HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP202000063 Request for Exception 2020-10-05SHIMP ENGINEERING, P.C.
Design Focused Engineering
October 5, 2020
County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
RE: SDP202000034 HTC Area C Townhomes
Request for Exception from Section 14-401— Double Frontage Lots
To Whom It May Concern,
Pursuant to Section 14-203.1(B) of the Subdivision Ordinance of the Albemarle County Code, the agent
or the commission may vary or except the requirements of Section 14-401. Section 14-401 prohibits the
development of double frontage lots for single family and attached residential uses. On behalf of Post
Office Land Trust; Charles WM Hurt & Shirley L Fisher Trustees (the "Owner"), we hereby request an
exception from the prohibition of double frontage lots for the development of HTC Area C Townhomes,
Block II (TMP 32-4 U) (the "property"), allowing for construction of the property frontage along Berkmar
Drive, Timberwood Boulevard, and Connor Drive to more fully realize Area C's rezoned designation of
PD-MC.
The approved ZMA201700005 is a revision to ZMA201300004, which revised the original ZMA 01-20-
2001. These ZMAs established a PD-MC district within the Hollymead Town Center to encourage an
integrated mixed -use development along Route 29. The approved ZMA201700005 allows for residential
uses in Block II of attached single-family or multifamily units. The Code of Development accompanying
ZMA201700005 aims to foster an active mixed -use area, where community members can reside and
access neighborhood services. As a County -identified Community Center, Hollymead Town Center is a
destination within Places29 North, providing multimodal connectivity, buildings and street design of
human scale, integrated open space, as well as, housing, employment, and services.
With regard to the double frontage exception request, please consider the following analysis from Section
14-203.1(B)(3):
Block II has public road frontage on 3 sides of Berkmar Drive, Timberwood Boulevard, and Connor
Drive. Lots 1-35 front on Berkmar Drive, Timberwood Boulevard, and Connor Drive; along these
frontages, SDP2020000034 proposes 10' sidewalks, where possible, in accordance with
ZMA201700005's Code of Development. The intent of ZMA201700005 and the Code of Development
seeks to encourage an active space through enhancing the public streetscape and guiding pedestrian traffic
towards the perimeters of the blocks in Area C and align more closely with neighborhood model
principles. Hollymead Town Center is a County -identified Center, with a regional shopping center
immediately adjacent to the property. Lots 1-35 are externally oriented to have front doors onto the active
streetscape and the site plan proposes rear -loaded units to maintain the ease of pedestrian activity around
the block. With front -loaded lots, residents in lots 1-35 would be required to back out onto these public
streets. The reverse maneuver onto the public streets could not only impact traffic, but could be
dangerous. Placing an alley behind lots 1-35 was explored, however, lots 36-60 require frontage from the
edge of sidewalk, as the Code of Development determines build -to lines, as opposed to setbacks. Due to
these circumstances, internal road circulation minimizes conflict points on Berkmar Drive, Timberwood
Boulevard, and Connor Drive, while complying with neighborhood model principles of rear -loaded units,
establishing a more urban streetscape in Hollymead Town Center.
912 E. High St. Charlottesville, VA 22902 1434.227.5140 1 shimp-engineering.com
Regards,
Justin Shimp, P.E.