HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA200300013 Review Comments 2004-02-23 A�
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COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Building Code and Zoning Services
401 McIntire Road,Room 227
Charlottesville,Virginia 22902-4596
FAX(434)972-4126 TELEPHONE(434)296-5832 TTD(434)972-4012
MEMORANDUM
TO: Members of the Board of Zoning Appeals
FROM: John Shepherd, Manager of Zoning Administration At--
SUBJECT: VA-2003-13 Diane and Randy Fox
DATE: February 23, 2004
This Variance was deferred at the February 3, 2004 meeting.The deferral was recommended by staff in
order to give the applicants' surveyor time to complete a survey verifying the distance from the house to
the property line and time to work further with their contractor on alternative building plans.
On February 17, 2004 I met at the site with Mr. & Mrs. Fox and Duane Morris, a building contractor, to
discuss these issues and to verify the location of the well and septic system. The applicants informed me
that they have considered alternative locations for the addition but have decided to proceed to the March
BZA meeting with the original request to align the proposed addition with the existing dwelling. Their
justification remains the same as was stated in my memorandum to the BZA dated December 22, 2003.
Arthur Edwards has determined that the distance from the dwelling to the property line is 7.53 feet rather
than 6.53 feet as was shown on a survey by Tom Gale. This decreases the variance request from 19 feet to
18 feet.
In the course of the site visit, I determined that the well is located +/- 34 feet from the rear of the dwelling
and the septic tank is located+/-22 from the north side of the dwelling. I also verified the dimensions on
the sketch plan dated December 9, 2003 that was previously submitted by the applicant. The excavation
for the addition has been done and some form boards for the footing are in place. However, no concrete
has been poured.
Mr. Morris noted that water now leaks into the existing cellar and suggested that the proposed addition
would allow the entire rear of the dwelling to be waterproofed with modern methods.
Again, staff agrees with the applicant that the alignment of the addition with the existing bedroom is a
practical and economical way to enlarge the rear bedroom. It is staff opinion that it would be possible to
relocate the addition to the north, away from the right-of-way, without interfering with the septic tank.
Staff acknowledges that this shift would require the reconfiguration of the existing floor plan in order to
meet the applicants' objective of enlarging the bedroom. It is staff opinion that it is not reasonable to
further enlarge the addition "uphill"and closer to the well. Staff agrees that the additional waterproofing
afforded by the proposed addition would be beneficial. However,these factors do not change the analysis
of the request contained in the staff report. It remains staff opinion that this request does not meet the
criteria for a finding of hardship and that approval of the request would be a convenience to the applicant.
CC: Diane or Randy Fox
1968 Avon Street Extended
Charlottesville, VA 22902