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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199200030 Action Letter 1992-10-14 r 1 Ip c' ®fie COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road _ Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 October 14, 1992 Charles E. Fleming Route 7, Box 278 Charlottesville, VA 22901 ' RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action VA-92-30, Chapman Grove Baptist Church Tax Map 62, Parcel 67 Dear Mr. Fleming: This letter is to inform you that on October 13 , 1992, during the meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board unanimously approved (4 : 0) your request for VA-92-30, subject to the following condition: 1) The addition shall be in accordance with the drawing by James M. Herndon of Design Graphics, dated February 8, 1992 . This variance approval allows relief from Section 10. 4 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to reduce the rear setback from 35 to 24 feet, a variance of 11 feet, for an addition to the church. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Sincerely, Adielk di.e-,0_e_,- Babette Thorpe Zoning Assistant BT/sp/-!" cc: Chapman Grove Baptist Church Inspection MINUTES OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS October 13, 1992 The Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 1992 in Meeting Room #7, Second Floor, County Office Building, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. Members present were Richard Cogan, William Rennolds, George Bailey, and Max C. Kennedy, Chairman. Carl Van Fossen was absent. Staff present were Amelia M. Patterson, Zoning Administrator; Babette Thorpe, Zoning Assistant; and John Grady, Deputy Zoning Administrator. George St. John, County Attorney, was present. As a quorum was established, the meeting convened at 3 : 00 p.m. Mr. Kennedy stated that anyone aggrieved by a decision of the board could appeal the decision to the Circuit Court of Albemarle County within thirty (30) days of the decision. III. Variance Public Hearings Ms. Thorpe presented the staff report as follows: "STAFF REPORT - VA-92-30 OWNER/APPLICANT: Chapman Grove Baptist Church TAX MAP/PARCEL: 62-67 ZONING: RA, Rural Areas ACREAGE: 1.0 LOCATION: On the west side of Route 20 North just north of the northern entrance to Key West subdivision REQUEST: The applicants would like to build an addition to their church in order to enlarge the pastor's study and provide wardrobe space for the choir. The addition would measure 16 x 26 feet and lie 25 feet from the rear property line, a variance of 10 feet from the 35 feet required by Section 10.4. Hardship As proposed, the addition would be built directly behind where the choir sits, so that they have a place to put on their robes and store them when not in use. The addition would 1 also enlarge the pastor's study, which is too small now to be useful. Given the layout of the church, the expansion could not be built anywhere else and serve these purposes. Uniqueness of Hardship Most of the other properties in the area are two acres or more. This parcel is very shallow. Character of the Area The addition would match the church and would not change the character of the area. RELEVANT HISTORY: This one-acre parcel has been in existence since 1890. The present church was built in 1955. Under the current Ordinance, churches are allowed by special use permit in the Rural Areas. The Zoning Administrator has ruled that the expansion proposed by the applicant will require a special use permit, since it would not meet the rear setback. The Board of Supervisors will not review the special use permit unless the Board of Zoning Appeals approves this variance. RECOMMENDATION: Staff believes that this request meets the three criteria for approval and recommends approval for cause. 1. The applicant has provided evidence that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship. The sanctuary area is too small for the church's choir; therefore, the expansion seems necessary. Given the layout of the church and sanctuary, the location proposed for the expansion is the only practical site. Expanding onto the north side of the church would make it impossible for the church to keep the required number of parking spaces. There appears to be one other location for the expansion that meets the setbacks - on the front of the south wing of the building. Placing the expansion here would not suit the uses proposed by the applicant. Without the variance, it is likely that the applicants would have to alter the sanctuary and congregational area of what appears to be a recently remodeled church. 2 . The applicant has provided evidence that such hardship is not shared generally by other properties in the same zoning district and the same vicinity. Most of the parcels in the area are two acres or greater and offer the depth and width necessary for expansion. 3 . The applicant has provided evidence that the authorization of such variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property and that the character of the district will not be changed by the granting of the variance. Route 20 North is an 2 STAFF PERSON: Babette Thorpe PUBLIC HEARING: 10/13/92 STAFF REPORT - VA9230 OWNER/APPLICANT: Chapman Grove Baptist Church TAX MAP/PARCEL: 62-67 ZONING: RA, Rural Areas ACREAGE: 1. 0 LOCATION: On the west side of Route 20 North just north of the northern entrance to Key West subdivision REQUEST: The applicants would like to build an addition to their church in order to enlarge the pastor's study and provide wardrobe space for the choir. The addition would measure 16 x 26 feet and lie 25 feet from the rear property line, a variance of 10 feet from the 35 feet required by Section 10. 4. Hardship As proposed, the addition would be built directly behind where the choir sits, so that they have a place to put on their robes and store them when not in use. The addition would also enlarge the pastor's study, which is too small now to be useful. Given the layout of the church, the expansion could not be built anywhere else and serve these purposes. Uniqueness of Hardship Most of the other properties in the area are two acres or more. This parcel is very shallow. Character of the Area The addition would match the church and would not change the character of the area. RELEVANT HISTORY: This one-acre parcel has been in existence since 1890. The present church was built in 1955. Under the current Ordinance, churches are allowed by special use permit in the Rural Areas. The Zoning Administrator has ruled that the expansion proposed by the applicant will require a special use permit, since it would not meet the rear setback. The Board of Supervisors will not review the special use permit unless the Board of Zoning Appeals approves this variance. RECOMMENDATION: Staff believes that this request meets the three criteria for approval and recommends approval for cause. 1. The applicant has provided evidence that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship. The sanctuary area is too small for the church's choir; therefore, the expansion seems necessary. Given the layout of the church and sanctuary, the location proposed for the expansion is the only practical site. Expanding onto the north side of the church would make it impossible for the church to keep the required number of parking spaces. There appears to be one other location for the expansion that meets the setbacks - on the front of the south wing of the building. Placing the expansion here would not suit the uses proposed by the applicant. Without the variance, it is likely that the applicants would have to alter the sanctuary and congregational area of what appears to be a recently remodeled church. 2 . The applicant has provided evidence that such hardship is not shared generally by other properties in the same zoning district and the same vicinity. Most of the parcels in the area are two acres or greater and offer the depth and width necessary for expansion. 3. The applicant has provided evidence that the authorization of such variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property and that the character of the district will not be changed by the granting of the variance. Route 20 North is an Entrance Corridor. The location proposed by the applicant would have the least impact on this corridor of any possible addition to the church. Staff agrees with the applicant that the addition would be an attractive structure. None of the adjoining landowners has objected to this request; in fact, Mr. and Mrs. Propst, who own the property closest the expansion, have written a letter supporting the request. Should the Board approve this request, staff recommends the following condition: 1. The addition shall be in accordance with the drawing by James M. Herndon of Design Graphics, dated February 8, 1992 . T10c 01 nd colt IA- september 25+ 1992 Albemarle of Alb e�, rle County ment of d 22901 ning 401 W,clntire Road Virginia Chrlottesville+ eptember 1S+ 1992 Letter of S Re; statement to re- presentativesDear Sirs, affirm °u Grovet Churcharianoe We wish to°ct onp to the ons derati r by at ob Je under e have n° t is cation, tha truly yours, yop ri Department• Very opst J W Betty L. Yropst SEP 29 199% A-g ppp,R ° ARM`�� 2�N�WG D�'