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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 08 78 PC Minutes-Y& 3 May 8, 1978 The Albemarle County Planning Commission conducted a work session on SP-78-15 Biscuit Run Associates ( F. Bosley Crowther, III ) on Monday, May 8, 1978, 4:00 p.m., Board Room, County Office Building, Charlottesville, Virginia. Those members present were Mr. Peter Easter, Chairman; Col. William Washington, Vice -Chairman; Mr. Layton McCann; Mr. Kurt Gloeckner; Mrs. Norma A. Diehl; Mrs. Joan Graves; Dr. James Moore; Mr. James Huffman; Mr. Charles Vest; and Mr. Tim Lindstrom, ex-Officio. Other officials present were Mr. Robert Tucker, Director of Planning; Mr. Ronald Keeler, Assistant Director of Planning; and Mr. Frederick W. Payne, Esquire. Mr. Easter established that ^quorum was present and called the meeting to order. Mr. Keeler stated that the Highway Department is unable to be present since they had to be in Culpeper that day. Mr. Easter asked that the staff specifically address the areas of concern that had been noted at the Commission's previous meeting on SP-78-15. Mr. Crowther noted for the record that there will be no public sewer for the 1-3 acres lots. Mr. Thompson of the Albemarle County Service Authority said that everything has been straightened out as far as he is concerned. Mr. Crowther said that options for interim measures until the AWT Plant is completed will have to be finalized later. Mr. Keeler read into the record the portion of the staff report addressing the planned community's effect on the Comprehensive Plan. There were no comments from the Commission on this particular matter. Mr. Keeler said that by a vote of 4-1-2, the Albemarle County School Board has voted to accept the school site as shown on the plan. The staff recommends that this area not be specifically designated as a school site, though, reserved for a public area. Mr. Keeler stated that the reason for this recommendation is that the utility of the property can be better analyzed when more accurate topographic mapping is available. Mr. Keeler then reviewed the phasing of the road upgrading in terms of the phasing of the development, noting the comments from the Highway Department's letter and staff report on the road situation. Mr. Crowther told the Commission that he is currently in the process of reviewing the comments from the Highway Department and a traffic analysis is underway. Hopefully he will be able to present this analysis for Highway Department review by the end of the week. Col. Washington stated that he is not thoroughly convinced that only two entrances to the project are desirable. He said that he is somewhat interested in requiring a second entrance onto Route 631. &q Mr. Gloeckner did not necessarily agreed with this, since he felt it would become a short-cut through a residential area. The current plan protects the residential area considerably. Mr. McCann said that he felt a road through the Oak Hill Subdivision might be the quickest way to Fifth Street and on to the Interstate. Mr. Tucker pointed out that such a road would disrupt that neighborhood to some extent. Due to the dedication the applicant is proposing, he.did feel that the county will have to address this sometime in the future, and particularly if the site is used for a school site. Mr. McCann said that he is thinking about cutting the travel time on a 3-4 stretch of bad road. There was a discussion of the Highway Department proposals, especially the re-alignments,and what the possible future connections to this project might be. Mr. Keeler said that it is his understanding that if this project is approved the upgrading plans will be moved up by the Highway Department. Mrs. Graves questioned the Fire Official's recommendations for the single- family area. Mr. Keeler said that he recommends emergency access to the farm community. However, he pointed out that the area being recommended by the staff as a public area might be used for such a use as a volunteer fire department. Col. Washington felt that since the Comprehensive Plan addresses energy savings, making people travel an unnecessary 3-4 miles would be giving that item only "lip service." Mr. Crowther said that one objective of the development concept is to provide at least one business in the area for people living there in which to work. Mr. Keeler at this point reviewed the comments from the Engineering Department. Mrs. Diehl was concerned about possible low water in certain areas of the lake, and thus the resulting growth of algae. Mr. Easter also agreed that this is a concern about the lake. Mr. Crowther said that he would be better able to respond to that when the topographic maps are completed. Mr. Stan Tatum, planner for the project, said that the lake is envisioned for recreational uses and visual quality, so the concern noted is certainly a matter of concern for the developer as well. Col. Washington pointed out that the dam could be so expensive that the lake won't be feasible. Mr. Keeler said that a special permit is needed for the dam, as well as review by the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Easter asked that the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority be advised about '/'[11/o5 the plans for the dam in order that they can address it in terms of the AWT plant. Mr. Easter then noted that he understands that one of the major concerns about the project is the four-laneing of the road. Mr. McCann said that he wants the Highway Department to be on notice that traffic will be coming in a 10-year phasing and that he himself can support only the developer's fair share for road improvements, as opposed to requiring entire construction by the developer. He felt that the Highway Department has sufficient notice to make the necessary arrangements for planning road improvements. Mr. Keeler noted for the record that the plan shows respect for scenic Route 20. Dr. Moore questioned if there has been further study on the buildability of the industrial land shown on the plan. Mr. Tatum replied that it is necessary to have the topo maps prior to that study. When questioned by the Commission, Mr. Crowther said that he does not think the topographic maps will be completed by the next public hearing date. Mr. Tucker stated that the staff has made recommendations on the industrial region in terms of slopes. Mr. Crowther said that he is in agreement with the staff's recommendation. Col. Washington asked that this be clarified. Mr. Tucker replied that the condition limits development to slopes that can be graded. He said that the condition should read: "Industrial sites shall be limited to existing areas with an average of 10% slope or less...." Mr. Gloeckner at this point questioned a borrow pit for the dam, suggesting that some slopes could be leveled in this fashion. Mr. Easter said that he is aware that in some cases with the proper controls this is normal. Mr. Tucker replied that the Comprehensive Plan speaks to saving steep slopes. Mrs. Diehl questioned the industrial land in that part of the county after designation of the area in the planned community. Mr. Keeler said that it is roughly shown as 200 acres on the Comprehensive Plan, however it might be more or less. Mr. Tucker clarified that part of the land that was designated in Willoughby has been removed from the special permit and now is used for James River Supply. Furthermore, he stated that some of the land shown on the Comprehensive Plan's map for industrial is impractical, since it is strip residential development. The map could be amended in the Comprehensive Plan to exchange that proposed industrial land for what would be approved with this special permit. It would certainly be a logical substitute. M r / i Mrs. Diehl also established that what is approved by the Commission in the preliminary plan will remain the same unless there is an amendment to the planned community plan. �I Col. Washington said that he wishes to state that if the lake is going to be built, he feels an additional foot of storage is desirable. Mr. Crowther questioned the intent of #8 in the conditions of approval, asking if this addresses front and back yards of individual lots. Mr. Keeler replied that this can be so stated in that condition, though it is the intent. The Commission also noted that condition #4 should be amended to include approval by federal agencies if the dam does .indeed have to be approved by the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Chuck Beegle said that he is a resident across the street from the proposed development and that he is currently soliciting signatures on a petition of opposition to the proposal that will be presented at the public hearing on the 16th of May. He said that his concern is the tremendous impact this will have on the entire historical neighborhood. Col. Washington said that prior to the 16th he would like in writing a schedule of the phasing of the development. He said that at the meeting on the 16th he will also be concerned about the industrial area. He asked if included in the approval of the special permit could be the idea of an industrial park. He felt that some control measure should be there for future control on what will happen. Mr. Tucker stated that as condition #3 reads, it addresses the types of industrial development that can take place. He pointed out that there is more control on the industrial area of a PUD than there is with a straight rezoning. Mr. Lindstrom said that the Board's concern with a straight rezoning is what led to the recent resolution dealing with industrial park zoning, as opposed to what can happen in a planned community. He noted that with a planned community there is a great deal of control from the beginning as well as from the site plan level. There were no further comments from the Commission and public, and the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. Rob ,tt W. Tucker, Jr. - Secretar