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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZTA201200005 Action Letter Zoning Text Amendment 1976-04-15ROBERT W. TUCKER, JR. DIRECTOR OF PLANNING Miss Lettie E. Neher Clerk, Board of Supervisors County Office Building Charlottesville, Virginia Dear Miss Neher: t} VY OF AL.S�/�4 pF AL e�Y ��kCtN�P' Planning Department 804/296-5823 =414 EAST MARKET STREET ==CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 22901 .April 15, 1976 RONALD S. KEELER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING MARY JOY SCALA PLANNER The Albemarle County Planning Commission on April 13, 1976, recommended to the Board of Supervisors, by a vote of 6-3, the following amendments to the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance: 1. Include in the A-1, RS-1, R-1, R-2, and R-3 districts { as Section 2-1-27, 3-1-15, 4-1-14, 5-1-17 and 6-1-22, respectively, uses permitted by right ) a use reading: "accessory tourist lodging by permit issued by the Zoning Administrator for successive periods of twelve months pursuant to fire and safety regulations promulgated by the Albemarle County Fire Marshal and subsequent to approval by permit of the Bureau of Tourist Establishment Sanitation of the Virginia Department of Health. 2. Include in Article 16 the new section 16-2-1 reading: "Accessory Tourist Lodging: One or more rooms, located within a single- family dwelling which is actually used as such, which rooms are used, secondarily to such single-family use, for the temporary accomodation of transients in return, for compensation, whether or not such rooms are used in conjunction with other portions of such dwelling." In separate action the Planning Commission adopted a resolution of intent to review th`se amendments during the month of January, 1977, for possible repeal. They also recommended that this resolution be placed on all permits issued by the Zoning Administrator for accessory tourist lodging. The Planning Commission also recommended that some type of reasonable license fee be considered by the Board of Supervisors. Sincerely, Jane Carte Planning Department cc: Hartwell P. Clarke Kelly Reynolds CP r Fire Marshal's Office TELEPHONE 404 EAST MARKET STREET KELLY P. REYNOLDS (804) 29G-5832 CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 22901 FIRE MARSHAL MINIMUM FIRE SAFETY CRITERIA FOR ACCESSORY TOURIST LODGING The following minimum fire safety standards must be completed before the County Fire Marshal's Office will approve the public occupancy of an accessory tourist lodging: 1. HOUSEKEEPING HAZARDS: Check for storage of combustibles, paints -and rubbish in basements, closets, under stair- ways and next to furnaces. 2. FIRE EXITWAYS: Bedroom windows must open a minimum of 1 The exitway from the bedroom to the direct out- side exit must be clear, safe and unobstructed. 3. ELECTRICAL HAZARDS: Check for excessive use of extension cords, safe electrical receptacles and fixtures, over fusing and unsafe electrical wiring that is a direct fire safety hazard. 4. HEATING EQUIPMENT AND APPLIANCES: All furnaces,: heaters, and boilers must be in safe operating condition free of defects and hazards. Non -vented kerosene, wood and fuel stoves are prohibited. Portable electric heaters must be approved by the County Fire Marshal. 5. STRUCTURAL HAZARDS: Check for loose handrails, unsafe stairways and general structureal safety of floors, ceilings and walls. 6. OCCUPANCY LIMITATIONS: The County Fire Marshal shall limit the occupancy of sleeping quarters taking into consideration_ area of the room and exitway capacity. 7. SMOKE DETECTOR REQUIREMENT: Install a minimum of one (1) approved and listec_smoke detector capable of warning the occupants in the event of fire. April 13, 1976 FIRE PREVENTION THROUGH 6 EDUCATION ��.C%I OF ALS�� GopF AGe�Y �7Rc�N�r ROBERT W. TUCKER, JR. DIRECTOR OF PLANNING Miss Lettie E. Neher Clerk, Board of Supervisors County Office Building Charlottesville, Virginia Dear Miss Neher: Planning Department 804/296-5823 414 EAST MARKET STREET CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 22901 April 7, 1976 RONALD S. KEELER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING MARY JOY SCALA PLANNER Re: Planning Commission Action - ACCESSORY TOURIST LODGING COMMERCIAL OFFICE DISTRICT This is to inform you that the Albemarle County Planning Commission at its meetina April 6, 1976, deferred action on these requests in order to hold a special work session April 13, 1976. Sincerely, Jane Carter Planning Department jc/ OF ALSeA, C Office of Building Inspection 411 EAST HIGH STREET CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 22901 HARTWELL P. CLARKE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MEMO TO: Ron Keeler, Assistant Director of Planning FROM: H. P. Clarke, Zoning Administrator SUBJECT: Accessory Tourist Lodging DATE: March 23, 1976 You have asked for my comments on your report to the Planning Commission. I feel that Bob Tucker and I tried to solve an imminent problem when we asked the Board to consider Tourist Lodging in Residential Districts during the Bicentennial year. Your report reveals problems that appear to make the idea impractical. If tourists cannot be permitted to occupy large homes in the .County for the calendar year of 1976 only, I would not be in favor of any action. ROBERT W. TUCKER, JR. DIRECTOR OF PLANNING STAFF REPORT Iv OF AL13ZA1 ®0 of AL& LIRGiN�P Planning Department 804l296-5823 414 EAST MARKET STREET CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 22901 RONALD S. KEELER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING MARY JOY SCALA PLANNER SUBJECT: Board of Supervisors" Resolution of Intent to Amend the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to Include "Accessory Tourist Lodging" DATE: March 30, 1976 Staff Comment At the onset of consideration of "accessory tourist lodging" for the Bicentennial year of 1976, the staff was under the impression that this increased tourist lodging could be provided for by enactment of an emergency or other temporary ordinance. Since that time, the County Attorney has informed the staff that this cannot be accomplished on a temporary basis, but must be an amendment to the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance. Amendment of the Zoning Ordinance, found to be legally sound, is permanent unless repealed. Recognizing that repealer cannot be guaranteed, the staff has evaluated these proposed amendments as having permanency. Administration and Enforcement - Upon consultation with the Virginia Department of Health, the staff was informed that approval by permit from the Bureau of Tourist Establishment Sanitation would be required and has, subsequently, amended Item 1 of the Board of Supervisors' Resolution of Intent to read as follows: "accessory tourist lodging by permit iss y t e Zoning edb Administrator for successive periods of pursuant to fire and safety regulations promulgated by the Albemarle County Fire'Marshal and subsequent to approval by permit of the Bureau of Tourist Establishment Sanitation of the Virginia Department of Health." Since "accessory tourist lodging" is proposed as a use by right in the various zones, review would be only by the County Fire Marshal and the Virginia Department of Health, who would determine the capacity for transient occupants on an individual basis. Objections of adjacent property owners would not be entertained. ROM (2) Appropriateness to Stated Intent of the Various Zones - While motels and inns are by special permit in the A-1 zone, the staff refers the Commission to the Statement of Intent for that zone and specifically to the following: "It is the intent, however, to discourage random scattering of residential, commercial, or industrial uses in this type of district." No provision, either by right or by special permit, exists for any type of temporary lodging of transients in the RS-1, R-1, and R-2 residential zones. The staff refers the Commission to the Statements of Intent for each of these zones and presents here an excerpt common to these zones: "The regulations for this district are designed to stabilize and protect the essential characteristics of the district, to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life and to prohibit all activities of a commercial nature." Rooming and boarding houses and tourist homes are permitted by right in the R-3 residential zone. Since these are more intensive uses than the proposed "accessory tourist lodging" the staff finds no conflict, however, refers the Commission to the Statement of Intent for this zone for interpre- tation. Staff Recommendation The Zoning Ordinance is, by nature, intended to provide stability and to be enduring in order to accomplish the statements of intent of its various zones. In staff opinion, the Zoning Ordinance should not be subjected to temporal concerns. The staff, therefore, recommends that the Commission not support these amendments to the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance. If the Planning Commission supports these amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, the staff recommends that "accessory tourist lodging" would be appropriate to the R-3 residential zone only. Further, the staff recommends that the Commission adopt a resolution of intent to review these amendments for the purpose of repealer no later than one year from their effective date. RSK:sc Ot, dk&C &--� (9, �- lge� �O - "r,4 2 Vol paw s R E S 0 L U T 1 0 N 0 F I N T E 14 T WHEREAS, Albemarle County is an area of great historic interest to the people of the Commonwealth and of the United States; and WHEREAS, it is anticipated that a large number of tourists and other visitors will be visiting Albemarle County during the Bicentennial year of 1976; and WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors is concerned lest there be insufficient facilities within the County to provide needed services for such large numbers of visitors; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, does intend to amend the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance as follows: 1. By the inclusion in the A-1, RS-1, R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts (as Sections 2-1-27, 3-1-15, 4-1-14, 5-1-17 and 6-1-22., respectively, uses permitted by right) a use reading: "accessory tourist lodging by permit issued by the Zoning Administrator for successive periods of six months pursuant to fire and safety regulations pro- mulgated by the Albemarle County Fire Marshal." 2. By the inclusion in Article 16 of new section 16-2-1 reading: "ACCESSORY TOURIST LODGING: One or more rooms, located within a single-family dwelling which is actually used as such, which rooms are used, secondarily to such single-family use, for the temporary accommodation of transients in return for compensation, whether or not such rooms are used in conjunction with other portions of such dwelling." AND, FURTHER, requests the Albemarle County Planning Commission to hold public hearing on said proposed amendments and directs that a report be given to this Board at the earliest date possible; preferably as soon as seven days after legal advertising requirements are met for this public hearing. I. Lettie E. Neher, do hereby certify that the foregoing writing is a true, correct copy of a resolution adopted by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors at a regular meeting on March 105 .976. ------ Z_ Clerk, Board of County Supervisors Business Venture Taps Accommodations Need By SUZANNE FREEMAN "So far. we have about 20 homes lined up to use,"said of The Progress Staff Betty Edmonson, "and some of those have more than one A lot of people have been talking about the throngs of room we can use, but we're still looking for more homes." tourists expected in Charlottesville this year. They talk about two million visitors; about too few restrooms, scarce accommodations, not enough restaurants. And the talking goes on and on. Four local women have gone beyond the talking stage and decided to do something. At least about the accom- modation problem. On April 1, they opened the office of "Guesthouses, Bed & Breakfast," a business set up to find lodgings in private homes for Bicentennial visitors. "So many of the hotels and motels are already booked up for certain dates," said Joyce Carron, one of the four partners. "We realized there was going to be a terrible crunch if even the lowest prediction of visitors proved ac- curate." Carron came up with the idea for the venture . last January and contacted the others, Betty Edmonson, Mary Redenbaugh and Sally Reger, who became her partners. "I was enthusiastic about the idea right away," said Mary Redenbaugh, "because I had traveled in Europe and stayed in private homes there. I thought it was a wonderful way to travel and it made the whole experience more worthwhile." The Bed & Breakfast plan is based on a system which has been used in European countries for a number of years. Tourists are given a private room, private or semi -private bathroom and a light "continental" breakfast. For this, they pay about the same amount, or less than, the going rate in most hotels. B & B handles all the reservations and collects the pay- ment for the accommodations which is forwarded to the homeowner after a commission is subtracted Homeowners who want to rent out a room fill out an ap- plication with B & B. On the form, they are asked to describe the type of accommodations they have, and to note any preferences ( Will you accept visitors with pets? Will you accept visitors who smoke). When the application is completed, someone from B & B goes to inspect the home for final approval. So far, the partners say, they have not turned down a single homeowner who has applied. "We've had wonderful people offering their homes, " said Sally Reger. "A lot of them have offered extras too. Things like kennels for pets, or babysitting for children." A lot of the people who are renting out rooms are doing it for reasons other than the money they'll get, the women say. "Some of the hosts who are most excited about this are people who live all alone in big houses," Carron said. "They're looking forward to having people around." Bed & Breakfast will stop by the new office which is located in the D & B Fabrics building on Emmett St. to finalize their ar- rangements, and get directions to their'accommodations. "We like the fact that we will be able to meet the peo- ple," Carron said. "That's one of the best parts of an ar- rangement like this. We call it a `shared experience' because it's a way for the local people and the visitors to get to know each other. I think there's a certain mystique about Virginia, and I think, in general, Virginians are very nice people to know." B & B expects to place their first visitors in homes'during Historic Garden Week later this month. They have already had several requests to find accommodations during graduation time at the University. The partners have made no plans to extend the business beyond the Bicentennial year. "Primarily our aim is to work until the end of this year," Carron said. "We're not counting on going on beyond that. We're not even counting on making very much money from this. "Of course," shp added, smiling, "there's always the fan- tasy of making it big ... of franchises... 'BED AND BREAKFAST UNDERWAY` Reger, Edmondson and Redenbaugh Make Plans