumstances was that this
deck was already built when the Rices purchased the property, and
in fact there were two decks which were not in compliance.
Mr. Rennolds stated that he could still have a deck by taking off
four feet.
Mr. Van Fossen stated that this deck was not quite as large as the
other one.
Mr. Cogan stated that he thought they needed to show some
consistency.
Mr. Rennolds moved that he be made to come into compliance with
the Zoning laws.
April 25, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
April 25, 1989
Mr. Cogan seconded the motion.
Mr. Van Fossen stated that it had been moved and seconded that
VA-89-15 be denied. He asked for the role to be called.
Mr. Rennolds - Aye
Mrs. Huckle - No
Mr. Cogan - Aye
Mr. Van Fossen - Aye
The variance was denied.
April 11, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 11
The next application before the Board was VA-89-;r6, James E. Rice.
Mr. Evans: The applicant seeks relief from Section 4. 11. 2 . 1 of
the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance. 4. 11.2 . 1 ACCESSORY
STRUCTURES, if no utility or drainage easements or other easements
are adversely affected, accessory structures or portions thereof
may be erected no closer than six feet to adjacent lot lines in
the case of detached structures, or to a common wall in the case
of attached structures; provided further that no such structure
shall be located within any yard required by Section 4. 6. 3 . 4 . 6. 3
states LOTS, YARDS ADJACENT TO STREETS. The applicant requests
relief from the required six foot setback to locate a deck two
feet from the property line, a variance of four feet. Via this
proposed application, the applicant seeks approval for
an already constructed deck within the rear yard area. The
residences are attached townhouse/condominum type units with
enclosed privacy fences. The following comments are offered to
the Board of Zoning Appeals in consideration of the requested
application. A) A self imposed hardship is not customarily
viewed as an undue hardship. Evidence has not been made available
that provides a basis that the strict application would
effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the use of the
property. B) You must find that a hardship is not shared by
other properties in the same vicinity or zoning district. In
general most of the adjacent properties have similar size yards
with the exception of the "end" housing units, and comparable
topography exists on the properties. No basis has been
established that demonstrated that the variance will not be of
substantial detriment to the adjacent property or that the
character of the district will not be changed by the granting of
the variance. Other cases cannot be a basis for the granting of a
variance if it does not provide that it is in harmony and in
keeping with the spirit and purpose of the ordinance.
Mr. Kennedy: O. K. , is the applicant here?
Mr. Rice: Good afternoon, I am James Rice, James E. Rice and the
middle initial is incorrect. To be at a point if we could just
discuss the comments in the staff report, the deck was built in
August, excuse me, May of 1985. We purchased the home in August
of 1988, therefore we were not aware of the violations of the code
at the time of purchase. We are also the third property owner.
The original property owner who had the deck built was named Steve
Soper and to the best of our knowledge he is not located here, but
in Detroit, Michigan and we have been unable to contact him.
April 11, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 12
Mr. Rice: The deck is a split level deck. It was built, the home
was built by Gercke Construction, but the deck was built
independent of Gercke Construction. The lower portion of the deck
was built by Charlottesville Aquatics in May of 1985. According
to the owner of Charlottesville Aquatics they built only the lower
portion. It is the upper portion that is in violation of the
code, and I have not been able to find out who the contractor was.
Evidently it was a private contractor and it was agreed upon by
Mr. Soper, not by us certainly and that I believe is a point that
needs to be made. It was not a self-imposed hardship. It is our
deck but we did not authorize the building of the deck. Also one
question we've had that has not been answered, we have contacted
our attorney who handled the closing. Since the deck was built,
the home has been sold twice and both times a survey was performed
on the house and neither time did the survey disclose this flaw.
So we just found out about it when we received the letter at the
end of February. One other point concerning the comment number A,
there are three decks in a row as I understand it all three of
those decks ours being the upper deck closest to Birnam Drive
there, and all three are in violation of the ordinance. If we
were forced to correct our deck we would certainly do it if told
to. That would also include all the decks attached down that
whole row, so I assume I am no contractor, but it would appear to
me if we have to change our deck, every deck in that row is going
to have to be changed also and that would contribute to a hardship
to the neighbors as they have discussed with me. And one point
that I am certainly not an expert to comment on the previous
owner, but Mr. Michael Waite that we purchased the home from said
that the upper deck was added onto the structure not just to
create a nicer deck, but the previous owner or the original owner
the Mr. Soper that we discussed had a problem with water drainage
and some soil erosion because there is a bank that runs back
there. It is not flat it is kind of hill shaped and we are at the
top of the hill. And he had a problem with water and mud coming
down into his lower section of the deck which does not occur now.
I am certainly not qualified to say that that was the reason that
the upper deck was built and I am not sure that was the case
originally, but that was told to use by the neighbor that lives
one door above us and also by the previous owner.
Mr. Rennolds: Your upper deck is closest to the house.
Mrs. Rice: No, it is farther away.
Mr. Rennolds: It is farther away?
April 11, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 13
Mr. Rice: Yes. The slope comes down toward our back door. You
walk out our back door and you have about 8 or 10 feet there on a
flat area and even with the basement and then there are 8 or 10
steps that go up to an upper portion of the deck, and I think that
it is probably about 20 feet back there total.
Mrs. Huckle: And this keeps the rain from hitting that dirt and
eroding it. Is that what you are saying?
Mr. Rice: That is what the previous owner told us that it was his
understanding of why that person had that deck built when he was
buying the house. Now I am not qualified to say that that is the
case. I don't think that is the argument.
Mr. Kennedy: I am a little familiar with that property. Have you
ever seen any black pipes or drainpipes coming out from the decks?
Mr. Rice: I know there is a ravine that runs down there where
there is some drainage.
Mr. Kennedy: I think that under all of those decks there is some
drainage pipes.
Mr. Rice: We do have some drainage pipes.
Mr. Kennedy: It is fair to say that when you come out of your
patio or your living room that if the decks were not there you
would walk out about 10 to 12 feet and you would go straight up a
hill, right. So these decks were built out there and they are
built into the side of the hill. There was an erosion problem for
the people when the subdivision was put in. There might still be
with water coming down the hill and actually heavy rains going
into these patios. So some of these decks have drainage pipes
running under them.
Mr. Van Fossen: What is behind you besides the hill? Is there
another section of townhouses behind it? How far back are they?
Mr. Rice: They are, I would say at least 30 feet.
Mr. Van Fossen: What I was trying to say suppose they put a deck
on the back of theirs.
April 11, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 14
Mr. Rice: They already have one.
Mr. Van Fossen: Do they? Do you come right up to each other?
Mr. Rice: From the back gate to our deck to the nearest deck is
at least 12 feet I would say, a minimum of 12 feet.
Mr. Van Fossen: Why is Mr. & Mrs. Rice being called in and the
other condominum owners are not being called?
Mr. Evans: One of them is coming the 25th of this month. The
third party is not. If I may interject something here. You may
want to defer action on this particular variance until you
hear the other two. It is a complicated situation and it is not a
easy situation. You go out to look at one and make one inspection
and then there are two other people that are involved. You go out
on one complaint and then you turn your head to the north and look
and you see another one and then you turn your head to the right
and you see another one so that's essentially how it happened.
Mr. Kennedy: Did you actually get a complaint or did somebody get
a survey and it was picked up on a survey?
Mr. Evans: When he spoke about the two surveys I had no idea on
why it did not pick up, but that does not necessarily mean that
they did not pick up on it because a lot of times people look at
these things and they think because of the common walls everything
is common. That property line seems to be common. So if a deck
is built against it, that is fine, but it has to meet that setback
from the rear and side.
Mr. Rice: If the survey would have caught it though, they would
have informed us before we purchased the house.
Mr. Kennedy: I am asking a question about whether there is any
detriment to the neighborhood because of who complained. Did
somebody in the neighborhood think there was a detriment because
it seems like everybody has a deck. How could one deck be more
detrimental to the other person who has a deck.
Mr. Rice: At the time we moved into the house a deck was being
constructed at the neighbors home next to ours. It was my
understanding from talking with that contractor that he built that
deck without obtaining a permit and he applied for a permit
April 11, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 15
Mr. Rice: and was denied and went ahead and built the deck. Now
this was told to us when we went for our first meeting with the
Zoning Department. Evidently what happened when the owner wanted
the deck, the contractor applied for the permit, the permit was
denied, and she said build the deck anyway, and he built the deck,
and the Zoning Department came out and checked because there was
no follow-up, no second appeal. When they checked they found not
only was that deck built and did not comply with the code, but
also there were two other decks that were built obviously without
permits and in violation of the same code.
Mr. Kennedy: So somebody else was trying to build a deck, so that
person will be in for a variance too.
Mr. Rice: That deck is already built.
Mr. Kennedy: The deck is already built?
Mr. Rice: Right, it was built this fall. Ours was built, that is
the main point that we want to make was that our deck is obviously
in violation and was built without a permit, but it was built 3
1/2 years before we ever moved into the neighborhood. That is
kind of what separates us and we just happen to be the first ones
here before your committee.
Mr. Van Fossen: Mr. Chairman, I think that it might be proper to
defer this until we hear all of the complaints at one time.
Mr. Rennolds: It will give us a chance to go out there and look.
Mr. Kennedy: We have heard from Mr. Rice. Do we want to have Mr.
Rice come back? Would you mind coming back? We could adjourn
this to that time.
Mr. Rice: We are both dentists and we would have to shut down our
practice when we come here, and this is the second afternoon. We
have employees that are being paid this afternoon and we want to
do whatever is possible to help you out, but it is a inconvenience
for us.
Mr. Kennedy: It is kind of up to you. We could rest on what you
have said here. I think you have heard all of the facts and we
will ask for anybody that has been inconvenienced that is in
opposition and if you want to come back next time you can, but if
you don't want to it doesn't make any difference. I think the
Board is inclined to defer all of these to hear them at one time.
April 11, 1989
Minutes of Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 16
Mr. Rice: That would be fine. We've stated about all there is,
all we know. We have tried to research it and have made several
phone calls. The main point that we wanted to make was that the
deck was built before we were there, but we will do whatever you
want us to do.
Mr. Rennolds: I don't see where it is necessary for him to come
back.
Mr. Kennedy: I was saying that he could come back if he wants to,
but I am leaving it open but it is not necessary. I was just
saying that we are going to make a decision whether you are here
or not next time, if the Board is inclined to adjourn this
particular hearing to next time. But I think we will go on, and
if you have anything else to add go ahead, but if not do you have
anybody else that wants to speak.
Mr. Rice: No, thank-you.
Mrs. Rice: Thank-you, no.
Mr. Kennedy: O. K. Is anybody here in opposition? All right, do
I hear a motion?
Mr. Cogan: I move for deferral.
Mr. Van Fossen: Seconded.
Mr. Kennedy: It has been moved and seconded that this case be
deferred to be heard with the next case at the next meeting on the
25th at 3 : 00. All in favor say aye.
Mr. Rennolds: Aye
Mrs. Buckle: Aye
Mr. Cogan: Aye
Mr. Van Fossen: Aye
Mr. Kennedy: Aye
Mr. Kennedy: All opposed?
No Opposition.
Mr. Kennedy: Alright that is deferred to be heard. Thank-you,
sir.
GEkc),...G
CONSIRUCIION
(804) 973-7923
1 June 1989
Dr. James Rice
122 Blythe Court
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Dear Jim:
As you requested, I took a look at the deck in your back yard at 122
Blythe Court, in Birnam Wood.
My observation, as an experienced builder, is that it is an attractive
structure that enhances the appearance of the entire townhouse block
and serves an important function in stabilizing the steep bank at the
rear of your (and adjacent townhouses') property. Previous problems
with flooding and bank erosion there have not recurred since the
structure was built. My opinion is that the deck helps protect the rear
of the building from storm water runoff-induced erosion problems.
cir�o/ y�-
George Ge cke
Vice President
GJG/rek
3056 BERKMAR DRIVE • P. O. BOX 7213 • CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. 22906
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