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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP202100013 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2021-08-05 (2)COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Community Development 401 McIntire Road, North Wing Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596 Phone (434) 296-5832 Fax (434) 972-4126 August 5, 2021 Mr. Hub Knott 101 Rock Bottom Ln Afton VA 22920 RE: SP202100013 Living Earth School Dear Mr. Knott: Your request for Special Use Permit SP202100013 for the proposed Living Earth School camp has been reviewed by members of Albemarle County staff and our partner agencies. Review comments are provided below, organized by Department, Division, or agency. Plannin¢ (Scott Clark) Overall, staff does not have major concerns with the appropriateness of this use under the Comprehensive Plan, as it is relatively low -impact and the limited improvements would mostly be reversible, meaning that the site could revert to forestry or agricultural uses. However, there are specific issues (especially traffic generation and road conditions) that will need be addressed in detail in order for the proposal to meet the standards for special use permit approval. • Conceptual Plan o Please note that, while my comments address the plan submitted after your meeting with Supervisor Palmer and Commissioner Firehock, the other reviewers' comments are in reaction to the original plan. Therefore those comments may mention elements that are no longer proposed. o Overall, distance of proposed structures/cabins/tents from the property boundaries is a concern, in case of future land -use changes adjacent to this property. Please either show setbacks from the property line on the plan, or propose setbacks to be applied via conditions of approval. (We would suggest 100 feet or more, if possible.) Ideally there would be a designated wooded buffer between the property line and any developed area. o The "pavilion/nature library" show in the Water Protection Ordinance stream buffer must be located outside that buffer. o Please provide dimensions to ensure that two driveways, a parking area, and the proposed camp hall can all fit between the property boundary and the stream buffer, and/or relocate that proposed structure. Please see Chapter 18 sections 4.12.16 and 4.12.17 of the County Code for the minimum dimensions for parking spaces and access aisles to help you measure this out. Also, please remember that grading for the access and for the camp hall cannot intrude into the stream buffer. This might require you to alter the proposed location of the building. o Now that the pond is no longer proposed, what does the oval in the stream buffer by the camp hall represent? Or does that just need to be removed? o What surface treatment is proposed for the "footpath/service drive"? Is there an existing road or trail in place? o The land directly downhill of the proposed camp hall is in the stream buffer. Have you consulted with the health department or a wastewater system contractor about where septic fields would be located? o Where would the shower building and the composting toilets be located (in at least general terms — we don't need exact locations at this stage)? • Roads/Transportation o The proposed main access route (from the north, approaching from Dick Woods Road), as noted in the application, is a narrow gravel road. This section of Pounding Branch Road is often too narrow for vehicles travelling in opposite directions to pass each other while remaining on the road surface. Further, it has multiple "pinch points" where neither vehicle could pull off due to steep -banked road cuts, trees and other vegetation, and areas lacking shoulders. Especially during summer -camp drop-off and pick-up times, arriving and departing vehicles that meet on this road are likely to create bottlenecks or lead to unsafe reversing maneuvers. o We strongly recommend that you consider revising your application to commit to use of bus shuttles from elsewhere in the area, so that individual vehicles do not need to use Pounding Branch Road for camper drop-off and pickup. Zonin¢ (Francis MacCaU) Please see attached comments. Natural Resources (Kim Biasiolli) The following recommendations are provided to ensure protection of water quality and other natural resources: 1. Relocate the play meadows outside of the 100' Water Protection Ordinance buffer and allow this to be naturally vegetated with woody vegetation. 2. Ensure that the pavilion/nature library, and any other structures are located outside of the WPO buffer. 3. Please provide an updated plan showing the location of the additional structures and facilities listed in the narrative table but not currently shown on the plan. 4. Please include description of the pond construction and any associated impacts. 2 Engineering (Frank Pohl) • [17-601] 100-ft stream buffers are required to be established and managed for non-exempt activities, which consists of a native riparian forest with ground cover, shrubs, and tree canopy layers. Each stream buffer shall be maintained in as natural a condition as possible. Structures are prohibited from being located in a stream buffer. "Play meadows" must align with activities that are allowed within a stream buffer [17-603.C]. Please provide a description of how the stream buffers would be reestablished and how the play meadows would be compatible with stream buffer requirements. Service drives also cannot be located with stream buffers (if all dashed lines are intended to be both footpaths and service drives) Primitive trails are allowed within buffers. VDOT (Adam Moore) Please see attached comments. Note that you may need to hire a professional site surveyor or engineer to address these comments. Please contact VDOT directly if you have technical questions about how to provide the necessary information. Fire/Rescue comments will be provided as soon as they are available Resubmittal If you choose to resubmit, please use the attached form. There is no fee for the first resubmittal. The resubmittal date schedule and other related resources are provided for your convenience online at: https://www.albemarle.org/departtnent.asp?department--cdd&relpage=15259 Notification and Advertisement Fees Additional notification fees will not be required unless a deferral takes place and adjoining owners need to be notified of a new date. Community Meeting Prior to requesting a public hearing with the Planning Commission and Board, a community meeting must be held in accordance with Zoning Ordinance Section 18-33.37. Please contact me with any questions and/or requests for assistance you may have. I can be reached at sclark&albemarle.org or 434-296-5832, ext. 3249. Sincerely, �-47— c Scott Clark Senior Planner II Planning Division enc: Zoning Comments VDOT Comments Action After Receipt of Comment Letter Resubmittal Form 3 Memorandum To: Scott Clark From: Francis H MacCall Division: Zoning Date: 8/5/2021 Subject: Initial Review Comments for SP2021-00013 The following comments are provided as input from the Zoning Division regarding the above noted application(s). 1. Conformity with Zoning Ordinance shown on Concept plan a. It appears that all proposed structures would meet setbacks. Please note the setbacks on the plan as being 75' Front, 25' side, and 35' Rear. Provide a note on the plan that states that all proposed structures will meet applicable setbacks. b. All structures must be located in building sites. Building sites are the areas out of stream buffers (purple area on plan), steep slopes (Burnt Orange or brown areas on plan), and floodplain (none on plan). One of the pavilions/nature libraries appear to be in the stream buffer. c. A Zoning Clearance will be needed if the use is approved by the BOS. d. The following Supplemental Regulations (Section 5.1.05) need to be met. Provide how they are being met or note that they are not applicable. i. Will there be provisions for outdoor cooking, campfires, cooking pits? If so, then Albemarle County fire official approval is required. ii. The use shall conform to the requirements of the Virginia Department of Health Bureau of Tourist Establishment Sanitation and other applicable requirements. The Health Department has requested to review this application. Please verify with them that this regulation is met. 2. Conditions (SPs) a. Review of proposed condition is requested. 4 (1) COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Stanc,n C. Brich, P.E. 1401 East Band Stmat (804) 7842701 Gommi�acna Richmond, Virginia 23219 I.: (804) 7862940 August 05, 2021 Scott Clark County of Albemarle Department of Community Development 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Re: SP-2021-00013- Living Earth School — Special Use Permit Dear Mr. Clark: The Department of Transportation, Charlottesville Residency Transportation and Land Use Section, has reviewed the above referenced plan as submitted by Adam "Hub" Knott, dated June 09, 2021, and offer the following comment. I. It appears the daily trips will be over 50, please provide V DOT with an entrance plan showing that it meets the requirements for a commercial entrance. 2. Please provide stopping sight distance, and intersection sight distance profile, at proposed entrance. If further information is desired, please contact Willis C. Bedsaul at 434-422-9866. A VDOT Land Use Permit will be required prior to any work within the right of way. The owner/developer must contact the Charlottesville Residency land Use Section at (434) 422-9399 for information pertaining to this process. Sincerely, Adam J. Moore, P.E. Area Land Use Engineer Charlottesville Residency Virginial)OT.org WE KEEP VIRGINIA MOVING 5 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTION AFTER RECEIPT OF COMMENT LETTER Within 30 days of the date of this letter, please do one of the following: (1) Resubmit in response to review comments (2) Request indefinite deferral (3) Request that your Planning Commission public hearing date be set (4) Withdraw your application (1) Resubmittal in Response to Review Comments If you plan to resubmit within 30 days, make sure that the resubmittal is on or before a resubmittal date as published in the project review schedule. The full resubmittal schedule may be found at www.albemarle.org in the "forms" section at the Community Development page. Be sure to include the resubmittal form on the last oaee of vour comment letter with vour submittal The application fee which you paid covers staff review of the initial submittal and one resubmittal. Each subsequent resubmittal requires an additional fee. (See attached Fee Schedule.) (2) Request Indefinite Deferral If you plan to resubmit after 30 days from the date of the comment letter, you need to request an indefinite deferral. Please provide a written request and state your justification for requesting the deferral. (Indefinite deferral means that you intend to resubmit/request a public hearing be set with the Planning Commission after the 30 day period.) (3) Request Planning Commission Public Hearing Date be Set At this time, you may schedule a public hearing with the Planning Commission. However, we do not advise that you go directly to public hearing if staff has identified issues in need of resolution that can be addressed with a resubmittal. 6 After outstanding issues have been resolved and/or when you are ready to request a public hearing, staff will set your public hearing date for the Planning Commission in accordance with the Planning Commission's published schedule and as mutually agreed by you and the County. The staff report and recommendation will be based on the latest information provided by you with your initial submittal or resubmittal. Please remember that all resubmittals must be made on or before a resubmittal date. By no later than twenty-one (21) days before the Planning Commission's public hearing, a newspaper advertisement fee and an adjoining owner notification fee must be paid. (See attached Fee Schedule) Your comment letter will contain the actual fees you need to pay. Payment for an additional newspaper advertisement is also required twenty-two (22) days prior to the Board of Supervisors public hearing. These dates are provided on the attached Legal Ad Payments for Public Hearings form. Please be advised that, once a public hearing has been advertised, only one deferral prior to the Planning Commission's public hearing will be allowed during the life of the application. The only exception to this rule will be extraordinary circumstances, such as a major change in the project proposal by the applicant or more issues identified by staff that have not previously been brought to the applicant's attention. As always, an applicant may request deferral at the Planning Commission meeting. (4) Withdraw Your Application If at any time you wish to withdraw your application, please provide your request in writing. Failure to Respond If we have not received a response from you within 30 days, we will contact you again. At that time, you will be given 10 days to do one of the following: a) request withdrawal of your application, b) request deferral of your application to a specific Planning Commission date as mutually agreed to with staff, or c) request indefinite deferral and state your justification for requesting the deferral. If none of these choices is made within 10 days, staff will schedule your application for a public hearing based on the information provided with your original submittal or the latest submittal staff received on a resubmittal date. Fee Payment Fees paid in cash or by check must be paid at the Community Development Intake Counter. Make checks payable to the County of Albemarle. Do not send checks directly to the Review Coordinator. Fees may also be paid by credit card using the secure online payment system, accessed at http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=cdd&relpage=21685. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY SP N Fee Amoom r Date Pun 1h. Recemr C6 B� Resubmittal of information for Snecial Use Permit (0 EM BEEN ASSIGNED: Owner/Applicant Must Read and Sign I hereby certify that the information provided with this resubmittal is what has been requested from staff Signature of Olyner, Contract Purchaser Date Prim Name Daytime phone number of Signatory FEES to be paid after application For original Special Use Permit fee of $1,075 ❑ Fust rembmissioe O BE PAID MMN THE RESLEInSSION IS WZE TO IT, AKE STAM Free ❑ Ea&ad&tosWmmibm==CfompAIDnT THERESLBanSSIoNisT ETOLyr g $538 For original Special Use Permit fee of $2,000 ❑ Fast resnbmisvon Crow PA ,%T rHE REsoawssiox rs aunx ro vrrArm srAFrt Flee ❑ Each addihonalresobutunan OBE PAm WHEN THE REsumas51oNtsmADE ToiNTAEE sr $1,075 County of Albemarle Department of Community Development 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Voice: (434) 296-5832 Fax: (434) 9724126 R.W 11' =5 Paee 1 of I s