HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP202100047 Correspondence Major Amendment, Final Site Plan 2021-08-04waterstreetstudio
August 4, 2021
Mr. Kevin McCollum
Planner
County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
RE: SDP202100047 Major Amendment to SDP200300067 — Umansky Subaru
Dear Kevin,
This letter is to accompany the revised Major Site Plan Amendment plans and serve as response to your
June 17, 2021 review comment letter: The responses are numbered to match the numbering of the
comments provided.
Albemarle County Planning Services (Planner) — Kevin McCollum
1. [32.5.2(a)] Please include this major amendment's site plan application number in the title,
SDP202100047.
Response: Added to the Cover Sheet title.
2. [32.5.2(a)] Please include the Entrance Corridor Overlay District, Airport Impact Area, and Steep
Slopes — Managed with the Zoning information on Sheet L100.
Response: Added to the Cover Sheet.
3. [32.5.2(a) and 4.20] Setbacks. Please update the applicable setbacks in accordance with Section 4.20
of the Zoning Ordinance. There is no maximum front building setback since the property is abutting Route
29 and there is no need to include the residential setback since the abutting properties are zoned
commercial.
Response: Setback data corrected as suggested.
4. [32.5.2(b) and 4.12] Please see Zoning comments (pending) for any additional analysis of the parking
requirements.
Response: No additional comments provided.
a. There is a discrepancy between the number of Employees listed (60) and the number shown in
the parking schedule (58). SDP200300067 suggests there are 82 service Employees for which 82
parking spaces were provided.
Response: The number of employee discrepancy has been corrected. At the time of the 2003 site
plan, it was estimated that there would be 82 service employees on site after full build -out. That
number of employees was never realized. There are only 58 service employees.
b. The adjusted display parking calculation is correct. 2,928 sf of display area shown on
SDP200300067 is being removed for the building additions.
Response: No action required.
c. The parking schedule suggests that there are 88 parking spaces provided for the 44 service bays,
however, it appears additional service bays are being provided. It appears that there will be an
additional 5,685 square feet of additional service bay area.
Response: The purpose for the building expansion is to provide more and better circulation for intake
into the service bay area. No new service bays are proposed.
d. Please update the parking schedule accordingly for comments a and c above.
Response: Parking schedule adjusted.
111 3rd street se charlottesville, virginia 22902 434.295.8177 t waterstreetstud i o. net
5. [32.5.2(e), 32.6.20), 32.7.9] Landscape Features. Please revise the Landscaping Plan on Sheet L106
to comply with Section 32.7.9 of the Zoning Ordinance.
a. Please include a revised plant list, revised canopy calculations, planting notes, screening, and any
other applicable planting information.
Response: All required data added to Landscape Sheet.
b. Please see ARB comments attached below for additional comments.
Response: ARB comments addressed below.
c. [32.7.9.6] Landscaping plan must address all applicable requirements for landscaping within parking
areas.
i. [32.7.9.6 (b)] This includes one (1) tree per every 10 parking spaces provided on site.
ii. [32.7.9.6 (a)] An area of at least five percent of the paved parking and vehicular circulation area
shall be landscaped with trees or shrubs.
Response: Data showing proof of meeting these requirements added to the Landscape Plan.
d. Canopy requirements.
i. [32.7.9.8 (a)(1)] A minimum of 10% canopy of the site area must be landscaped.
Response: Data showing proof of meeting this requirement added to the Landscape Plan.
e. [32.5.2(e), 32.7.9.4, 32.7.9] Please update the plant schedule to include the botanical name, common
name, size, and quantity of all existing and proposed landscaping features.
i. Please provide the canopy area per plant for each species type, and then state the total canopy
per species type based on the number of trees/shrubs provided.
Response: Plant schedule corrected.
6. [32.5.20)(k)(1) and 32.6.2(g)] Please submit an Easement Plat Application for all new and revised
easements proposed on the site plan. This includes easements for drainage, stormwater, water, and
sewer utilities. The easement plat must be reviewed, approved, and recorded prior to approval of the
major site plan amendment.
a. Once the easement plat is approved and recorded, please update all applicable sheets on the site plan
so that easements are labeled by their type, width, whether they are publiclprivate, and the recorded
instrument number for the plat that created the easement.
Response: The Easement Plat Application will be submitted under separate cover. The plat is being
prepared by the project surveyor.
7. [32.5.2(i)(m)] Please see Fire -Rescue's comments below regarding the travelways, ingress and egress.
Response: Fire -Rescue comments addressed below.
8. [32.6.2(k) and 4.17] Outdoor Lighting. If there is any additional proposed lighting or any proposed
changes to any existing lighting please revise and submit an Outdoor Lighting Plan. Please include all
applicable lighting information, cutsheets, notes, etc.
Response: Lighting Plan and Details added to the revised plan set.
9. [Advisory Comment] Please see ARB's comments following the ARB meeting on 6/7/2021. The
suggested changes may influence the overall design of this Site Plan.
Response: Noted.
10. [Advisory Comment] Pending any Site Plan revisions based on comments from ARB, Fire -Rescue,
and Zoning, additional comments will be provided.
Response: Noted.
Albemarle County Building Inspections — Betty Slough
1. Note 8 on the cover page should be 2009 version of the Accessible and usable Buildings, not the 2003.
Response: Note 8 corrected.
111 3rd street se charlottesville, virginia 22902 434.295.8177 t waterstreetstud io. net
Albemarle County Engineering Services (Engineer) — Matthew Wantland
1. A VSMP plan will need to be submitted and approved prior to site plan amendment approval
Response: A WPO application has been prepared and submitted separately.
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) — Adam Moore
No Objection, see attached recommendations (5/19/2021).
Response: No action required.
Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue — Howard Lagomarsino,
1. To accommodate emergency/fire vehicle access, emergency vehicle access road(s)/route(s) are
required.
Response: Sheet L108 — Fire Circulation Exhibit added to the plans to demonstrate emergency vehicle
circulation and access.
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 or facility
Response: Sheet L108 — Fire Circulation Exhibit.
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.
Response: All existing and proposed pavement sections on site can accommodate emergency apparatus.
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. Please
clarify width of travelways in the project area
Response: Sheet L108 — Fire Circulation Exhibit. 24 ft of unobstructed travel width is provided to all
structures. It is not feasible to provide 26 ft on this site given the existing condition constraints.
5. Emergency/fire vehicle access roads need to be clear of overhead obstructions at 13 ft 6 in. and below
Response: The are no overhead obstructions on the emergency vehicle circulation route.
6. To accommodate fire apparatus, turn radii serving fire apparatus access must be a minimum of 25 ft.
Response: Sheet L108 — Fire Circulation Exhibit.
7. To ensure that parking does not obstruct the emergency apparatus travel way as described above, no
parking signs are required in appropriate areas
Response: Sheet L108 — Fire Circulation Exhibit.
8. Any dead-end longer than 150 ft requires an approved turn around for emergency apparatus. The
addition creates a dead end between the project building and the existing Honda/Jeep Show Room.
Please clarify length of dead-end and provide an appropriate turn around if 150 ft.
Response: Sheet L108 — Fire Circulation Exhibit.
9. Road grade cannot exceed 10 %
Response: The grades on the proposed emergency vehicle circulation route are less than 10%.
10. Provide a note of the required ISO fire calculation for the building, including the addition
Response: The required fire flow for the building based on construction type and square footage is
provided on Sheet L105 and L108.
11. Indicate on the plan the latest ACSW flow test to ensure adequate fire flow per calculation in comment
#6
Response: Sheet L108 — Fire Circulation Exhibit.
111 3rd street se charlottesville, virginia 22902 434.295.8177 t waterstreetstud io. net
12. Additional hydrants for the site appear to be required; locations of required fire hydrants are
determined by calculations in # 6 with spacing in accordance with the required fire flow calculation
(minimum of 500 feet and arranged so that no building is more than 250 feet from a hydrant by
roadway/travelway).
Response: An additional fire hydrant has been added at the site entrance at Hilton Heights Road.
13. There is no hydrant within 100 feet of the existing fire department connection on the Honda/Jeep
building. When discussing hydrants, take this into consideration as this project's addition will eliminate
access to the FDC to just one route and provides fire exposure risk to fire personnel and apparatus
operating in between the buildings
Response: Sheet L108 — Fire Circulation Exhibit. The existing FDC on the Honda/Jeep building is just
barely more than 1 00'from the nearest fire hydrant and it could be argued that existing emergency
access around the west side of the Subaru building is not feasible due to tight geometry and crowded
vehicular storage. We feel that the Fire Circulation Exhibit demonstrates clear and navigable emergency
access.
14. If the project building with addition requires a fire suppression system, then the FDC needs to be on
the address side of the building, must have Charlottesville Threads, and be within 100 ft of a hydrant that
is arranged so that when in use the fire apparatus access is not impaired.
Response: The proposed fire hydrant addition at the site entrance adequately addresses the fire flow
needs for the building expansion without the need for a fire suppression system.
15. A Knox Box will be required. Please place a note indicating this on the plan. The location of this can
be coordinated with the Fire Marshal's Office.
Response: A note regarding the required Knox Box has been added to the plans.
16. Fire suppression, fire alerting systems and other building design features, such as exits, interior
finishes, building access etc., are the purview of the building official and required as directed by that
office.
Response: Noted.
Albemarle County Service Authority — Richard Nelson
Comments will be forwarded to Applicant upon receipt.
Response: We spoke with ACSA several times during the review period but not written comments were
ever provided. We will continue to touch base with ACSA. There may be ACSA comment regarding the
proposed fire hydrant addition.
Albemarle County Information Services (E911) — Elise Kiewra
No Objection
Response: No action required.
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) — Alan Mazurowski
No Objection
Response: No action required.
Albemarle County Zoning Services — Francis MacCall and Keith Bradshaw
Comments will be forwarded to Applicant upon receipt.
Response: No comments provided.
Architectural Review Board — Khris Taggart
1. Consider reducing the amount of ACM panel used in the design, increasing the use of warmer colors,
and increasing materials with greater texture.
Response: Addressed by Architect and ARB application.
2. Revise the plans to include the standard window glass note: Visible light transmittance (VLT) shall not
drop below 40%. Visible light reflectance (VLR) shall not exceed 30%.
Response: Addressed by Architect and ARB application.
111 3rd street se charlottesville, virginia 22902 434.295.8177 t waterstreetstud io. net
3. Indicate if any roof or ground -mounted equipment is proposed with the renovations to the building. If
new equipment is proposed, show locations and show how that equipment will be screened from the EC.
Response: Addressed by Architect and ARB application.
4. Indicate if any site or building -mounted lighting is proposed with the renovations to the building. If new
lighting is proposed, provide complete details.
Response: Lighting/Photometric Plan added.
5. Revise the landscape plan to show all previously approved landscaping, and further clarify the proposal
to identify plants to remain, plants to be removed, and plants to be added.
Response: See revised Landscape Plan.
6. Revise the landscape plan to provide show the correct quantity of shade trees along the parking area
adjacent to Hilton Heights Rd.
Response: See revised Landscape Plan.
7. Revise the landscape plan to show all approved landscaping along the eastern end of the building.
Response: See revised Landscape Plan.
8. Revise the landscape plan to include plant species.
Response: See revised Landscape Plan.
9. Sign applications are required for all proposed signs.
Response: Noted.
10. Changes to coping color and sign colors could help reduce the trademark impact.
Response: Noted.
Please find the attached digital copies of revised plans. Please do not hesitate to call (434) 531-5544 if
you have any questions or need anything additional.
Sincerely,
Alan Franklin, PE
Waterstreet Studio, LLC
111 3rd street se charlottesville, virginia 22902 434.295.8177 t waterstreetstud io. net