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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199300033 Action Letter 1993-10-13 • o AL • ��RctN�P COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596 (804) 296-5875 FAX (804) 972-4060 TDD (804) 972-4012 October 13, 1993 Camille Cookson Route 2, Box 631 Keswick, VA 22947 RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action Tax Map 48, Parcel 25C Dear Ms. Cookson: This letter is to inform you that on October 12, 1993, during the meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board (4:0) unanimously approved your request for VA-93-33, subject to the following conditions: 1) No portion of the carport shall be closer than 25 feet to the right-of-way of Route 600. 2) The 20-foot wooded area running along the front of the property shall remain undisturbed as long as the carport remains. This variance approval allows relief from Section 10.4 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to reduce the front setback from 75 to 25 feet for a carport. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Sincerely, aitelie Babette Thorpe Zoning Assistant BT/sp cc: Inspections Department STAFF PERSON: Babette Thorpe PUBLIC HEARING: 10/12/93 STAFF REPORT - VA-93-33 OWNER/APPLICANT: Camille Cookson TAX MAP/PARCEL: 48-25C ZONING: Rural Areas, RA ACREAGE: 2 . 636 LOCATION: Located on the north side of Route 600 about one-half mile south of its intersection with Route 20 North REQUEST: In order to build a carport measuring 20x20 feet, the applicant requests relief from Section 10.4 of the Zoning Ordinance. This section requires all structures to be at least 75 feet from the age of the right-of-way of a public road. ihe. ecu.. tsOuId a6 ' from kpfkt ) 6C e+. lnz In summary, the applicant's justification includes the following: Hardship The carport could not be placed anywhere else on the parcel, due to topography. The land slopes sharply from just beyond the proposed site to a stream. Uniqueness of Hardship This parcel is narrow. Much of the lot is unbuildable due to either setbacks, floodplain, or the buffer required from the stream. Character of the Area The difference in grade between the roadway and the proposed site would keep the carport from being very noticeable to passing cars. RELEVANT HISTORY: The lot was created in A1980 and the house built in Isel. lg8Q, hkiht y.A. Cormaq 000116i c IL A °14C44 e.E— pray: Ozd. RECOMMENDATION: Staff agrees with the applicant that this parcel is subject to several constraints which make building difficult. In addition to the floodplain and setback, there is a buffer required from the edge of the floodplain as part of the Water Resource Protection Ordinance, the County's version of the Chesapeake Bay preservation strategy. This ordinance was adopted in June, 1991. The site chosen by the applicant would remove the carport as far as possible from the stream and floodplain without clearing the wooded area in front of the property. The applicant's septic field is located west of the house, in the area between the setback line and floodplain line. The house is modestly sized, about 1000 square feet. There are no Page 2 September 30, 1993 outbuildings on the property. This Department usually recommends that variances for accessory structures be denied, because in many cases the lack of garages and such does not constitute an undue hardship. In this case, however, space for outdoor storage of automobiles and the equipment needed to maintain property in a rural setting is severely constricted. There appears to be little space in the dwelling itself that could be used for storing necessary equipment like lawn mowers and gardening implements. The Planning Department has reviewed this request and made no comments. Staff recommends approval for cause: 1. The applicant has provided evidence that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship. Staff agrees that some structure for outdoor storage of automobiles and lawn mowers is necessary in this situation. There is no other location for such a structure on this property. 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. There is no property in the vicinity shaped as this one is. 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. The 25-foot strip of trees to the front of the property should partially screen the carport for most of the year. The difference in grade between the road and the parking area will also make the carport relatively unobtrusive. This Department has received no letters of objection to this request. Should the Board approve this request, staff recommends the following conditions: 1. The applicant shall submit a water quality impact assessment to the Albemarle County Engineering Department. A building permit shall not be issued for the carport without the approval of the Engineering Department. (.1 y, ,e /r•' ,`; alph4) 2 . No portion of the carport shall be closer than 25 feet to the right-of-way of Route 600. 3 . The 20-foot wooded area running along the front of the property shall remain undisturbed as long as the carport remains.