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Home My WebLink AboutVA200200007 Correspondence 2002-04-29 JOANNE & GUNNAR SEDLENIEK 1 147 RIVER OAKS LANE CHARLOTTESVILLE VA 22901-0637 TELEPHONE 434-974-7446- FACSIMILE 434-973-5874 SEDLENIEK@EARTHLINK.NET Monday, April 29, 2002 Board of Zoning Appeals Albemarle County 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville VA 22902-4579 Subject File V A2002007 — TM 62F1/Parcel C, zoned Residential-4 Variance to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 36 to 32, a variance of 4 spaces (Jan Sprinkle) Dear Board of Zoning Appeals, To build additional parking at the Dunlora Clubhouse would take away much of the level recreation area that currently exists next to the pool. The parking expansion would only add four spaces The Dunlora Community Association Board and Robert Hauser Homes have applied to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a parking variance so that we don't have to ruin valuable recreation area for four parking spaces that will only be used a few times per year. As long-time Dunlora homeowners we respectfully request that the Board of Zoning Appeals waive the requirement for the additional four parking spaces at our community clubhouse and pool. ith best regards, 41.0 , q . Lci.„,,,,121„) , op -go,vt. , Joanne M. Sedleniek Gunnar Sedleniek Copy to: Mr. Frank R Stoner IV Mr. Kenneth Derby Director of Development President, Board of Directors Robert Hauser Homes, Inc. Dunlora Community Association, Inc Post Office Box 5487 1082 Blackburn Bluff Charlottesville VA 22905-5487 Charlottesville VA 22901-0609 r SEZ ` ty . �i'�tt�� . ^ 'w 31:4lU March 1, 2002 (,�i, 200Z £ Aim � �<I Board of Zoning Appeals L 1 Sy I( `1 �' yr i , Albemarle County i, t tr; f , ,• , 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville VA 22902 Re: Dunlora Swim and Tennis Club petition for parking variance VA-2002-007 Tax map 62F1, parcel c This note is to express support for the application for parking variance for the Dunlora Swim and Tennis Club. I am aware of the County requirement for 4 additional parking spaces to serve the Clubhouse, but hope that this waiver can be granted. The space designated for the additional parking represents a valuable recreation site for the community. I live adjacent to the property and am in a particularly useful position to witness its regular use. This lot has been used for baseball, football, soccer, kickball, golf, and lacrosse. Families use the space to fly kites and model airplanes. Birthday parties frequently take advantage of the space. Families playing at the pool during the summer months use it as an alternate play area during long pool days. It has even been the site of hot air balloon rides. The lot represents one of the few flat areas around the clubhouse. The rolling hills in this area are lovely, but the houselots are often suboptimal for child play because of their sharp contours. The lot adjacent to the Clubhouse provides a nearby flat play option for local families. Any requirement for parking on this lot would mean the loss of this valuable Community resource. Because of its elevation relative to Dunlora Drive, even cutting an access ramp from the road to the lot would severely restrict the play area available. Not only would the designation of this lot as parking represent a loss for the Community, the additional parking is not needed. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the 4th of July are the only occasions in which existing parking is even remotely taxed. On the vast majority of days during the heavy use times of the summer, the parking lot has less than a dozen cars. We encourage the Board to grant this request for relief. I have spoken with many residents of the area and have not heard a single voice in favor of additional parking. Thank you for your attention to the needs of this Community. Sincerely, A.,0 William C. Ta 1229 Dunlora Drive Charlottesville VA 22901 973-8227 William M. Carswell 1108 River Oaks Lane -- j Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 .. —• --�-~ ""; �'' , ,\' April 17, 2002 APR l8 , . , t Board Of Zoning Appeals 81111-r -- Albemarle County 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville,VA 22902 RE: Dunlora Pool Parking Lot Variance Dear Board Members, In regards to the requested variance by the Dunlora Community Association and Robert Hauser Homes, I ask you to support the applicants request and grant this variance. First,the parking offered is adequate and rarely fully utilized. The parking supports a seasonal pool open 3-4 months per year, small meeting room,and an even smaller room with 4 pieces of exercise equipment. The Pool and poolhouse is only a neighborhood pool and its use is limited to the members within the Dunlora Homeowners Association by the Homeowners Association documents. The members of the Neighborhood Amenity Committee studied pool attendance data and the neighborhood demographics. In surveying our neighbors and review of the data the committee was able to determine what amenity was needed,and later in what ways and how much to expand the pool. Considering use and discussing daily activity with the pool manager,parking was only a problem at two times:Opening day for the pool,and the neighborhood July 4th Picnic. Extreme use in both cases does not warrant the expense and eyesore for added asphalt. The expansion of the pool was designed to provide a better pool with a diving well and deep water swimming. The configuration of the pool is incapable of supporting any type of swim team. Initially,a swim team was discussed but the demands on the association,parking,and the disruption within the neighborhood strongly discouraged the idea. In the placement of the pool expansion, it was the desire of the residents to preserve the flat open field space. The flat field area adjacent to the pool is the only centralized field area within the community. Maybe the song lyric of "They Paved Paradise and Put in a parking lot"does characterize this instance-especially to the children who enjoy playing tag or catch in this field space. Currently the zoning requirement would force the applicant to encroach upon,ruin,and reduce this community open space at great cost and little gain. Surrounding the Pool are approximately 125 homes within easy walking distance. Too many parking spaces encourages the wrong, sedentary behavior of driving 800-1000' to the pool rather than walking. More is not always better. In the true sense of"Traditional Neighborhood Design"the County wishes to support,the old neighborhood Corner Store did not have 20 or so parking spaces surrounding the store. Likewise this Pool can be viewed in the same way--only for our community--it only operates 3+months per year unlike the Corner store. Finally,the request is ridiculous. While bound by ordinance, installing some 4+additional parking spaces can not be done easily or cost effectively. Considering the site and terrain, It creates a economic hardship. The additional parking is being prescribed by the zoning administrator and the zoning ordinance is unnecessary,costly, and damaging to my community. I ask you grant the applicant's requested waiver. Thank you. Sincerely, (0( Bill Carswell Mr. and Mrs. V. E. Hoehstetler 1220 Dunlora Drive Charlottesville, VA 22901 April 22, 2002 If - N .. .... ...! .... COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE rAPR 2 5 Department of Building Code and Zoning Services 401 McIntire Road, Room 227 IEtC � ` Charlottesville, VA 22902-4596 RE: VA-2002-007 Dunlora Swim&Tennis Club To Whom It may Concern: This letter is to support the application for relief from Section 4.12.6.6.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 36 to 32,a variance of 4 spaces. We are in agreement with the general principle that the minimum number of public parking spaces needs to be addressed in the zoning ordinances for public safety. However, in this case, several other items needto betaken into consideration. 1. The amount of variance is minimal-11% 2. This is private property. 3. During last summer,we can remember no occasion when cars were parked on Dunlora Drive,because the parking lot was full. 4. The number of times that the 32 parking spaces will not accommodate those wanting to park,will only be during major summer holiday weekends,perhaps three times a year. 5. The parking of 4 cars on the street around the club will present very little if any interference with traffic. 6. By strictly enforcing the zoning ordinance for such a minimum effect, you will remove a playing area for small children that is used frequently throughout the year-not just in the slimmer time.. It appears the spirit of the regulation has been complied with,even if not the exact precise interpretation Those who enact the ordinances recognize they are unable to appropriately address each and every occurrence that may appear in the future,and do provide for variances to cover such instances Therefore,we are deeply hopeful that you will see your way clear to vote in favor of the children,rather than a strict interpretation of the guidance ordinance. Sincerel , V. E. Hochstctler M. A_Hochstetler APR 18 CrmE Ayam,41, 3 !EC Zop2 Board of Zoning Appeals Albemarle County 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 To the Board: We ask that you support the application for a parking variance for the Dunlora Clubhouse/pool project. I think we understand the importance of having ample parking available at any public area. However, the proposed parking area would remove much of what little flat land we have in this area of the development- a field that is currently used by neighborhood children for games. Many homes(at least 150 within about 1/3 mile of the pool) in Dunlora are within walking distance of the pool, including most of those in the new area of construction off of Loring Road between Dunlora Drive and Free State Road. Currently, the parking lot appears quite underused except for the few days per year when there are organized functions at the pool for the community. On these days, 4 extra spaces will make little difference anyway! Please contact us if we can be of assistance. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, I krc9—L) \---k-e S-01/(/ Andy and Debbie Lockman 1404 Dunlora Drive Charlottesville,VA 22901 975-1635 the Sanderli • I ---,-,,l,It.-.4rt. :,,,.,- .4 , - A i., ..._._ - RESORT �. And Conference Center t , IAPR25 1 BOI _ Bow-td 06 7-erh itf appeal)), a0 4)e01-al C 7, - (10 ( ivi c th-flArt- I4 OL0A,ta-towtit 14 2_2_90 .- 1)-ean, ,C,LA-7M.A-e(a4A-k we, it 1.1-e, 1 4 Dim l mot. aP t,oen4 like, I ou - -- )90)-t/k hij VarzArk-v1 cu /v1 1-0 .0.7- per . 52 wk, 11c .moo JA U `4 ' 7 ri ePil The Sanderling Inn Resort And Conference Center 1461 Duck Road, Duck,North Carolina 27949 (919)261-4111, Fax: (919)261-1638 5 fo ti ou-eizr p 1„,e 56-me 7 11- eaAA146( 4-pqc,a7 (-6 pe,11.x. �,)�tf-� 1 h 9 .�i-CfC l�� u'1A , c'J 5+,144,t.em eabij kJ-) kiAler-7,„ '136, 1-kk- t4)151/-7 hAAsti eem.-e_ e( Ivy J4u,_ t knA4A. , k -/-z-ro ra-A-ki". )34 ircea)}(4-€- g644i ft) heltA01,67 .0-(- atm( eakv\h,ti,i,„4-11 0,14_,2_, --e-AAccrumer- kke-vc__ &z.n u.AAT( . J)--fAo-7 Ava,u(0-& 1--Pu91-c 4-e), 4,PA-u - 1-t& e (f-ov 46-1,1A/ AP-44-0-1A4 ecti4 a&ocfroi, 4-0 tfiA;\ 0 t, civaii kon \ : *Rz5 Date: April 17, 2002 To: Board of Zoning Appeals Subject: Dunlora Clubhouse Request for Parking Variance Albemarle County is requiring the Dunlora neighborhood to build a second parking area at the Dunlora Clubhouse. This parking area would take away much of the level recreation area that currently exists next to the pool and the expansion would only add 4 parking spaces. Plus, these parking spaces would probably only get used a few times a year. As residents of Dunlora and users of the clubhouse facility, we would like to ask the Albemarle Board of Zoning Appeals to please grant Dunlora a parking variance on this issue on May 7, when this case will be heard. We would like to thank you in advance for granting our parking variance! Sincerely, �r,-- �--- 6 Vic Abad and Dora Leija 856 King William Drive Charlottesville, VA 22901 • ,. DLINI01 Dunlora Community Association, Inc. Post Office Box 5689 Charlottesville VA 22905-5689 Telephone 804-295-3781 Facsimile 804-295-1835 Mr. Carl Guiler December 2,2001 County of Albemarle Department of Planning 401 McIntire Rd. Charlottesville, VA 22902 Dear Mr. Guiler, A Committee of Dunlora residents working in conjunction with Stonehaus Development Corp. has spent nearly a year preparing a plan to enhance the existing swimming pool serving the Dunlora Community. In August 2001,the Committee and the Developer submitted a pool enhancement plan that was approved by the Board of Directors of the Dunlora Community Association. Prior to approval by the Board,this plan was the subject of a Community-wide meeting and at least two Community-wide design surveys. We believe that the overall design represents the desires of the majority of Dunlora residents and is in the best interests of the Community as a whole. At the time the pool design was approved by the Dunlora Board, the additional parking area on Dunlora Drive was not part of the plan. The Board had hoped to preserve that area for recreational use, as it is one of the few level areas centrally located within the community. The community's desire would be to have the Developer build the parking lot after the pool expansion is complete and a need is clearly demonstrated for the increased parking. Consequently,the Dunlora Board fully supports the request for a parking waiver. At the time the Board approved the pool design no setback issue was presented. The Board fully supports the expansion of the pool and is supportive of the necessary setback waiver providing the Dunlora property owners impacted have indicated to the Planning Commission their support for the waiver. We request that you approve this plan consistent with the stipulations noted in the letter and grant the necessary setback and parking waivers, so that the contractor can proceed with construction immediately. Sincerely, f2:3 -Li VOL John P. Springett Patricia Crook Daniel Gabriel President Vice President Treasurer • APR April 9, 2002 1388 River Brook Court Charlottesville, VA 22901 Board of Zoning Appeals Albemarle County 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 To Whom It May Concern: The purpose of this letter is to support the parking variance that has been requested by The Dunlora Community Association and Robert Hauser Homes. It is my understanding that Albemarle County would like a second parking area to be built next to the Dunlora clubhouse. I have lived in the cul-de-sac directly behind the Dunlora clubhouse for the last seven years. On a daily basis I see how many cars the existing parking lot. I can tell you that with the exception of the annual Fourth of July pool party,the existing parking lot is never filled to capacity. I believe that an additional 4 parking spaces would be a waste of resources and would also ruin valuable recreation area next to the Dunlora Club House. I am not familiar with the criteria that are used to determine the minimum parking requirements for residential based facility. One thing that I hope is being considered with regard to this parking issue is that many of the people that use the pool and clubhouse are residents of Dunlora and walk or ride bikes to the facility. As a frequent user of both facilities I can tell you that even people that live more than a mile from the clubhouse will use transportation other than cars because they enjoy the exercise. I honestly believe that if the county would monitor the current parking lot usage, as I have the past seven years, instead of making a decision based on a formula, that the parking variance requested by The Dunlora Community Association and Robert Houser Homes would be a simple decision to make. I urge you to grant an exception to the current guidelines that call for an additional 4 parking spaces for the Dunlora clubhouse. Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if I can provide you with additional information. Sincerely, Mark Hensien Lynda Coley :° Y7 1162 River Chase Ridge ° , _ Charlottesville, VA 22901 April 6, 2002 E3%�::�:. r . Board of Zoning Appeals Albemarle County 401 McIntire Rd Charlottesville, VA 22902 Dear Board Members: I am writing in regard to the parking variance appeal for the Dunlora Community Association. The issue is the requirement that 4 additional parking spaces be created for in conjunction with the swimming pool expansion. As a Dunlora Community resident I am aware of some issues that you might find useful in considering waiving the 4 parking space requirement: 1) Many of the people who use the pool walk to the pool from their homes 2) Even at the height of summer, walking at various times of the afternoon and evening I have not ever seen the parking lot full. 3) Many older children walk and bicycle to the pool without parents; children walk and play throughout the neighborhood. For all of the above stated reasons I believe it not necessary to add additional parking spaces. I respectfully request you consider this issue seriously. In advance, thank you for your time. Respectfully, Lynda Coley Unit RC 248 r , Greg Nelsen 1162 River Chase Ridge Charlottesville, VA 22901 t: ' April 6, 2002 Board of Zoning Appeals Albemarle County 401 McIntire Rd Charlottesville, VA 22902 Dear Board Members: I am writing in regard to the parking variance appeal for the Dunlora Community Association. The issue is the requirement that 4 additional parking spaces be created for in conjunction with the swimming pool expansion. As a Dunlora Community resident I am aware of some issues that you might find useful in considering waiving the 4 parking space requirement: 1) Many of the people who use the pool walk to the pool from their homes 2) Even at the height of summer, walking at various times of the afternoon and evening I have not ever seen the parking lot full. 3) Many older children walk and bicycle to the pool without parents; children walk and play throughout the neighborhood. For all of the above stated reasons I believe it not necessary to add additional parking spaces. I respectfully request you consider this issue seriously. In advance, thank you for your time. Respectfully, Greg Nelsen Unit RC 248 Kendra Nelsen 1162 River Chase Ridge Charlottesville, VA 22901 9 April 6, 2002 i gffr Board of Zoning Appeals Albemarle County 401 McIntire Rd Charlottesville, VA 22902 Dear Board Members: I am writing in regard to the parking variance appeal for the Dunlora Community Association. The issue is the requirement that 4 additional parking spaces be created for in conjunction with the swimming pool expansion. As a Dunlora Community resident I am aware of some issues that you might find useful in considering waiving the 4 parking space requirement: 1) Many of the people who use the pool walk to the pool from their homes 2) Even at the height of summer, walking at various times of the afternoon and evening I have not ever seen the parking lot full. 3) Many older children walk and bicycle to the pool without parents; children walk and play throughout the neighborhood. For all of the above stated reasons I believe it not necessary to add additional parking spaces. I respectfully request you consider this issue seriously. In advance, thank you for your time. Respectfully, Kendra Nelsen Unit RC 248 t ' . �i *APR i 8 7 7 w II „ DUNI01* Dunlora Community Association Board of Directors John Shepherd Albemarle County Building Code and Zoning 104 McIntire Rd. Charlottesville, VA 22902 Dear Mr. Shepherd: As the Board of Directors representing the residents of Dunlora, we hereby are writing this letter to certify that Kenneth Derby is the President of the Dunlora Community Association, and has the authority to sign on behalf of the Association. Very Truly, r PatriciaCrook Lee Jacks • Fr k Stoner Kenneth erby