HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199800015 Review Comments 1998-08-26 p
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COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Building Code and Zoning Services
401 McIntire Road,Room 228
Charlottesville,Virginia 22902-4596
Building Code Information FAX(804)972-4126 Zoning Information
(804)296-5832 'ITD(804)972-4012 (804)296-5875
MEMORANDUM
TO: Members,Board of Zoning Appeals '��,(
FROM: Amelia G. McCulley, Zoning Administrator A
RE: VA-98-15 Charles &Diana Via Deferral
DATE: August 26, 1998
This item was deferred from your July 7th meeting after discussion in which you sought
additional information. We asked for further information to justify the variance and that an effort
be made to redesign such that less of a variance is necessary. The applicants have submitted
photographs and their architect has submitted information for your consideration.
The photographs show the side of the house where the addition is proposed. They reflect the fact
that the addition is designed to connect with and provide a balance to the existing house.
The letter to me dated August 10th from Craig Balzer,Architect, explains the thinking behind the
design and location of the addition. Mr. Balzer explains the history of the structure and notes
that it was built around 1734 and served as a tavern. He explained his choice in the location of
the addition as setting back from the original house so as to not compete with it, to not block the
existing windows and to match architectural details.
Staff has reviewed the information which has been submitted. Staff maintains the position that
the addition is not necessary for reasonable use of the property. Therefore, staff recommends
denial for cause.
AM/st
cc: Charles &Diana Via
Craig Balder
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bALZIP
AND ASSOCIATES, INC
AVM
REFLECTING TOMORROW
August 10, 1998
Ms.Amelia McCulley Via Facsimile: (804)972-4126
Zoning Administrator
Director of Building&Zoning Services
County of Albemarle
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville,VA 22902
Re: Request for Zoning Variance
Ms.Diana R.Mays and Charles E.Via: Applicants
Tax Map/Parcel: 102/20,Known as Oak Crest
Route 20,South
Dear Ms. McCulley:
I wish to thank you for your efforts over the past several weeks in getting back with me by telephone
specific to the above referenced zoning matter and the details from the public hearing held on July 7, 1998.
As I discussed with you, I am the architect for the proposed two-car garage addition planned for the right
side of the existing structure. I was retained by Mr. Via and Ms. Mays early in 1997 to inspect the
condition of their recently purchased house and develop alternatives for construction of a very much
needed two-car garage.
I feel it would be prudent of me to expand some on my qualifications and experience prior to getting into
the details of this project. Balzer and Associates, Inc. is a multi-disciplined architectural and engineering
firm with a current staff of about 135 and offices in Roanoke, Chesterfield County and Ashland, Virginia.
As a Principal for the firm and a Registered Architect, I am responsible for the overseeing of all
architectural commissions throughout the company. My particular field of expertise is in the area of
residential and multi-family residential and health care facilities. I am currently involved in work at the
University of Virginia's Health Sciences Center and Hospital and residential work all across the State.
Over the past fifteen (15) years I have gained considerable experience in the remodeling and renovations
of older,historic structures in both Virginia,North Carolina and West Virginia.
• PLANNERS • ARCHITECTS • ENGINEERS • SURVEYORS
1208 Corporate Circle•Roanoke,Virginia 24018•(540)772-9580 FAX(540)772-8050
Request for Zoning Variance
Ms.Diana R.Mays&Charles E.Via: Applicants
Page 2 of 3
Relative to the zoning variance request referenced above, as the applicant's architect I am very
sensitive to the history and architecture of the current structure. The enclosed newspaper article,
which was printed in your local newspaper sometime ago, refers to the house as "Oak Crest". You
will further note that it is believed to have been built around 1734 and served as a colonial tavern for
travelers between the Scottsville area and Charlottesville.
The article further describes a house "built of logs and those walls still stand beneath its white frame
exterior". You will find in reading this article that the house truly does have historical significance
and that any future additions or renovations should be sympathetic to its history and respect the
original colonial styling.
I have also enclosed for your reference a local realtor's listing/advertisement for the sale of the
property. This listing in particular won the attention of my clients, Mr. Via and Ms. Mays, since they
were looking for a larger tract of land and the opportunity to restore an old farmhouse on the property.
This site certainly met all of their criteria with the exception that the old "Oak Crest" house did not
have a garage of any kind and the current laundry room was in the"dirt floor" Basement. As they are
nearing their retirement years, these were two (2) areas of concern specific to this particular property,
and they knew they would need to address those needs in the very near future.
At their request and as part of my professional services, I made a trip to their house and proceeded
with documenting the conditions of the house. I further looked over the entire site, and with the
existing structure's distance off of Route 20 below, I felt confident that the addition I would propose
should not violate any current zoning setbacks. I was unaware that Route 20 has a 75 foot minimum
setback, and, therefore did not reflect that in the design. The design or proposed layout was
developed as shown on the drawings submitted for the variance request, and respected the historical
significance of the structure by"setting back"from the original house. This allowed the new addition
to not "compete" with the original structure and did not block the existing windows. Matching
architectural detailing and proportioning also contribute to the design of the new addition and its
response to the original structure.
The garage addition needed a "joint" or small "anteroom" between the larger mass of the original
structure and the new addition. This provides for better scale and detailing where new materials are
required to closely match the existing. Additionally, earlier additions built to each side of the original
structure were also built toward the rear and appear to be in current violation of the present setback
requirement. It seemed appropriate to construct the new garage at the rear as well and again respect
the historical facades of the original house.
Another alternative that was explored placed the new garage closer to the front of the original house
and had the garage doors located at the front and not on the side. Placing the garage doors on the
front elevation introduced a new more contemporary architectural element to the historical facade and
placed too much emphasis on the size of the doors in context with the rest of the structure's openings.
This was deemed to be very inappropriate and not a respectful alternative.
In summary, I do agree with your analysis outlined in your Staff Report VA 98-15 specific to the lack
of any demonstrable hardship. However, I do feel that the historical significance of the structure and
respectful design of any future additions is warranted and should serve as a form of"hardship"to this
and future owners. The fact that Mr. Via and Ms. Mays retained the services of an architect with
Request for Zoning Variance
Ms.Diana R.Mays&Charles E.Via: Applicants
Page 3 of 3
experience in historical structures is evidence of their commitment to the Oak Crest property and its
past. I believe they have since taken some photographs of their property and its vantage points along
Route 20 to further provide information supporting their request and its minimal impact on the
character of the surrounding area. These photographs are being submitted to your office by them
under separate cover.
I trust that this additional information and explanation of the design intent will provide you and your
Board better perspectives on the zoning variance request. Therefore, on behalf of my clients, I wish
to place this item on the agenda for your September 1, 1998 Board of Zoning Appeals Public Hearing
since it was deferred at the previous hearing. I will make myself available to attend that hearing on
their behalf in an effort to further discuss these and other issues of concern from your Board. In the
meantime, please call me at your earliest convenience to discuss these issues so that I can respond
back to my clients accordingly.
Again,thank you for your efforts and consideration on this matter.
Respectfully submitted,
BALZER&ASSOCIATES,INC.
.,VI. ,
R. CI raig Bal j,MA
Executive Vice President
RCB/sfj
Enclosures
cc: Mr. Charles E. Via
Ms. Diana R. Mays
Wpdocs\Staff dir\Rcb\AmeliaMcCulleyLtr
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cv ByANNE RICi1ARDSON„ -.: there riow with her daughter ..caused.. Gibson''repeated`dis .modern furniture, the Iouse all hisioffillig.antis • •. Ii;.
of The Progress Staff • Patricla's.familr. ,. agreements with the tax assesj,`throughout reflects the history. c Mrs.4,CJGsati s iled'orliii • Li.;; .
m While the Ramsey chlldrerr The house was originally built -. sor ashen the assessor made his or.the Glbsons, who are de-;',-')-,Nbthihit;'itOftf"thtt.t,l`g'Z"11'•
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cn now living in•"Oak Crest "'are- Of logs, and those' wails still annual visit. ';'.' =:1;`L. scended from.Wlllie hiease. the ;;rgorl tdGvasl2hdreili3 ' a i,-
• stand beneath its'white frame . "The assessor based the lax+.Jamestown minister who mat'-"e'•C1siltiGl LVA :'.. •
stored'colonial'home in south- , • iy�
'� east' Albemarle County,. say. exterior. The oldest.part'of the rate on Aire.number, or firer; -fled Pocahontas and John Rolfe •sine;:J�
o
• they've never heard anything- houseinduded abasement and places a house had," flamsey,, in 1612: .. •"• • - _ "l'y's.Q rea[`gfb.ni.,,'•gtithrilt l-
Q .go bump in the. night,. their two rooms each on the first and said. "That maybe alright for liammerlock rifles hang over....((Algid for, -COfifedeff' ,';.•
Q grandfather,. the late W.E: •second'. floors. ,Added later, new houses. tut irt•old houses.:;'•.each of the living'room.,(ire-:'`:---f ifny y:s'riIl f .'. 10
Gibson, began Jo believe the Probably near the end of the - like this one,``you needed ihal places.and portraits of.six gen-„..tche,Rlhefeentl--riot'(': --,:.,Z.,
house was haunted when he ninetC manynlhreentury,.were.anad-'' Fire laces'just for heat�T �•'
P d.,atibns' of in men ',.suspe dta;;beslde;kofiE�r:+ , 1.04..
:started renovating it in 194a.. ditional bedroom, dining room Papa used to go• round' and decorate' the walls. A. long- +1
and separate-kitchen: ' round with the assessor about-.:: flreplac �'-.15i}�•sfp r�f�ii'•
.
He wasn't the only one. Pa tavern table;made with wooden';;o f this�ustl��i�.oli�eP fiigli . i .
After the family moved !n, a When Gibsarr renovated the; !t_" - ' • '.. ,', ;''•;: pegs in place of nails,stand§orr
cousin of theirs Bras•spending house,- he added- a sweeping:._ -Filled ' with- antiques Inter-' the back porch and a•• wood a�;''� d� M killt 1,f,,,;.
the night. at "Oak Crest;" The porch. where Jae reaRarrtsehe spersecl with carefully selectted :pegged walnut chest of drawers .'the;bath ni;' A;ic' ri "41
next morning at breakfast, she Y•. 4 -- "<.'::"t�"t'. " i ...
told the family that. she had Ty's.father, remembers eating
been awakened by music, had dinner on hot summer days'
gone downstairs and seen "an while he was courting his future
•:, these people dancing in colonial le- m• -
costumes,"' said. Gibson'% Mr. andMrs.Ramseyusethe
grandson.: Ty' Ramsey. "she •enclosed "sleeping porch`' as
asked:if:anyone else had heard their bedroom_ nova. and',,}.
C -Ramsey said', they hope ta win-anything that night_We all said;. [erne •. soon: ... winter„ik's.i
w rio_' Then papa Gibsols) .about' 10. degreesi.warmer in'}
o said:"L heard.music last night;_ there than outside;" he said;
_ • but!_didn't think anything of it.. ,••
Weren't'you alI up late watch- "Of: course,. it has Its advan
: log TV.?". Bott everyone was Cages—.wheiryou.geLup LIT the-
' asleep in bedwhen he heard the morning; you_ don C tend; to-'
music__ .;;.,,7 _ ,,,,,•,...-. daily."' .:
t'.IC"Oak Crest" is—Jntermit-• Except for the addition of.
tents-haunted' aPproP� storm windows% and: ai storm',
% ` ate that the gho9[s ►would hr door;however,;the elrectot the
_ wearing colonial costumes_and renovation is thoroughly. colo-=•
Hwl- dancing. - when., Gibson: re- nlat Although the poor condi•
in • searched the house,believed to Iton of the wide flooringon•the,
co - l have been built..around 173i,,he first floor made It necessary for
y ..''found that itwas probably a col= a.newer floor of narrow planks'
Q onlal tavern• for travellers be, to•be laid over it;the.old pine'
t,_ wide tanked' floor upstairs, Is;
o •- tweerr Scottsville , and' P I
Charlottesville. The family be- original. With white plaster;•
c wails, the children's bedrooms'
io f)
lieves that their driveway;
stairs are attractive and'
u
which runs parallel to Route tO p
c� South, was once the road be- cozy.. High narrow windows.
ri tureen those two towns. bring light Into them. •'`. i,
.. k part of the"King" Carter • The living rooms is large-amt.- . .
land grant, "Oak Crest" was friendly: Paneled:Ia wide pine'.
LI first owned by Pleasant Sowell, boards. taken.front the ceiling
ii
1 . ' • who died in 1790. Before his upstairs, It has two brick fire•'- r
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ABOUT 5.5 MILES S. OF 1-64 ON VSH 20
* Built about 1734 and used at some point as a tavern. Almost
continuously,occupied since.
* Home retains many of its original architectual elements. Was
expanded in the 1940's
* Comes with 23 subdividable acres.
Cliissic early american cottage in reasonably good shape but still in need of TLC. This
home has a steep pitched standing seam metal roof and short front door. The main room
features 2 fireplaces and high ceilings. There are a total of 3 bedrooms, two upstairs and x
one the main level. The land is bordered by 2 creeks, Sowells and Cibsons. There is a
recent survey of the property. Conveniently located just 3.6 miles S. on 20 from Avon St.
Ext. Vacant, show anytime.
°VIII WY
Dickey Davis
MANLEY ASSOCIATES
(0) 977-7300 (YM) 961-9280
.d Ndbt :ET BEET b0 '6nH 'ON SNOH� WSISAS XHd o tuos�euied : WOdd