HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP200800047 Legacy Document 2008-09-26 (6)COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
STAFF REPORT SUMMARY
Project Name: SP 2008-47 Stony Point Fire
Staff: Joan McDowell, Principal Planner
Company Addition
Planning Commission Public Hearing:
Board of Supervisors Public Hearing:
October 7, 2008
October 8, 2008
Owner/s: Stony Point Volunteer Fire
Applicant: Stony Point Volunteer Fire
Company
Acreage: 8.02
Special Use Permit: 12.2.2.3, Fire and
rescue squad stations (reference 5.1.09)
TMP: Tax Map 48 Parcel 18D
Existing Zoning and By -right use: VR -
Location: 3827 Stony Point Road (Route
Village Residential: agriculture, compact
20), 0.2 miles south of intersection of Route
residential (0.7 unit/acre); EC - Entrance
20 and Route 600.
Corridor: Overlay to protect properties of
historic, architectural or cultural significance
from visual impacts of development along
routes of tourist access
Magisterial District: Rivanna
Conditions: Yes
RA: Rural Areas
Requested # of Dwelling Units: n/a
Proposal: Expand existing fire station by
Comprehensive Plan Designation: Rural
adding outbuilding for storage and office
Area 2: Rural Areas - preserve and protect
uses.
agricultural, forestal, open space, and natural,
historic and scenic resources/ density ( .5
unit/ acre)
Character of Property: Approximately 1.2
Use of Surrounding Properties: Small and
acres of the property are occupied by the fire
large -lot residential. Stony Point Elementary
station, an asphalt parking area and a clearing
School is adjacent to the northeast.
to the rear of the station. The remainder of the
property, to the east of the fire station, is
wooded.
Factors Favorable:
Factors Unfavorable:
1. The existing facility meets an
No unfavorable factors
important public -safety need. The
larger new outbuilding would help the
fire company meet space needs
without creating new impacts on the
surroundings.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of this Special Use Permit, with
condition.
Petition
PROPOSED: Expand existing fire station by adding outbuilding for storage and office uses.
ZONING CATEGORY/GENERAL USAGE: VR - Village Residential: agriculture, compact residential
(0.7 unit/acre); EC - Entrance Corridor: Overlay to protect properties of historic, architectural or cultural
significance from visual impacts of development along routes of tourist access
SECTION: 12.2.2.3, Fire and rescue squad stations (reference 5.1.09)
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND USE/DENSITY: Rural Areas - preserve and protect
agricultural, forestal, open space, and natural, historic and scenic resources/ density ( .5 unit/ acre)
ENTRANCE CORRIDOR: Yes
LOCATION: 3827 Stony Point Road (Route 20), 0.2 miles south of intersection of Route 20 and Route
600.
TAX MAP/PARCEL: Tax Map 48 Parcel 18D
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT: Rivanna
Character of the Area:
Stony Point is a crossroads village. Historic aerial photos indicate that the village was very small
(with only a school and a few dwellings) and surrounded almost entirely by farm and forest land
through the 1970s. Since the 1980s, many nearby properties have been converted to small- and
large -lot residential development.
Specifics of the Proposal:
The Stony Point Volunteer Fire Company (SPVFC) currently is staffed with 3 fire -rescue personnel
during the day shift and 3 to 6 on the night shift. SP 2007-13 brought SPVFC into conformance with the
zoning ordinance, as well as allowed a new outbuilding for storage/exercise room to be located to the
rear of the fire station. The following condition approval with SP 2007-13 specified that the
improvements would be "in general accord" with the concept plan submitted with the application. The
concept plan depicted a 26' x 46' (1,196 square feet) outbuilding.
1. The fire station's improvements and the scale and location of the improvements shall be
developed in general accord with the conceptual plan entitled "Conceptual Plan SP -2007-
00013," prepared by Thomas B. Lincoln Land Surveyor Inc., and dated 3/22/07.
Subsequent to the approval of SP 2007-13, the Fire Company was able to acquire a larger building for
less capital than the smaller structure. The SPVFD has that SP 2008-13 be amended to allow an
approximately 30' by 60' (1,800 square feet) outbuilding. The outbuilding would be located to the rear
of the fire station, in the same location approved with the previous special use permit. As the difference
in building size exceeded what the Zoning Division believed to be consistent with "general accord," it
was determined that the larger outbuilding would not comply with the condition of approval and that an
amendment of the special use permit would be necessary.
In order to provide additional flexibility, staff is recommending the following changes to the condition:
1. The Stony Point Volunteer Fire Company's The fire station's ints iha oale aHa
outbuilding shall be no more than 2,000 square feet and the location of the
outbuilding shall be developed in general accord with the conceptual plan entitled "Conceptual
Plan SP 2007-13," prepared by Thomas B. Lincoln Land Surveyor Inc., dated 3/22/07, revised
by the applicant and received 9/3/08.
FA
Planning and Zoning History:
SP2007-13 -- The Albemarle County Planning Commission, at its meeting on June 12, 2007,
unanimously recommended approval and on August 1, 2007, the Board of Supervisors unanimously
approved the application with the condition as recommended by the Planning Commission.
On September 3, 2008, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to expedite the application process
for SP 2008-47.
Conformity with the Comprehensive Plan:
The Fire and Rescue Services section of the Community Facilities Plan recognizes the Stony Point
fire station as one of the facilities that "safeguard the community against the damaging effects of
fire, and in some cases, provide emergency medical (EMS) first response services."
The Comprehensive Plan states that higher service levels and lower response times should be
available in the Development Areas. However, Service Objective 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services
section establishes that there is an expected service level to be provided in the Rural Areas. The
Stony Point fire station is an existing facility that helps to provide that appropriate level of service.
Service Objective 3 states that the County should "Construct fire and rescue stations at strategic
locations throughout the County to help achieve desired response times to all emergency calls and
increase the level of service." Although this is an existing station, the planned expansion would
help increase the level of service by providing the fire company with more space to accommodate
their activities.
31.2.4.1: Special Use Permits provided for in this ordinance may be issued upon a finding by the
Board of Supervisors that such use will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property,
The expanded facilities will not change the character or overall impacts of the use. The new
building would be located immediately adjacent to the existing fire station and would not decrease
the distance between the facilities and any adjacent dwellings.
that the character of the district will not be changed thereby and
The increase in size of the outbuilding is not expected to change the character of the district.
The fire station is located on an Entrance Corridor. However, the new building is not expected to be
visible from the Entrance Corridor and will not have an impact on it.
that such use will be in harmony with the purpose and intent of this ordinance,
This fire station use is in harmony with a purpose of the Zoning Ordinance:
1. 4.4 To facilitate the provision of adequate police and fire protection, disaster evacuation,
civil defense, transportation, water, sewerage, flood protection, schools, parks, forests,
playgrounds, recreational facilities, airports and other public requirements;
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with uses permitted by right in the district,
This fire station use provides a public service for the residential and agricultural use permitted by
right in the VR Village Residential district.
with the additional regulations provided in section 5.0 of this ordinance,
5.1.09 FIRE, AMBULANCE, RESCUE SQUAD STATION (VOLUNTEER)
Each fire, ambulance or rescue squad station (volunteer) shall be subject to the following:
a. Any such use seeking public funding shall be reviewed by the commission in accordance with
section 31.2.5. Specifically, the commission shall find that the proposed service area is not already
adequately served by another such facility. In addition, the commission shall consider: growth
potential for the area; relationship to centers of population and to high-value property
concentrations; and access to and adequacy of public roads in the area for such use. The
commission may request recommendation from the Albemarle County fire official and other
appropriate agencies in its review;
This proposal is to allow a larger storage building for the Stony Point Volunteer Fire Department
than approved with SP2007-13, providing additional, useable space on the interior of the existing
fire station.
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission make the finding required above in 5.1.09(a).
b. Subordinate uses and fund-raising activities such as bingo, raffles and auctions may be
conducted outdoors during daylight hours and shall be conducted in an enclosed building at
all other times. (Amended 6-14-00; 10-3-01)
This section only establishes standards for potential future uses of the site. The fire company has
not expressed intent to host these activities as part of this application.
and with the public health, safety and general welfare.
Virginia Department of Transportation has not offered any additional comment concerning the
proposed larger outbuilding.
The Virginia Department of Health has stated that the facility would need an improved septic field
if any new personnel were to be added to the site. This request would not increase staffing levels.
If the fire station expands in the future, it will need to amend this special use permit amendment. At
that time, VDOT, VDH, and any other concerned agencies could review the expansion and
recommend any needed improvements.
This use supports public health and safety by providing facilities for fire and rescue personnel to
serve residents of the northeast portion of the County.
SUMMARY:
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Staff has identified the following factors favorable to this application:
1. The existing facility meets an important public -safety need. The new outbuilding would
help the fire company meet space needs without creating new impacts on the surroundings.
Staff has not identified any factors unfavorable to this application.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Based on the findings contained in this staff report, staff recommends approval of Special Use
Permit 2007-00013 under the following condition:
1. The Stony Point Volunteer Fire Department's The fire station's improvements an the sea! �ra
outbuilding shall be no more than 2,000 square feet and the location of the
outbuilding shall be developed in general accord with the conceptual plan entitled "Conceptual
Plan SP 2007-13," prepared by Thomas B. Lincoln Land Surveyor Inc., dated 3/22/07, revised
by the applicant and received 9/3/08.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment — Conceptual Plan for SP 2007-00013, received 9/3/08