Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199200004 Application 1992-02-10 pF ?.LB VA- 9a- oLl ��� rj� FILE NUMBER APPLICATION FOR: �9 (check one) o i °�jll� im `�, - 10 " 19, XX VARIANCE .� �� DATE SUBMITTED Cl SPECIAL USE PERMIT $ 5 [I] REZONING FEE PAID (see reverse) ❑ ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT r'IRGI14?' ❑ MOBILE HOME DATE OF PRELIM CONF. ❑ HOME OCCUPATION 25, to ❑ ACCESSORY TOURIST LODGING STAFF A PRELIM. CONF. OWNER (as currently listed in Real Estate) Day Name Richard L.and Julia G. Nunley Phone 504 ) 971- 'M Address P.O. Box 7627, Charlottesville, Virginia 27906 APPLICANT (if different from owner) Day Name Better Living, Inc. Phone .44..)971-t+"M Address P.O. Box 7627, Charlottesville, Virginia 22906 CONTACT PERSON (if different from above) Day C�II S - Name Kurt Wassenaar AIA - Architect and agent for owner Phone �04 ) 971=2920 ------ Address 619East High Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 W't-ti" • T� c- LOCATION: Better Living located on U S. Rnnte 7C) Nnrth r2 -ka-c. TAX MAP/PARCEL NUMBERS (use reverse if needed) 1. Qyi0<2 ' 19Q ' C? _ QMGl 3. 2. - - - 4. - - - EXISTING ZONING HC PROFFERED? Yes _ No X_ Acreage if different S n77 acres DESIRED ZONING HC PROFFERED? Yes NoX Acreage if different „mP EXISTING USE Building Materials Retail Store and Lumber Company PROPOSED USE Same ORDINANCE SECTION(S): 4.15.3.7 , and 30.6.5 parts 1 and 2 DESCRIPTION OF REQUEST: See attached request JUSTIFICATION FOR REQUEST: See attached justification • The foregoing information )is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge I have bead and derstand the provisions of the Albemarle County Zoning Or inane 'cable o this application. C� • Signed �r-- \ _ ! Date Z��C� 19 t2• (Owner, Contract Purch ser, gent) -, )---1 Fee $ 105 .°° Date Paid 01 /_10/ 9 Received By ot.es:b.24��G A `�-` _ �. - V, , ite Review Date: / / PLANNER: Recommendation: ( ).2-0DCA4s:::: pJ\ .,t-\ A^4-; - ,,,___A-- �'nmmi scion Date: - - -' 2) VA-92-04 . Richard L. and Julia G. Nunley (owners) , Better Living, " Inc. (applicant) . Property on the W side of Rt 29 approx 1. 5 mi N of the \ Rio Rd/Rt 29 inters, zoned Highway Commercial, in an EC overlay, TM45/P68C1. Applicant seeks a variance to increase the area of wall signs from 35 to 92 sgft. \qlr 1,1}_1+yVA /( , Y V`(_20.a.j1(,L/°°'1 c,L'JF M• if4t4i I 44-- ' l' l, C ViTh-i6 -) 9 Application for Zoning Variance under Sections 4.15.3.7 Highway Commercial - Business Signs and Sections 30.6.5 EC district sign regulations. DESCRIPTION OF REQUEST The Applicant, " Better Living Home Center" is located on Route 29 North and is considering plans to renovate the existing exterior front and side facades of their business in order to improve the appearance of the existing building and to a limited extent consolidate signage into a more attractive overall building and signage image. No change of zoning use or renovations which would require a site plan are contemplated for this renovation. The existing building has several signs which are in need of updating and replacement. Under the provisions of Section 30.6.5 EC sign district we understand that the applicant would be restricted to one sign of no more than 35 square feet in area. The Applicant requests a variance to allow replacement and consolidation of existing signage in a manner similar to it's existing location and type and within the provisions of Section 4.15..3.7 which would allow business wall signs with an aggregate area not to exceed 200 square feet. JUSTIFICATION OF REQUEST The Applicant requests this variance based on the fact that the end result of the proposed renovation of the exterior facade of the building and the replacement and consolidation of signs will be a significant aesthetic improvement over the existing signage and building aesthetics on the site. The Applicant will be placed under a severe hardship if he is not allowed to replace and consolidate existing signage with updated and appropriate signage for his business. Since the proposed facade renovation and signage replacement is intended to improve the aesthetics of the store and is at within the spirit of the Overlay district guidelines, we feel that a significant overall improvement in the appearance of the store will result and that the Applicant should not face a business hardship as a result of attempting to improve the aesthetics of his business. ALBEMARLE COUP' ' , sl vow; 4 i i i mi low i i i 4t„,....-1-40,<#......%.3:4. ..., , e -2 •• \., ./ litorA4P 'Pe � .9'° Lo) WIlre°44. '•O 5.s ..�j, I � � . 0E1un • ° 3 s . II aec . .xys,44 Ea 54\, 534,5�ISC• ♦ , 454 \ A2\ ObN 4.>, • 55C L•4„, 1•SC 7-..... . ,,,, , ' .. ,•173........2 \ s I' ,,79 SSrI l 37q:AlHa ^i \` \\ VV �\� 1 3M ,`y 1 l� • ss� ss r Si. ay .•�® s,. ��� ��\ ��� SS S90 / tij I V , j 4ii ,� \ SSG 0. • Rtik '. A\\A%,-- 4441 APrqt 61 ,(a• ,,_,.___te41? l,c ./ /....i:i ........,.. -- --I ♦!A me L. ,� `lea .1 - ® — 70 445-1(10 fir \!\,\.7., ,, . Anumm..r1: , ;7-- ', �� 38 348 316 1.Iff Alb f fli, .‘\\‘\ -1(P4Aarilfre 39A . ' 7 �� 3t... {0. 36c 67A /j1'f► y {59 • ry #0111"111!..41C2 4 46 11� �� ss RA �3s. 33 0 1 � 1 .av wrw ,{EIS.c S0l'I" IN� 1�,® wpm���, 3N a ��� {aol % lik Milh � 1 '714. e VA-92-04 Better Living, Inc. / mil A♦ (j \ %WV 319 Tax Map 45, Parcel 68C1 �,� --..\._ VP 1 orr4rs . ,..u.v );- _. „,. T. " ,,,,,,i,ikh, - ' 7 ) / are la1f1 A 4 r/ "4? o ----\i ' . . ''''. f 1/4411 r;:,-.-'-----'7;" 78 sy : .;:-.. . 'y 4?* ,Itti: S./ - f * C.? -1........ / • .i.":**, ...... ......""—..... ...•....'".* / ` ti,�' 67A / \ Avi \. ,~~n0 It 4. %/ 1/ �\' 109 �r � � t`f `�` �,: <.�29 p Ill ��j��_ :mi.,: I.i 10 // la4 f �� /" 25 '•�� 4\\\``````;i 1r414 _ I{r /.1 i®® ♦far ��,�� ```•' I/S9; ®® ,ea:,.p�+. • He ,; wlEerle '� ,,w7c,e1,0 sh4 Nk =tow• •..C' Ise. ©®� C1-b_\ 419;ci�• ,4. 17 1�` , / ,/q/st -..-L----iits4.—wal. ------! .. fr_„,)zo-4--t ..4-"A *,,\\\ ......„..... * * AGRILULTURAL &FORESTAL Of STRICT 61 ♦ WALE RE, CHARLOTTESVILLE, RIVANNA a SECTION 45 446 -•,�" "" "" JACK JOUETT DISTRICTS BETTER LIVING I N C RT.29N P O.BOX 7627 CHARLOTTESVILLE,VA.22906 PHONE 973-4333 RICHARD L.NUNLEY,PRESIDENT February 18, 1992 Ms . Emilia Patterson Albemarle County Zoning Board 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 Dear Ms . Patterson: As the owners of real estate parcel number 04500-00-00-068C1 (property description PAR A) in Albemarle County, we hereby authorize Kurt Wassenaar to represent us with respect to zoning variance VA-92-04 . R7i Please contact Richard L. Nunley at 973-4333 if any further information on this matter is required. Yours Truly, Richard L. Nu J. Julia G. Nunley sel APR ; 1992 1VJ4;1 April 7, 1992 WASSENAAR :ZON NG DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS Mr. John Grady Department of Zoning Albemarle, County 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 Re: VA -92 -04 Better Living - Request for Zoning Request Supplemental Justification for Zoning Variance Dear Mr. Grady, My client, Mr. Richard Nunley, and I have had an opportunity to hear and review the comments from staff on the proposed renovation of the Better Living Store on U.S Rt.29 North during our ARB meeting yesterday and our receipt of staff comments on our request for a Zoning variance. Based on our review of these comments we would like to supplement our application to the Zoning Board with the following comments and additional justification for our request. We feel that there are some significant issues that are relevant, and want to provide the board with additional information in evaluating our variance request. Our comments are as follows: 1 . Better Livings should be granted a variance because the overall visual impact of the proposed signs is minimal, less than that proposed by the soon to be revised signage ordinance, and integrated into an overall design which is aesthetically pleasing and well within the intent and spirit of the ordinance. The Better Living building is located such that it is very difficult to see by fast moving traffic. Traffic coming South, comes over a ridge and the building is not seen until the traffic is almost in front of the Building. Traffic going North has its view blocked by the Better Living Furniture Building which immediately adjacent to and about 110 feet forward from the Better Living Materials store. The view of the store is further blocked by a large clump of conifer trees in the 29 median. The Building Materials Store is located 150 feet back from Route 29 and this is much further back than many businesses along 29. The building also has a very low visual profile and at 150 feet wide and only 14 feet high has a very low level of visual impact. The problem that the building is not easily seen is one reason for raising the proposed height of the peak of the entrance section to approximately 30 feet maximum. The proposed new design has integrated the signage into the building in a careful and understated manner to conform to the spirit and intent of the ordinance. Only the peak of the store front projects very far to give a better visual cue to passerby that the store is there. The signage is also understated and eliminates one existing sign altogether, reducing the total to five signs, and keeps the total aggregate amount of signage to less than half of that which will be permitted under the new ordinance provisions. P.O. Box 2666 • Charlottesville, Virginia • 22902 Telephone: 804 971-2920 • Fax: 804 971-7048 2. Better Living is a name that does not signify the products it carries, and if it can not continue to have some of the major products it sells as signs on the front of the building it will suffer a severe hardship. Better Living is a local company and does not have the name recognition that major store such as Sears, Lowes or Food Lion has. We have explored the signage options and feel that one sign which incorporated all of the products would be very cluttered and significantly less aesthetic than the system we have proposed. The side signs which are at issue here are all integrated in to the architectural side panels of the store facade and are not cluttered together in a random or visually unplanned manner. Better Living is located further from Route 29 than most other businesses. These are problems that Better Living faces that other businesses do not share. Since Better Living started operating at this location in 1981, it has had product signs on the building. Better Living needs to continue to inform passerby what it sells by means of the four signs "Lumber, Paint Cabinets and Hardware." Without these signs it will lose substantial sales. We feel that the application of the ordinance to this project without considering the overall impact of the proposed design and the renovation of the store on the positive side and the difficulties imposed by the ordinance on an existing business with existing small but important signs would be an inappropriate penalty for proposing to upgrade the store and the aesthetics of the 29 corridor as we have. 3. If Better Living continues to have signs showing what it sells, it will not adversely affect other businesses because it will merely be a continuation of the present signs. We see no adverse impacts to either other businesses or the overall aesthetics of the corridor. 4. Better Living is upgrading and improving the interior and exterior of it's business. The improved exterior will be an asset to the company and the appearance of the 29 corridor. The improved appearance of the store is within the sprit of the overlay district guidelines. Based on these considerations we do not feel that the approval of the proposed number of signs would be in substantial variance with the intent and language of the ordinance nor do we feel that a precedent would be set due to the unique situation presented here. Further, failure to approve the proposed design and signage, which has been carefully integrated into the architectural design of the proposed store improvement will likely result in severe damage to a local business and impose a hardship. Accordingly we ask that the board consider this information in favor of our variance application. Please do not hesitate to contact me if either our office or Mr. Nunley can provide any additional information for your review. Sincerely, \ ---‘-tr---- \N1\F===-------- --------"-----H"--- Kurt Wassenaar AIA cc. Mr Richard Nunley :10 ---144411 • . . . • 116 INEY:11