HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP202100024 Correspondence Initial Site Plan 2021-05-20I® COLLINS ENGINEERING
May 20, 2021
Mariah Gleason, Senior Planner
Albemarle County, Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
200 GARRETT ST, SUITE K CHARLOTTESVILLE VA 22902
(-434.293.3719 PH 434.293.2813 FX
www.coll ns-eng ineeri ng.com
Regarding: SUB2021-00060 — Glenbrook at Foothills, Phase ill Preliminary Plat — Waiver Request
for Private Street Authorization and Waiver request for one or more Street Standards
along the Private Street
Dear Mariah,
I'm writing to request a waiver by the commission for the authorization of private streets in the development area
for the Glenbrook at Foothills, Phase III project. The waiver request is consistent with section 14-233 of the
Albemarle County Subdivision Ordinance under Section 14-233.A.1.(iii) — rear vehicular access to buildings would
be provided so that the buildings may face a common amenity. A Private street is being pursued to allow access to
these lots from the rear of the parcels and allow attached housing lots to front on the Open space within the
development. We are requesting this waiver to allow a private street within this development, giving the ability
for a portion of the townhouse lots in the project to front on the public amenity space. The private street will be
constructed to a design width and pavement thickness to adequately serve as access to the single family attached
units and will be designed in accordance to VDOT and Albemarle County street standards. The design of these lots
fronting on a public amenity with access through a private street from the rear of the lot would meet all other the
subdivision ordinance requirements for the zoning district.
In addition, we are requesting a waiver to the street standards and requirements (Section 14-422 (E) & (F)) along
the private street behind the proposed housing fronting on public park amenities. Specifically, we are requesting a
waiver for the planting strips and sidewalks along this private street. In this situation, the sidewalk and planting
strips shall be installed along the front of the lots within the public amenity area and the intent of having a planting
strip and sidewalks in front of lots in the development area will be achieved with these features within the public
amenity. The private streets that serve as access to the lots will be consistent with the design guidelines for
streets and private roads as specified in the County design manual. They will have a curbing along the street and
allow the drainage to be captured with inlets.
Finally, we are requesting a waiver to section 32.3.5 (B) along the private streets behind the proposed housing
fronting on public park amenities to allow the street trees to be planted within the proposed planting strips along
the front of the lots within the public amenity area. The street trees would be installed within the planting strips
adjacent to the proposed sidewalks and along the property lines creating the separation between public amenity
space and the private front yards of the lots.
The waiver requests, as outlined above, are graphically depicted within the preliminary plat application plan for
the Glenbrook at Foothills Phase III project. These waivers will provide the flexibility to create a vibrant community
with interactive streets and public amenities through innovative neighborhood designs.
We ask that staff and the Commission grant the waivers and authorization for private streets for this proposed
development plan. The principles of Neighborhood design and planning are better met with the proposed design
and these waiver requests.
Thank you for considering this request.
Scott Collins, PE