HomeMy WebLinkAboutHS201900026 Application 2020-06-02 (5)April 7, 2020
Rebecca Ragsdale, Principal Planner
Community Development
County of Albemarle
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Re: The Manors Home Stay Special Exception Request (HS201900026)
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Depr Ms. Ragsdale,
You asked for a response to concerns raised in emails and correspondence received about The
Manors home stay special exception request for 2405 Northfield Road. After carefully
reviewing the emails and correspondence you received in opposition to our Special Exception
request, it has become obvious that the opposition was instigated and coordinated by only a
few individuals. In particular, language used in the emails from Ms. Kildea and Ms. Cosselman,
and the letter from Mr. and Ms. Aylor is very similar. It should be noted that these individuals
live several blocks away (over 1000 feet) from 2405 Northfield Road. I think it is also of interest
that two of these property owners themselves have approved tourist lodging permits. Ms.
Kildea received approval for a tourist lodging use on November 11, 2014, and Ms. Cosselman
received approval for a tourist lodging use on February 23, 2018. It is difficult to understand
how they can object to a type of use they themselves are undertaking.
The only other letter is from Mr. Crutchfield who lives across the road on a large lot that is
almost 7 acres in size. Mr. Crutchfield's residence is well set back from Northfield Road. We
are hopeful we can at some point speak with Mr. Crutchfield about any concerns he may have.
It should be noted that many property owners were notified of our request both through the
County's adjacent property owner notice of February 7, 2020 and through a letter circulated by
the Northfield Community Association Executive Board (of which Ms. Kildea arld Mr. Aylor are
members) and correspondence was received from only four households. A letter of support
was also received from Mr. Waki Wynn and his wife who reside in the Northfields
neighborhood.
There are presently six tourist homes/home stay uses approved within the Northfields and
Raintree neighborhoods. To our knowledge none of these applications were objected to and
none have pfesented problems for residents of the neighborhood.
Our special exception request is to permit up to an additional three guestrooms (for a total of
five guestrooms). While this number of guestrooms may be more than some of the other home
stay uses in the neighborhood, there are several reasons why the additional guestrooms will
not negatively impact the neighborhood in general.