HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP202000013 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2020-11-12County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
Memorandum
To: Scott Clark, Senior Planner
From: Lea Brumfield, Senior Planner II
Division: Zoning
Date: 12 November 2020
Subject: Initial Comments for SP202000013 — Wavertree Hall
The following comments are provided as input from the Zoning Division regarding the above
noted application for special events by special use permit at Tax Map Parcel 07000-00-00-
03900.
1. Transportation Plan
a. Staff recommends including in the applicant's transportation plan additional
information about primary travel routes to and from the events proposed under
the Special Use Permit. Neighbors' feedback has repeatedly mentioned
concerns over whether event attendees will primarily use Dick Woods Road or
Plank Road to access the location.
b. Staff recommends including requirements for shuttle buses for events over 150
guests, as 150 guests is the maximum permitted by the Supplementary
Regulations for Special Events Special Use Permits.
c. Currently, the proposed transportation plan for the Special Use Permit does not
require shuttle buses, but only proposes to work with applicants on potential
shuttle buses. Staff recommends requiring shuttle buses for events with over 150
guests to reduce traffic to and from the site.
2. Sound Study
a. The sound study provided by the applicant demonstrates sound levels meeting
County noise level restrictions of a maximum of 60 dBA during the daytime and
55 dBA during the nighttime as the noise crosses the southern borders of the
property, but does not provide any modeling for the sound as it crosses the
northern, western, or eastern borders of the property. In particular, the sound
study does not show the sound levels as they reach neighboring homes. If
Zoning Review Comments for SP20??-00000 or ZMA20???-00000
possible, please include the sound levels as they reach neighboring homes, and
show the homes on the sound study map, particularly TMPs 07000-00-00-06200,
07000-00-00-05600, 07000-00-00-06400, 07000-00-00-06500, 07000-00-00-
06600, 07000-00-00-039A0, and 07000-00-00-039E0.
b. As noted in the Sound Study, "A noise ordinance is not fully capable of
characterizing a neighbor's acceptance of noise." In particular, neighbors are
rarely accepting of audible noise that falls below regulated levels but lasts for
hours at a time, as special events do. Any additional restrictions on outdoors
sound levels, such as required use of a house speaker system with limitations
imposed on the sound levels, will likely be helpful in demonstrating good will
towards neighboring property owners.
c. In keeping with the requirements for an Outdoor Amplified Sound Zoning
Clearance for events at a farm winery, which is the closest similar permitted use
in the ordinance to the proposed use at Wavertree, staff strongly recommends
the owner include in the special use permit application a requirement that the
owner own and maintain a sound level meter and monitor sound levels to ensure
compliance with the applicable standards in section 4.18.