HomeMy WebLinkAboutSE202100015 Review Comments Waiver, variation or substitution requirement 2021-06-23�goF�a Cameron Langille
County of Albemarle Principal Planner, Planning
blangilleC@albemarle.org
Community Development Department - Department Telephone: (434) 296-5832 ext. 3432
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Memorandum
To: Dan Franco, dfrancoC@roudabush.com
Date: June 23, 2021
Re: SE202100015 Belvedere Code of Development Variations — First Review Comments
The County of Albemarle Planning Division will recommend approval of the special exception requests
referenced above once the following comments have been addressed: [Each comment is preceded by the
applicable reference, which is to the Subdivision/Zoning Ordinances unless otherwise specified.]
1. Eliminate 2019-01413SF Landscaping Condition #3 on Fowler shoulder in the COD (#61)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.o(4) Minor changes to landscape or architectural standards
No objection, no revisions to this variation request are needed. See attached Zoning Division comments for a
detailed explanation.
2. Update the Built Form of Belvedere in the COD (#62)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.a(4) Minor changes to landscape or architectural standards allows this variation
request
Staff have no objection to the built form updates proposed with this variation request.
However, please revise the variation narrative so that it refers to block numbers as opposed to the "Superblock."
See attached Zoning Division comments for further information, and comments under variations #3, #4, and #5
below.
3. Eliminate Road Standards in the COD (#63)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.a(5) Minor changes to street design and street location, subject to a
recommendation for approval by the county engineer, • and
Please revise the variation narrative so that it states it refers to block numbers as opposed to the "Superblock."
Please see attached comments from the Engineering Division & the Department of Fire & Rescue. In order to
address those comments, please revise the narrative so that it states that the streets in Blocks 8 and 10 are not
subject to the street design standards specified in the Section 4 table of the Belvedere Code of Development, but
will still meet minimum VDOT and/or Fire Code requirements. If the applicant has questions about the specific
wording, please do not hesitate to contact Cameron Langille.
W W W.ALBEMARLE.ORG
401 McIntire Road, North Wing, I Charlottesville, VA 22902-4579
4. Update and revise Tables 1 and 2 in the COD (#64)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.o(2)- Changes to the arrangement of buildings and uses shown on the plan,
provided that the major elements shown on the plan and their relationships remain the some,
This variation proposes redistributing units from other Blocks 1, 2, and 6 to the remainder of Block 8 and Block 10.
This is eligible for a variation, however, changes to density that affect other Blocks must have permission from
those owners, per attached Zoning Division comments.
Additionally, please see attached Zoning Division comments regarding use of the term "Superblock." The term
"Superblock" should not be used in the narrative for this variation. Instead, continue to refer to the remaining
Blocks as Block 813/10 and the already developed portion of Block 8 could be referred to as 8A with the COD
update.
5. Add Planned Uses for SuperBlock (#65)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.o(2)- Changes to the arrangement of buildings and uses shown on the plan,
provided that the major elements shown on the plan and their relationships remain the some
Please see attached Zoning Division comments. As stated previously under variation #2, #3 and #4 above, the
term "Superblock' should not be used. Instead, continue to refer to the remaining Blocks as Block 813/10. The
already developed portion of Block 8 could be referred to as 8A with the COD update.
Per Zoning comments, the block descriptions should be revised so that they describe what features of Blocks
8A/10 will remain the same if this variation is approved, and what features of each block will be changed. It
appears that only the characteristics of Block 10 are proposed to change with this variation. If so, revisions to the
descriptions of Blocks 5 through 8 may not be necessary. Please verify which blocks would be changed by this
variation request, and provide a revised description of those blocks based on the changes proposed.
Please contact Cameron Langille in the Planning Division by using blangille@albemarle.org or 434-296-5832 ext.3432 for
further information.
Comments from Other Reviewers:
Albemarle County Zoning Division — Rebecca Ragsdale, rraasdale@albemarle.org - Requested changes, see attached.
Albemarle County Engineering Division — Frank Pohl, foohI(@albemarle.org — See attached recommendation regarding
variation request #3.
Albemarle County Fire & Rescue — Howard Lagomarsino, hlaaomarsino(c@albemarle.org — See attached
recommendations and comments regarding variation request #3.
W W W.ALBEMARLLORG
401 McIntire Road, North Wing, I Charlottesville, VA 22902-4579
V
REBECCA RAGSDALE
County of Albemarle Principal Planner, Zoning
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT rraasdalePalbemarle.ora
a 434-296-5832 ext. 3226
To: Cameron Langille, Principal Planner
Date: June 17, 2021
Re: Zoning Review Comments for Belvedere Variations dated April 2, 2021, received April 25, 2021
The following comments are provided as input from the Zoning Division regarding the above noted variation
requests. The Zoning Ordinance section that authorizes the variation request is referenced below the
applicants requests. A complete amended code of development must be within 30 days of approval of special
exceptions. It must incorporate/update all variations approved to -date. The latest tracking table is provided for
reference. The requested variations are #61-65. I recommend that be provided with the resubmittal to address
review comments.
1. Eliminate 2019-01413SF Landscaping Condition #3 on Fowler shoulder in the COD (#61)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.a(4) Minor changes to landscape or architectural standards
This was originally required with Variation #54. That variation decreased Greenspace in Block 9 and
increased Greenspace in Block 10. It also included a reduction in Conservation Area at the northern
edge of Block 9, adjacent to Fowler Street, and on the edge of Block 10. With the reduced area,
Planning recommended a condition of approval to provide a landscape screen so that the purpose and
intent of the Conservation Area would still be met. Zoning staff doesn't believe that Lot 201 is unique
from other corner lots throughout Belvedere and doesn't object to this condition being eliminated. The
Conservation Area is still remaining and platted, this would only eliminate the landscape condition.
2. Update the Built Form of Belvedere in the COD (#62)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.a(4) Minor changes to landscape or architectural standards allows
this variation request.
Since Belvedere was approved, the NMD district requirements changed such that some architectural
standards are not required. Much of the standards remaining in the COD could be eliminated and left to the
ARC. The standards are already enforced by the ARC and not by County staff during permit review.
g. Architectural standards that will apply in the NMD, which shall address the following:
1. The form, massing, and proportions of structures which may be provided through illustrations;
2. Fagade treatments;
3. The preservation of historic structures, sites, cemeteries, and archeological sites identified by the Virginia
Department of Historic Resources; and
4. Architectural styles, materials, colors and textures if these elements are determined to be necessary in order for
a proposed development to be compatible with its contiguous developed surroundings. The provisions in a code
of development adopted prior to October 14, 2009 pertaining to subsections 20A.5(g)(1) through (4) shall be the
only architectural standards in the code of development that apply to the planned development.
The architectural standards were last updated with Variation 58 approved March 6, 2019. Please make sure
this variation is based on the latest version of the COD and incorporated into a comprehensive COD update.
The regulatory documents should still refer to blocks and not use the term "Superblock." See more detailed
comments below in requests #4 and #5.
WWW.ALBEMARLE.ORG
401 McIntire Road, Suite 228 1 Charlottesville, VA 22902-4596
3. Eliminate Road Standards in the COD (#63)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.a(5) Minor changes to street design and street location, subject to
a recommendation for approval by the county engineer; and
This variation is requested as a result of conflicts between COD requirements, emergency access
requirements and on -street parking. Zoning doesn't object to this request in general and primarily this
variation is within the purview of the County Engineer, VDOT, and Fire Marshal. However, on -street
parking has been important in providing needed parking for residential units. Also, when SP was
approved for the SOCA facility on TMP, it was expected that on -street parking would be constructed to
serve that use.
4. Update and revise Tables f and 2 in the COD (#64)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.a(2)- Changes to the arrangement of buildings and uses shown on the plan,
provided that the major elements shown on the plan and their relationships remain the some;
Regarding carriage houses and accessory units, ZMA201800007 amended carriage house regulations
to allow them to be detached or attached to the primary dwelling. Also, carriage house units may be in
associatiation with attached housing types. Proffers were amended to allow not only carriage houses
but accessory apartments/units to count towards the minimum 103 affordable units required by the
proffer. Attached or accessory units may not be assigned a separate address but are tracked in County
View with suffixes SFAA or SFAAA. Based on review of data, 25 accessory units have been
constructed. The unit information that was provided with the justification was confusing and must
include exact numbers, not ranges for units built or platted.
This variation proposes redistributing units from other Blocks 1, 2, and 6 to the remainder of Block 8
and Block 10. This is eligible for a variation, however, changes to density that affect other Blocks must
have permission from those owners.
The term "Superblock" should not be used. Instead, continue to refer to the remaining Blocks as Block
813/10 and the already developed portion of Block 8 could be referred to as 8A with the COD update.
5. Add Planned Uses for SuperBlock (#65)
Ref. Zoning Ordinance: Sec. 8.5.5.3.a(2)- Changes to the arrangement of buildings and uses shown on the plan,
provided that the major elements shown on the plan and their relationships remain the some
As stated previously, the term "Superblock" should not be used. Instead, continue to refer to the
remaining Blocks as Block 813/10 and the already developed portion of Block 8 could be referred to as
8A with the COD update. For purposes of updating the COD if this variation is approved, the block
descriptions must be re -written, not by reference. The descriptions must be clear on what features of
Blocks 8A/10 will remain and what is proposed to be changed. I believe only the characteristics of Block
10 are proposed to change with this variation, so changes to the Blocks 5 through 8 description may
not even be necessary.
WWW.ALBEMARLE.ORG
401 McIntire Road, Suite 228 1 Charlottesville, VA 22902-4596
Review Comments for SE202100015
Project Name: BELVEDERE - DIGITAL
Date Completed: Friday, April 30, 2021 Department/DivisiordAgency: Review Status:
Reviewer: Frank Pohl CDD Enaineerina No Objection
Page: 1� County of Albemarle Printed On: 06/23/2021
Review Comments for SE202100015
Project Name: BELVEDERE - DIGITAL
Date Completed: Thursday, May 13, M1 Department/Division/Agency: Review Status:
Reviewer: Howard Lagomarsino Fire Rescue See Recommendations
At this time Fire Rescue does not support the waimr/variance for the protion of this request invloving fire apparatustemergency
access roads as this will negatively impact public safety and have a negative impact on preventing fire spread:
The requirements for Emergency and Fire Access Roads are a minimum requirement of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention
Code. Though VDOT standards are less restrictive, the requirement for a minimum of one fire apparatustemergency access
road for structures and the standards in the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code supercedes VDOT minimums for that
road. The required fire access road must conform to the standards in the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code as listed
below:
1) To accommodate emergency/fire vehicle access, emergency vehicle access road(s)/route(s) are required
2) Fire apparatus access roads shall extend to within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of all portions of the facility and all portions of the
exterior walls of the first story of the buildings as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the buildings. It is
important to note, to meet this requirement, there may need to be more than one fire apparatus access road.
3) An emergency/fire vehicle access road/route needs to provide a suitable surface to sustain the weight of emergency
apparatus weighing up to 85,000 lbs.
4) An emergency/fire vehicle access road/route needs to provide an unobstructed travel way width of 20 ft. if
buildings/structures are under 30 feet tall and 26 ft. if buildings/structures are over 30 feet tall
5) Emergency/fire vehicle access roads need to be clear of overhead obstructions at 13 ft 6 in. and below
6) To ensure that parking does not obstruct the emergency apparatus travel way as described above, no parking signs are
required in appropriate areas
7) Any dead-end longer than 150 ft requires an approved turn around for emergency apparatus
Page: County of Albemarle Printed On: 06/23/2021