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Home My WebLink About02 04 1997 PC Minutescm 2-4-97 FEBRUARY 4, 1997 The Albemarle County Planning Commission held a public hearing on Tuesday, February 4, 1997, in the County Office Building, Charlottesville, Virginia. Those members present were: Mr. Jared Loewenstein, Chairman; Mr. David Tice, Vice Chairman; Mr. William Nitchmann; Ms. Babs Huckle; and Mr. William Finley. Other officials present were: Mr. Ron Keeler, Chief of Planning; Mr. Eric Morrisette, Planner; and Mr. Greg Kamptner, Assistant County Attorney. Absent: Commissioners Washington and Dotson. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and a quorum was established. The minutes of January 21,1997, were unanimously approved as amended. CONSENT AGENDA Addition to Carter's Bridge Agricultural/Forestal District - Staff has received application to add four parcels totaling 262.75 acres located on the west side of State Route 627 to the Carter's Bridge District. The Commission is required to take action to accept the applications, so that the review process can begin. MOTION: Mr. Nitchmann moved, Mr. Tice seconded, that the Consent Agenda be approved. The motion passed unanimously. SDP 96-132 Westfield Road Office Building Preliminary Site Plan/Waiver Request - Proposal to construct an office building of approximately 15,192 square feet with a loading space waiver request, on approximately 1.0 acre zoned C-1, Commercial. This site is located on the east corner of the Commonwealth Drive/Westfield intersection. This site, described as Tax Map 61 W, Section 01, Block C, Parcel 1A is located in the Charlottesville Magisterial District. This property is located within the Urban Area 1 and is designated for Community Service. Mr. Morrisette presented the staff report. Staff recommended approval of both the preliminary site plan and the waiver. Mr. Morrisette called attention to a letter of objection received from an adjoining property owner. (Attachment D in the Commission's packet) He said the letter requested Commission review of the proposal, but the concerns expressed in the letter cannot be addressed through the site review process. The main concerns were- (1) The size of the project in relation to the surrounding area -- Staff commented.. "The site review committee has reviewed the proposed development and has determined that the size of the project is allowed for the lot size." (2) Increase in traffic through a residential area -- Staff commented: "The Virginia Department of Transportation has determined that the increase in traffic will not be of such a volume to cause safety concerns." 2-4-97 2 (3) Relation to entrance corridor -- Staff commented: "Because the proposed development is not along the entrance corridor, the adjacent property owner was advised by staff to meet with the developer to discuss the architectural features of the structure." Staff supported the request for a waiver of the requirement for loading space because the applicant has said that deliveries will be minimal and will be hand -carried by UPS and Federal Express. Ms. Huckle asked what will happen if loading spaces are required with some other user in the future. Mr. Keeler replied: "A change of use does not relieve you from the parking and loading requirementsof the Zoning Ordinance." The applicant, Mr. Mike Gaffney, addressed the Commission. He said there is space for a loading dock on the site, should it be needed in the future. Ms. Huckle asked questions about the drainage plan for the site. Mr. Ron Keeney, architect for the project, described the underground storage system which will be used for stormwater drainage. One-half of the site drains to the northwest and one-half to the southeast. He explained how the system will be cleaned and maintained. The applicant confirmed he had no concerns about condition No. 1(b)(7), related to stormwater detention, including the last sentence --"Improvements to the system or additional detention will be necessary if the system is inadequate." Mr. Keeney later said this is a "fool proof system," i.e. "if it clogs and fails, the water backs up and sits on site and does not go down stream full force." He said the intent is to hold the water on site so that it will "trickle off' at the same rate as if the site were wooded. Ms. Huckle asked if underground detention systems are bonded. Mr. Keeler said the Engineering Department has a standard stormwater maintenance agreement in place of bonds. (It was noted that a condition requiring this maintenance agreement had been erroneously omitted from the suggested conditions of approval.) He said a bond is not feasible because a bond cannot be held indefinitely. The bonding language in the Code of Virginia is for "completion and construction." Ms. Huckle suggested that a condition be added requiring the usual stormwater maintenance agreement. Mr. Keeler suggested the following language: "Proof of recordation of County Standard Stormwater Maintenance Agreement." No opposition was expressed to this additional condition. Mr. Keeler stressed: "These are conditions that have to be met before the final plan can be submitted. It's not before the final plan can be approved. It's in the nature of a bond. We wouldn't require somebody to post a bond before they submitted their final plan, but before the final plan is signed. That should be clear in the record --that this is not required to be recorded before they can submit any more plans to the County." There being no public comment, the matter was placed before the Commission. MOTION: Mr. Nitchmann moved, Mr. Finley seconded, that the Westfield Road Office Building Preliminary Site Plan be approved, subject to the following conditions, and that a waiver of section 4.12.7.2(a) be granted to allow a waiver in the required loading spaces: / 7l 2-4-97 14aw, 1. The Planning Department shall not accept submittal of the final site plan for signature until tentative approvals for the following conditions have been obtained. The final site plan shall not be signed until the following conditions are met: a. Planning Department approval of landscape plan. b. Engineering Department approval to include: 1. Plans that shall be sealed, signed, and dated by an architect, professional engineer, land surveyor with 3(b) license, or landscape architect licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 2. "Albemarle County Engineering General Construction Notes for Site Plans" on proposed site plan. 3. Notation of whether the data is USGS or assumed. 4. Virginia Department of Transportation approval of plans and drainage. 5. Detail and structural design computations for the proposed retaining wall. 6. A temporary construction easement on parcel #5, which will be necessary to build the proposed retaining wall. Also temporary easements will be needed on lots #1 and #5 to construct the 15-inch outlet pipe parallel to Westfield Road. Provide copies of the off -site construction easements or letters of intent to grant the easements from the adjacent property owners. 7. Stormwater detention computations. Though detention is being provided, the natural drainage divide is being altered such that all the site runoff (rather than 1/2) will discharge into the Westfield Road storm system. Analysis of the existing system will be necessary to verify adequate capacity is available. Improvements to the system or additional detention will be necessary if the system is inadequate. 8. Approval of grading and drainage plans and computations. Provide detail for construction of the 15-inch outlet pipe parallel to Westfield Road. 9. Approval of Erosion and Sediment Control Plan. 10. Proof of recordation of County Standard Stormwater Maintenance Agreement. c. Submission of plumbing fixture data to the Albemarle County Service Authority, so the water meter can be sized. The motion passed unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting adjournelt at 7:25 p.m. , X- M V. Way#e glimberg, r�7