HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP201900002 Staff Report 2020-09-16COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
TRANSMITTAL TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
SUMMARY OF PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION
AGENDA TITLE:
SP201900002 Pleasant Green
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Request to amend
SP2016-003 West Glen for relocation and construction of
stream crossing of Powell's Creek with box culvert and
roadway in floodplain.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS:
Western Albemarle High, Henley Middle, Crozet
Elementary schools
BACKGROUND:
AGENDA DATE:
September 16, 2020
STAFF CONTACT(S):
Filardo, Rapp, Nedostup
PRESENTER(S):
Megan Nedostup, Principal Planner
At its meeting on July 14, 2020, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing and voted 7:0 to recommend
approval of SP2019-00002, with the conditions as stated in the staff report. Attachments A, B, and C are the Planning
Commission staff report, the Planning Commission action letter, and minutes from the meeting.
DISCUSSION:
The Planning Commission raised no objections to this request to amend the originally approved special use permit,
SP2016-00003, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors on September 14, 2016. No members of the public
spoke at the public hearing of the Planning Commission.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment D) to approve SP201900002.
ATTACHMENTS:
A— Planning Commission Staff Report
A.1 — Location Map
A.2 —Applicant Narrative and Conditions
A.3 — SP1990-103 Approval and conditions
A.4 — SP2016-003 Approval and conditions
A.5 — Concept plan dated March 2, 2020
A.6 — Crozet Community Advisory Committee Resolution
B — Planning Commission Action Letter
C — Meeting Minutes from 7/14/2020 PC Public Hearing
D — Resolution to Approve SP201900002
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COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596
Phone (434) 296-5832 Fax (434) 972-4126
July 24, 2020
Scott Collins
Collins Engineering
200 Garrett Str, Suite K
Charlottesville, VA 22902
scott(cD col I i ns-eng i neeri ng. com
RE: SP201900002 Pleasant Green
Dear Mr. Collins,
The Albemarle County Planning Commission, at its meeting on July 14, 2020 recommended approval by a vote of 7:0, for
the reasons stated in the staff report with the following conditions.
Conditions:
1. The culverts under the proposed Connector Road extension over Powell's Creek must be in general accord with
the attached Concept Plan titled "Pleasant Green Subdivision Special Use Permit Plan" (the "Plan") prepared by
Collins Engineering with a revision date of March 2, 2020. To be in general accord with the plan, development
must reflect the general size, arrangement, and location of the culverts, as well as maintaining no increase of the
100 year flood elevation outside of the Pleasant Green property. Modifications to the plan, which do not conflict
with the elements above may be approved subject to the review and approval of the County Engineer.
2. Prior to final road plan approval or permitting of a land disturbance in the floodplain, the applicant must obtain from
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) a conditional letter of map revision (CLOMR, or CLOMA),
and prior to road acceptance the applicant must obtain from FEMA a letter of map revision (LOMR or LOMA). In
addition, the applicant must copy the County Engineer on all correspondence with FEMA. Construction and
installation of the culverts must be in compliance with approved road plans and FEMA approved CLOMR or
CLOMA.
3. Any residential lots and associated streets resulting from the subdivision of the property, with the exception of the
stream crossing and roadway identified on the attached plan as Connector Road, must be located outside of the
100 foot stream buffer, Flood Hazard Overlay and preserved slopes on the property. Lots may be permitted to be
located within the landward 10 feet of the 100 foot stream buffer only if the lots are adjacent to approved
stormwater management facilities located within the landward 50 feet of the stream buffer. Approval of lots located
within the stream buffer must be subject Subdivision Agent approval.
4. The net density of the property must not exceed 6 units per acre, in accordance with the Crozet Master Plan. Net
density must be calculated by subtracting the area within the Flood Hazard Overlay District, the 100-foot stream
buffer, and areas of preserved slopes from the total acreage of the property subject to the special use permit.
5. Prior to issuance of a grading permit to allow installation of the stream crossing or with submittal of the final
subdivision plat, whichever comes first, the applicant must submit an easement plat dedicating to the county the
area identified for a greenway trail on the attached plan.
6. If the construction of the stream crossing for which this Special Use Permit is issued is not commenced by [insert
date 5 years after the date the County Board approval of the Special Use Permit], the permit will be deemed
abandoned and the authority granted there under will thereupon terminate.
7. Prior to approval of the first final Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) plans or the first final
subdivision plat, whichever comes first, the applicant shall conduct a Phase 11 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) in
accordance with ASTM standards. The Phase 11 ESAshall include sampling and testing of accumulated sediment
behind the dam that exists on the Property. The applicant shall be required to comply with all recommendations of
the Phase 11 ESA priorto issuance of the first building permit on the Property. The applicant shall also be required to
remove accumulated sediment from behind the dam prior to demolition of the dam and dispose of the sediment,
either on site or off site, in accordance with the Phase 11 ESA recommendations.
If you should have any questions or comments regarding the above noted action, please do not hesitate to contact me at
(434)296-5832 ext. 3004 or email mnedostup(ibalbemarle.org
Sincerely,
Megan Nedostup
Principal Planner
Planning Division
cc: Stanley Martin Homes
400 People Place, Suite 303
Charlottesville VA 22911
Albemarle County Planning Commission
FINAL Minutes July 14, 2020
The Albemarle County Planning Commission held a public hearing on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at
6:00 P.M.
Members attending were Julian Bivins, Chair; Karen Firehock, Vice -Chair; Tim Keller; Rick
Randolph; Corey Clayborne; Daniel Bailey; Jennie More; and Luis Carrazana, UVA
representative.
Members absent: None.
Other officials present were Charles Rapp, Planning Director; Andy Herrick, County Attorney's
Office; David Benish; Jodie Filardo, Community Development Director; Bart Svoboda; Amelia
McCulley; Vivian Groeschel, Community Development Assistant; and Carolyn Shaffer, Clerk to
the Planning Commission.
Call to Order and Establish Quorum
Mr. Bivins called the regular electronic meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and established a quorum.
He said this meeting was held pursuant to and in compliance with Ordinance No. 20-2(6), "An
Ordinance to Ensure the Continuity of Government During the COVID-19 Disaster."
Mr. Bivins said there were no Commissioners attending from the County Office Building, and that
the Commissioners electronically present that evening were: Mr. Bivins, Mr. Randolph, Mr. Keller,
Mr. Bailey, Ms. More, Mr. Carrazana, and Mr. Clayborne.
Mr. Bivins said the public could access and participate in this electronic meeting by following the
links available at www.albemarle.orci/calendar, or by calling 877-853-5257.
Consent Agenda
There was no consent agenda.
Public Hearing
SP201900002 Pleasant Green
Ms. More said she needed to read a statement from the State and Local Government Conflict of
Interest Act, which is a transactional disclosure statement, with regard to SP2019000002.
Ms. More said she resides in physical proximity to the proposed project, and may realize a
reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect benefit or detriment to the value of her real property in
an amount that exceeds $5,000 as a result of the action of the Albemarle County Planning
Commission considering this transaction.
Ms. More said she further declares that she
occupation, or group, the members of which
group that consists of 3 or more persons
proposed project.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
FINAL MINUTES -July 14, 2020
is a member of the following business, profession,
are affected by the transaction. She said this is a
owning real property in physical proximity to the
Ms. More also stated that she is able to participate in this transaction fairly, objectively, and in the
public interest.
Mr. Herrick said Ms. More's declaration will be put on file with the clerk for the record.
Mr. Bivins said it was also in the transcript.
Mr. Herrick confirmed this.
Mr. Bivins said there will be a physical copy as well as Ms. More reading into the transcript.
Mr. Herrick confirmed this.
Mr. Charles Rapp, Director of Planning, said Ms. Megan Nedostup (Principal Planner) was on
vacation, so he would be presenting the staff report.
Mr. Rapp said the purpose of SP201900002 Pleasant Green is to amend a previous Special Use
Permit (SP2016-003) that was associated with West Glen in order to relocate a stream crossing
that was part of that application to a more desirable location.
Mr. Rapp said Special Use Permits are required by County Ordinance for any activity that results
in fill within the Flood Hazard Overlay.
Mr. Rapp presented a location map. He said the parcels affected by the proposed stream crossing
with the Special Use Permit were highlighted on the map in yellow. He said as a reminder, these
were the only parcels affected by the Special Use Permit. He said there are significant
developments on the other parcels, but that evening, they were going to talk specifically about
the stream crossing associated with the Special Use Permit that impacts the three parcels.
Mr. Rapp said this was west of Downtown Crozet. He indicated on the map to Cling Lane and an
existing development with a cul-de-sac; Orchard Drive, which connects to Jarmans Gap Road;
and Blue Ridge Avenue. He said all the property is zoned R6 Residential, and indicated to the
Flood Hazard Overlay along Powells Creek, which was represented in purple hatch and follows
the stream channel.
Mr. Rapp presented an enlargement from the Crozet Master Plan, which showed an area in yellow
designated as Neighborhood Density - Residential. He said this is primarily where Pleasant Green
and the previous proposed development takes place. He said the area in green, designated as
Green Space, is meant to protect environmental features, and can be used for open space and
parks. He noted how there was not a crossing connecting to Orchard Drive there; however, in
discussing the transportation impacts of the proposed development, it does seem favorable to
have this connection. He said there are numerous phrases mentioned throughout the
Comprehensive Plan that promote interconnectivity, as well as a Neighborhood Model.
Mr. Rapp noted that Blue Ridge Avenue is a substandard roadway that is not meant to carry a
large volume of traffic. He said utilizing the connection to Orchard Drive would disperse cars onto
Jarmans Gap Road, which would provide a safer and more direct connection to Downtown Crozet.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
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Mr. Rapp said in terms of the history of the property, there have been several Special Use Permits
and amendments, as well as a few subdivision site plans over the years. He said in 1990, there
was an initial requirement with the Special Use Permit to establish a crossing as a second access
point for any additional development above 30 units. He said that crossing was approved in 2016
with Special Use Permit SP2016-003 to satisfy that connection, which he presented on the
screen. He said it is a connection from Cling Lane over to Orchard Drive, which had a significant
length to it, with a lot of disturbance.
Mr. Rapp said since that approval, several parcels have been acquired by the applicant to the
east of this, which allowed for a much better connection, with much less impact to the stream,
environmental features, and steep slopes along that area. He said the new proposed location is
925 feet downstream from the location.
Mr. Rapp said there has also been a site plan subdivision plat that was approved for Phase I and
that a site plan subdivision plat is currently under review for Phase 11.
Mr. Rapp presented images showing the difference between the initial 2016 alignment of the
stream crossing compared to the current proposed alignment of the stream crossing. He noted
that the areas in red show the impact to the floodplain and stream buffer, as well as to steep
slopes in the area, versus the much smaller area on the new alignment of the stream crossing.
Mr. Rapp said the total impact in the 2016 alignment was 1.22 acres within the stream buffer, and
9,660 square feet of preserved slopes. He said the revised location takes this down 50% to an
impact of 0.62 acres, and no impact to preserved steep slopes.
Mr. Rapp said additionally, the linear feet is significantly less, from 1,200 linear feet down to 450
linear feet. He said the new alignment would utilize three 1 0x1 0 box culverts, and that it has been
verified that they would not increase the floodplain elevation of the area.
Mr. Rapp said in addition, the applicant is also proposing to maintain the area of greenway south
of Powells Creek, and open space (which is also shown in the Crozet Master Plan). He said the
applicant proposes to dedicate an area of greenway for a trail in that location as well.
Mr. Rapp presented an image showing how the proposed roadway would connect to the larger
overall development, some of which is currently underway. He noted this was shown in dark gray
with the existing road network, and that the image shows future phases and how they tie into
Cling Lane. He said if the Special Permit were to be approved, the applicant proposes to develop
the additional phases within the by right designation of R6 zoning.
Mr. Rapp said there are several mitigation features that the applicant is also proposing. He said
one significant one is the removal of an existing dam and restoration of the stream bank. He said
the existing dam is just to the west side of the property. He said it has been heavily supported by
the Army Corps of Engineers, who previously stated that the benefits of removing that dam far
outweigh any negative impacts of the proposed crossing. He said there are also mitigation
plantings along the stream bank, as well as greenway dedication. He noted that a mitigation plan
would need to be approved by the County Engineer if this were to move forward.
Mr. Rapp said there are four favorable factors listed. He said the new stream crossing would
greatly reduce the impact to the stream buffer, to preserved slopes, and to the floodplain. He said
the stream crossing would allow the development of the property to be consistent with the Crozet
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
FINAL MINUTES -July 14, 2020
Master Plan. He said there would be a greenway dedication in the area, as identified in the Master
Plan, which would also help to ensure the preservation of that stream buffer. He said the stream
crossing in this location also promotes interconnectivity and disperses traffic onto a road network
that is built to handle the future capacity and traffic load that would be generated as a result of
the development.
Mr. Rapp said the one unfavorable factor is that the Master Plan does not show a stream crossing
in this location.
Mr. Rapp said staff recommends approval of SP2O19OOOO2, with a total of seven conditions. He
said the conditions are similar to those from the 2016 Special Use Permit. He said the first one
addresses that the stream crossing be in accord with the plans that have been submitted for the
Special Use Permit dated May 20, 2019.
Mr. Rapp said the second condition addresses the need to comply with regulations with FEMA,
obtaining a Letter of Map Revision for the impact to the floodplain.
Mr. Rapp said the third condition ensures that any of the future residential lots associated with
Pleasant Green in the development would not encroach within the 100-foot stream buffer and
specifies some additional requirements.
Mr. Rapp said the fourth condition states that the net density of the property must not exceed 6
units per acre, and identifies how net density is to be calculated.
Mr. Rapp said the fifth condition identifies that a greenway trail should be dedicated on an
easement plat to the County.
Mr. Rapp said the sixth condition addresses the timeline that this stream crossing must be
completed, which is a five-year timeline.
Mr. Rapp said the seventh condition requires environmental site assessment associated with the
project be conducted to address any accumulation of sediment from behind the dam as it is
removed, which would need to be completed before the final Virginia Stormwater Management
Program, or before the final subdivision plat (whichever comes first).
Mr. Rapp said he had draft motions ready and offered to answer questions.
Mr. Keller said he was glad that Mr. Rapp was presenting the staff report because with some of
his experience and background, he may be able to answer his question. He said he sees many
positives in this, and that Mr. Rapp noted most of them in the favorable factors. He said he has a
potential concern, however, and would like clarification.
Mr. Keller said the following evening, the Board of Supervisors would have a work session on
improving stream health in the Development Areas. He said he would like Mr. Rapp's take on
whether three box culverts, with the bulkheads that they have, really fit that idea of best practices
for stream health, and what occurs as high water rushes through those and the effect it has
downstream, as opposed to a different type of bridge configuration with piers that would impinge
the flow less in the floodplain.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 4
FINAL MINUTES -July 14, 2020
Mr. Rapp replied that he has been involved in a number of projects with stream crossings, some
of which did use box culverts, and some of which used a CON/SPAN or another method. He said
anything that minimizes disturbance to the bottom of the stream bed would be preferred, and that
there are a number of factors that fit into that. He said these include everything from cost to other
site challenges.
Mr. Rapp said as far as best practices, they will want to minimize the impact to the stream as
much as possible. He said the applicant's engineer, Mr. Scott Collins, was also present that
evening and could perhaps speak to if they have explored other options as well, and find out how
they arrived at the box culvert solution.
Mr. Keller asked as a follow-up, and in light of the discussion the following evening, if this were
something that would be part of that discussion and brought to the Board of Supervisors. He
clarified he did not mean this specific case, but the idea of the impact that they are having on
stream beds with the type of bridges or culverts they are applying over them in the Development
Areas.
Mr. Rapp replied that he did not believe it was a primary topic that would be discussed in much
detail, but that it was part of the whole equation and was worth discussing as part of that proposed
ordinance.
Ms. Firehock said she would touch on what Mr. Keller was just speaking to that box culvert is far
more destructive to the habitat of the stream than is a crossing with a bridge. She said she was
imagining, though, that the box culvert was chosen because it is the far cheaper option of the two.
She said in her prior life, she ran a national stream habitat restoration program. She said along
those lines, her question is what type of restoration will be implemented. She said if they were
talking to a more traditional engineer, restoration could entail stabilizing banks with doved riprap;
or, if they were talking to a landscape architect, they might be talking more along the lines of
bioengineering.
Ms. Firehock said the County itself has actually implemented a number of bioengineering habitat
restoration projects that the County actually designed and installed. She said she was not
suggesting the County do that in this case, but that she would like to know much more about how
the applicant plans to treat the stream banks and what they are doing. She said she was not
happy with the box culvert, but that she was assuming it was chosen because it is the far cheaper
option.
Ms. Firehock said the question is really to what constitutes restoration. She said she understands
removing the dam, but wants to know how the stream banks will be treated, as that was not known
at that time.
Mr. Rapp said he believed this was a valid question, and did not believe the application got into
that level of detail. He said as Ms. Firehock mentioned, there are a variety of methods, some of
which are significantly more environmentally friendly, such as live stakes and all types of things
to do versus other types of stream bank restoration where riprap and other things that aren't as
desired might be used. He said it was a worthy question.
Mr. Bivins said for Condition #1, the staff report states March 2, 2020, but that there was a different
date on the slide.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
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Mr. Rapp said he had May 2020
Mr. Bivins said on the staff report, it said, "March 2, 2020." He said he assumed they were going
to go with Mr. Rapp's date.
Mr. Rapp said he believed it should have been March and that it was a typo. He said he was
looking at the set of plans and it said, "March 2, 2020."
Mr. Bivins asked if when they move forward, it would be the March 2, 2020 date that will be
included in the recommendations.
Mr. Rapp replied yes
Mr. Bivins opened the public hearing and invited the applicant to speak
Mr. Jeremy Swink, representative for the applicant, said he works for Stanley Martin Homes and
has been developing in Charlottesville for about seven years. He said he appreciated the Planning
Commission hearing the case and taking it under advisement.
Mr. Swink said the genesis of the stream crossing and revised location was a product of the public
process working. He said early in the plans for this development, they gathered some of the
neighbors from Blue Ridge Avenue and Orchard and all met at the Crozet Park, informally. He
said they had the plan on a display board to let people know what they were up to and thinking.
Mr. Swink said they had actually shown the old approved stream crossing location in the plan,
and one of the neighbors pulled him aside after the meeting to ask whether, since the applicant
acquired the other property that West Glen didn't have, it would make more sense for them to
punch the crossing straight across versus snaking down through the stream banks and some of
the steep slopes. He said this would be much less destructive than what was previously approved.
He said to be honest, he had not thought of this before, and he took it under advisement. He said
Mr. Collins engineered it and figured out that it would work, and they implemented this with the
plan.
Mr. Swink said this has been a long work in progress for the applicant, and one they are excited
to hopefully bring into fruition to take some of the pressure off of Blue Ridge Drive.
Mr. Swink said as noted, their plan has significantly less environmental impacts. He said its
construction will take the current pressure that is on Blue Ridge Drive, and the future pressure
that would be on Cling Lane, from the rest of the development.
Mr. Swink said he would like Mr. Collins to speak to the box culvert versus CON/SPAN or other
bridge applications.
Mr. Scott Collins (Collins Engineering) said when they looked at the crossing and at changing
locations, they did look at other options for the crossing. He said box culvert was chosen for this
location and supported from the original design mainly due to the soils there along the stream
area. He said there are some highly erosive soils along this portion. He said where the crossing
is, the stream is making two bends -- it bends down, then straightens out at the crossing, comes
back, and makes another bend.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 6
FINAL MINUTES -July 14, 2020
Mr. Collins said the flows through this with the erosive soils makes it tough to put a CON/SPAN
in this location because of the scour analysis. He said when running the scour analysis on
CON/SPANs, many times, they actually end up riprapping the stream bed even more than what
they would do with a box culvert installation because they are trying to mitigate against the scour
analysis and against it failing from the high flows during peak rain events.
Mr. Collins said this was the reasoning why they went with the box culverts, and it is probably
very similar to why they went with the box culverts down Jarmans Gap Road Oust a couple
hundred feet downstream) as well.
Mr. Swink said with those two in mind, they were trying to address some questions that were
brought up and their reasoning behind the case. He said if there are any questions, the applicant
would like to answer them.
Mr. Bivins said if there were not any individuals from the public, the Commission would come back
with any questions.
It was noted that there were no one from the public signed up to speak.
Ms. More said she thinks they successfully established the substandard condition of Blue Ridge
Avenue, and previously in discussions with Stanley Martin, neighbors were concerned about
construction from a different project, which has impacted Blue Ridge Avenue. She said there was
the question of, with new impacts from construction traffic to this new project, Pleasant Green,
what the timing would be for this new crossing. She said she would not speak for the developer
and would let them respond, but she thought that information given back to the community at the
time was that they would try to achieve this crossing as quickly as possible, and then this would
become another way of access where Blue Ridge Avenue is the sole access (other than McComb
Street, which should essentially be a one-way street) to the site.
Ms. More said she wondered, with all the deferrals and the timing, if Mr. Collins might speak to
something that she thinks a lot of neighboring property owners would like to know about timing
and how this fits in with the different phases, since they are already building Phase I and there is
a huge increase in traffic along Blue Ridge Avenue.
Mr. Collins replied that the applicant has a Certificate of Occupancy for the first five units. He said
looking at the plan, the first three buildings along McComb Street Extended are now under
construction, and two of the villas that are close to the roundabout are under construction as well.
He said there is quite a bit of construction activity, and they are putting a lot of pressure on Blue
Ridge. He said soon, they will have [inaudible] and many of those houses will put pressure on.
Mr. Collins said to give a simple answer, the soonest he can get approval is when they are going
to push the shovel in the ground. He said he would try to project what a schedule might look like.
He said if they were to gain a recommendation for approval that night, and if they get Board
approval (although he was not sure what their Board of Supervisors date is, but he would assume
it was within 45-60 days), Mr. Collins has already submitted a set of plans to the County, which
had one review already. He said they are going to wait on the second review until the Special Use
Permit has been approved. He said it was not to be presumptuous or to be wasting anyone's time,
but that this was submitted so they could get a jumpstart and try to ferret out any of the issues to
help them start construction and get the road open as soon as possible.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
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Mr. Collins said ideally, in the best case, they were driving out in the spring, if everything works
and the approvals go swiftly. He said they have a contractor who is ready, willing, and able, and
that the applicant is financed to construct the bridge as well. He said they were looking at early
spring, if not sooner.
Ms. More thanked Mr. Collins for his response. She added that initially, when construction started,
it seemed that deliveries were happening, and some people were trying to come down McComb
Street, which is very narrow. She said she noticed some signage that the applicant has put up
directing traffic, which she appreciates (as do the neighbors) and thinks is very helpful. She said
she was sure delivery drivers appreciate that so they do not end up on a tiny road where they
cannot get through to get to the site. She said she has noticed an attempt on the applicant's part
to try to help send people down Blue Ridge Avenue, which at this point is the safest way to access
the site.
Mr. Bivins asked Mr. Collins for clarification as to if it were a matter of fact that they have financing
for the bridge and that there is a contractor, or if it was a matter of when they will have financing
for the bridge and when they will find a contractor.
Mr. Collins replied that they have the financing and capital in place, and that he has a signed
contract with Contour Construction for the work as wrapped in the Phase I approval.
Ms. Firehock said she wanted to commend the applicant for doing a much better design that is
much less environmentally destructive. She said she was very pleased with what the applicant
presented that night. She said she did want to have some follow-up on her earlier question she
posted. She said they will be taking down a dam, for which she has some experience with that
kind of work, and will be restabilizing the stream system. She said she wanted to know more
about what methods the applicant proposes for stabilizing any of the stream bank work that they
would need to do.
Mr. Collins replied that as far as the mitigation along the stream bank, they are proposing to do
some mitigation, plantings, and restabilization of some of the areas that have been identified along
the stream bank as erosive and are unvegetated at this time. He said they are following up and
doing a mitigation plan for those areas with the work that is being done on the dam and the
crossing.
Ms. Firehock said there are stabilization methods that are extremely destructive to habitat, and
she wanted to be assured. She said she has done designs and used riprap at the toe of the bank
where extra structure is needed. She asked if the applicant would be using vegetative structural
measures versus just putting in riprap.
Ms. Firehock said VDOT recently did a stream down by her neighborhood in Howardsville, and it
is a nightmarish highway stream now where they have "stabilized" it. She said she was looking
for more assurance from the applicant that they will not be riprapping the stream bank from top to
bottom.
Mr. Collins replied that this was not the intent at all. He said they are not looking to use riprap as
a measure for the mitigation areas. He said they are fixing portions of the stream that have eroded
so far. He said they are not looking to do that with riprap.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 8
FINAL MINUTES -July 14, 2020
Ms. Firehock said she did not think it would need to be conditioned and that she would go with
trust.
Ms. More said having followed this closely, when Southern Development was doing the West
Glen application, and with some of Ms. Firehock's questions that are specific to the stream
crossing and the dam, she wanted to point out that the entire dam issue was the result of Southern
Development creating an issue about the dam. She said it had been suggested that this land had
previously been used historically for orchards and perhaps things were sprayed, and that there is
a sediment gathering behind the dam.
Ms. More said it is her knowledge that the dam was never a huge concern in the Crozet community
but then, at a Board meeting regarding the original stream crossing request for West Glen, it
became a central topic because there was a suggestion made that there could be some sort of
toxic things in the sediment, and there are children playing in the area in pools.
Ms. More said she was not going to argue with the Army Corps of Engineers about removing the
dam or about getting rid of the sediment being the better way to go because if that's what needs
to happen, that's what needs to happen.
Ms. More said all of this came up because it was made an issue by Southern Development. She
said as far as she knows, the initial testing of the sediment showed only normal amounts of what
one would expect to find in that sediment. She said at the hearing with the Board, there was a
fear of having children swimming around in toxic sediment in that area. She said this is not what
is happening, per the original testing that came back. She said she knows there is a second round
of testing, but that for the sake of history and how this all came to be, she wanted to mention this.
She said she didn't think anyone ever had an intention of messing around with that area, but that
they are the ones who brought it up and offered it, so now, it is carrying over to the developer they
have there now.
Mr. Bivins closed the public hearing and brought the matter back to the Commission
Mr. Bailey said he appreciated the revision of the plan and the commitment to take down the dam.
He said he thinks this is in the best interest of the watershed there and is a much better design
than the original.
Mr. Carrazana said he thinks it is a great plan.
Mr. Keller said he concurred and that his questions had been adequately answered.
Mr. Randolph echoed what Mr. Bailey said. He said the Crozet Master Plan does identify a road
with a stream crossing in this vicinity, but not in this specific location. He said the Master Plan
location was hypothetical and was prospective (not prescriptive and determinative). He said
therefore, he finds the new crossing location completely consistent with the stated intent of the
Master Plan and therefore, considers the new location as fully acceptable, more so especially
because of the reduced environmental impacts in this new location.
Ms. Firehock added to Mr. Randolph's comments that this new design meets multiple objectives
in County's Comprehensive Plan for natural resource protection.
Mr. Clayborne said he was on board with the proposal and had nothing to add.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 9
FINAL MINUTES -July 14, 2020
Ms. More said she had a few things she wanted to add. She said before she would start, she
wanted to say that for the purpose of keeping the Commission on track, she would not go into
specifics, but there were some questions from the neighbors which is perhaps something staff
(i.e. Ms. Nedostup) can help with, as she has a list of neighboring property owners that she can
help connect with the developer about the speed limit and the way the intersection will happen
with McComb and Blue Ridge, as well as the entrance. She said there are some questions about
high-speed internet being run through the area to those properties, but not available to their
properties. She said she would like to put this out for Mr. Swink to consider, and they can have
people work through that at a later time.
Ms. More said she wanted to be very clear that she understands that this is a by right project, and
the matter before the Commission that night is the stream crossing (not the Pleasant Green
development itself).
Ms. More said she stated this at the beginning of this public meeting, but wanted to reiterate that
her comments are in no way related to her proximity to this development. She said if this project
were located elsewhere in Crozet, she would have the same comments.
Ms. More said to be fair, Stanley Martin is planning to build a trail along the creek, as has been
worked on with staff with regard to the trail, which has been mentioned in staff's report. She said
they are also planning to build a small park/sitting area at the corner of Jarmans Gap and Orchard
Drive. She said these are things they do not have to do and are offering to do. She said these
things are appreciated, and they will benefit the Crozet community.
Ms. More said with this said, when an infill project occurs (which Pleasant Green is an infill
project), they talk about size, scale, and how it relates to the character of the neighborhoods that
are already there. She said in her opinion, there is a lost opportunity here on the part of Stanley
Martin, as they have made absolutely no attempt to use size and scale creatively to help maintain
the character of that which already exists in this area. She said specifically, along sections of Blue
Ridge Avenue and Cling Lane, where the visual impacts are extreme, Stanley Martin could have
dealt with these impacts in a more responsible and respectful way.
Ms. More said the small park and creekside trail are appreciated, but they are similar to putting a
few bows and ribbons on a bad gift. She said the bad gift that Stanley Martin is giving is not just
turning their backs to the character of the existing neighborhoods. She said the bad gift is to the
whole Crozet community. She said it is the approximately 237 units achieved with R6 by -right
calculations. She said when adding this to the 126 units built by Pinnacle Construction called "The
View," which is also located on Blue Ridge Avenue, this totals about 363 units that will impact
already stressed road systems and school capacities. She said the community will be left to deal
with this, just as other areas in the County have the same issues from intense growth.
Ms. More said this is seen more and more as a major consideration in the applications that are
before the Planning Commission. She said she understands that Pleasant Green and The View
are both by -right developments, and they are doing what they have the right to do. She said she
brings these things up because she thinks the Planning Commission and the Board need to have
conversations about these issues as they become more and more critical.
Ms. More said existing road conditions County -wide are more often the single most critical issue
in applications they receive, and she believed Commissioners could agree they are seeing this
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 10
FINAL MINUTES -July 14, 2020
trend change, at least in the time that she has served. She said current conditions in some areas
are failing, and the decision to add more pressure on these roads truly is a decision of health,
safety, and welfare. She said infrastructure lags behind in areas where development rushes
forward. She said conversations and solutions need to be of utmost importance.
Ms. More said also (and as always), she believes that they need to continue to have a
conversation about gross versus net density. She thanked everyone for listening, noting it was
the short version of everything she had to say. She said she was prepared to make a motion.
Ms. More moved to recommend approval of SP201900002 Pleasant Green with the conditions
recommended by staff.
Mr. Bailey seconded the motion, which carried unanimously (7:0).
Mr. Bivins informed Mr. Collins that the Planning Commission has recommended to the Board of
Supervisors that they pass the Special Use Permit. He said Mr. Collins heard some questions
and comments that night that would hopefully be helpful as he continues to plan this particular
subdivision and also do the work that is before him.
Adjournment
At 6:55 p.m., the Commission adjourned to July 21, 2020, Albemarle County Planning
Commission meeting, 6:00 p.m. via electronic meeting.
�
Charles Rapp, Director of Planning
(Recorded by Carolyn S. Shaffer, Clerk to Planning Commission & Planning Boards and
transcribed by Golden Transcription)
Approved by Planning
Commission
Date: 08/04/2020
Initials: CSS
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 11
FINAL MINUTES -July 14, 2020
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE
SP 201900002 PLEASANT GREEN
BE IT RESOLVED that, upon consideration of the staff reports prepared for SP 201900002 and all
of their attachments, the information presented at the public hearings, any written comments received, and
the factors relevant to special use permits in Albemarle County Code §§ 18-30.3.11 and 18-33.40, the
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors hereby approves SP 201900002, subject to the conditions attached
hereto.
I, Claudette K. Borgersen, do hereby certify that the foregoing writing is a true, correct copy of a Resolution
duly adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, by a vote of to as
recorded below, at a regular meeting held on
Clerk, Board of County Supervisors
Ave Nay
Mr. Gallaway
Ms. LaPisto-Kirtley
Ms. Mallek
Ms. McKee)
Ms. Palmer
Ms. Price
SP2019-02 Pleasant Green Special Use Permit Conditions
1. The culverts under the proposed Connector Road extension over Powell's Creek must be in general
accord with the attached Concept Plan titled "Pleasant Green Subdivision Special Use Permit Plan"
(the "Plan") prepared by Collins Engineering with a revision date of March 2, 2020. To be in general
accord with the plan, development must reflect the general size, arrangement, and location of the
culverts, as well as maintaining no increase of the 100 year flood elevation outside of the Pleasant
Green property. Modifications to the plan that do not conflict with the elements above may be
approved subject to the review and approval of the County Engineer.
2. Prior to final road plan approval or permitting of a land disturbance in the floodplain, the applicant
must obtain from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) a conditional letter of map
revision (CLOMR, or CLOMA), and prior to road acceptance the applicant must obtain from FEMA
a letter of map revision (LOMR or LOMA). In addition, the applicant must copy the County
Engineer on all correspondence with FEMA. Construction and installation of the culverts must be in
compliance with approved road plans and FEMA approved CLOMR or CLOMA.
3. Any residential lots and associated streets resulting from the subdivision of the property, with the
exception of the stream crossing and roadway identified on the attached plan as Connector Road,
must be located outside of the 100 foot stream buffer, Flood Hazard Overlay and preserved slopes on
the property. Lots may be permitted to be located within the landward 10 feet of the 100 foot stream
buffer only if the lots are adjacent to approved stormwater management facilities located within the
landward 50 feet of the stream buffer. Approval of lots located within the stream buffer must be
subject Subdivision Agent approval.
4. The net density of the property must not exceed 6 units per acre, in accordance with the Crozet
Master Plan. Net density must be calculated by subtracting the area within the Flood Hazard Overlay
District, the 100-foot stream buffer, and areas of preserved slopes from the total acreage of the
property subject to the special use permit.
5. Prior to issuance of a grading permit to allow installation of the stream crossing or with submittal of
the final subdivision plat, whichever comes first, the applicant must submit an easement plat
dedicating to the county the area identified for a greenway trail on the attached plan.
6. If the construction of the stream crossing for which this Special Use Permit is issued is not
commenced by September 16, 2025, the permit will be deemed abandoned and the authority granted
thereunder will thereupon terminate.
7. Prior to approval of the first final Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) plans or the
first final subdivision plat, whichever comes first, the applicant shall conduct aPhase II Environmental
Site Assessment (ESA) in accordance withASTM standards. The Phase II ESA shall include sampling
and testing of accumulated sediment behind the dam that exists on the Property. The applicant shall
be required to comply with all recommendations of the Phase II ESA prior to issuance of the first
building permit onthe Property. The applicant shall also be required to remove accumulated sediment
from behind the dam prior to demolition of the dam and dispose of the sediment, either on site or off
site, in accordance with the Phase 11 ESA recommendations.