HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP200700053 Correspondence 2008-05-21 Page 1 of 2
Elaine Echols
From: Scott Dunn [scott.dunn@timmons.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 3:40 PM
To: Scott Dunn; Judith Wiegand; Juandiego Wade; Glenn Brooks; Denunzio, Joel D., P.E.;
charles.proctor@VDOT.virginia.gov
Cc: Elaine Echols; Kurt Gloeckner; mwaylett@stab.org
Subject: RE: Traffic Responses to Comments on SP 2007-053 St. Anne's-Belfield
Attachments: STAB Traffic Response 052108.pdf
Juan and Glenn:
Attached please find my response to the traffic concerns cited in Judy's May 16, 2008 memorandum. The
response contains a summary five years worth of data pertaining to both the overlap of Lower School and Middle
School families as well as information pertaining to the directional split of traffic approaching the school
I realize that Judy is out of the office until June 2nd, but I am hopeful that things will keep moving forward in her
absence.
As indicated in my response, I am requesting the VDOT (or the County) provide an itemized engineer's opinion of
probable costs for any improvements that will be presented as a potential for the applicant to contribute toward.
Hopefully this will be presented prior to any meetings/discussions on the topic, allowing sufficient time for the
review
If you have any question or need additional information, feel free to contact me directly.
Scott
TIMMONS GROUP
YOUR VISION ACHIEVED THROUGH OURS
W. Scott Dunn, Transportation Planner
117 S. 14th Street, Suite 303
Richmond, VA 23219
Tel: 804.200.6955
Mobile: 804.402.0830
Fax: 804.225.8551
E-mail: scott.dunn@timmons.com
www.timmons.com
From: Judith Wiegand [mailto:jwiegand@albemarle.org]
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 10:57 AM
To: Kurt Gloeckner; mwaylett@stab.org; Scott Dunn
Cc: Elaine Echols; Juandiego Wade; John Shepherd; Glenn Brooks; Sherri Proctor; Margaret Maliszewski;
Denunzio, Joel D., P.E.; charles.proctor@VDOT.virginia.gov
Subject: Comments on SP 2007-053 St. Anne's-Belfield
Everyone,
The County's comments, which incorporate VDOT's, are attached
I will be out of the office beginning on Monday, May 16, and will return on Monday, June 2. If you have questions,
please contact Elaine Echols at 296,5832, x. 3252.
Thank you.
Judy
Judith C. Wiegand, AICP
5/21/2008
• ••
TIMMONS GROUP
YOUR VISION ACHIEVED THROUGH OURS
To: Ms. Judy Wiegand, AICP (Albemarle County)
From: W. Scott Dunn, AICP
Date: May 21, 2008
Re: St. Anne's-Belfield Middle School Relocation —
Additional Traffic Data per the May 16, 2008 Memorandum
Copy: Albemarle County—Juandiego Wade, Glenn Brooks, Elaine Echols
VDOT—Joel Denunzio, Chuck Proctor
Project Team — Michael Waylett (STAB); Kurt Gloeckner (Gloeckner Engineering)
The May 16, 2008 memorandum issued by Ms. Judy Wiegand indicated that the main
concern is"for the applicant to provide information that the County can use to verify the
30 percent reduction in trips" that was applied in the submitted traffic impact analysis
(TIA). E Ip
r 1/40
In light of that request, St. Anne's-Belfield (STAB) has reviewed their student records for
the previous five years with respect to families with children attending the Lower School, M
•
families with children attending the Middle School, and families with children attending o 0
both schools. This information is summarized below in Table 1. v °°
x
u_
Table 1
Attendance by School v
o
2
School Year =
School 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
- v
Lower School 224 212 205 204 202 . 0
Middle School 217 210 191 199 192
Both Schools 69 58 52 69 58
of MS families E
with a sibling in 32% 28% 27% 35% 30% 0
the lower school _
0
E
Table 1 illustrates that over the past five years, the number of families with a student in v E
the Middle School and a younger sibling in the Lower School has remained at
approximately 30%; which equates to the reduction that was applied in the study. a
ti
As discussed previously, STAB is providing accommodations to support a single drop-off
by those families with children in each of the schools to be located on the Lower
Campus and reduce the overall traffic impacts of the proposed relocation.
V
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a
0
v
v
0
V
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STAB-Response to May 16,2008 Memorandum
May 21,2008
In addition to the data to support the applied trip reduction rate, Ms. Wiegand also cited
the county's desire for additional information pertaining to the where the Middle School
student population resides with respect to the proposed relocation.
Information pertaining to where Middle School students reside with respect to the
proposed facility is summarized in Table 2.
Table 2
Middle School Student Origin Data
Year Approaching From
North East South West
2003-2004 26% 24% 9% 41%
2004-2005 30% 18% 9% 42%
2005-2006 30% 17% 8% 45%
2006-2007 30% 20% 10% 40%
2007-2008 30% 21% 10% 34%
Average 30% 20% 9% 41%
These averages are similar to the distribution used in the traffic study (i.e. North - 30%,
East - 15%, South - 10%, West 45%) that was based on a smaller sampling previously
provided by STAB.
With respect to the school's transportation demand management (TDM) strategies (also
mentioned in the memorandum), STAB currently provides bus service between the
Upper Campus and Lower Campus to accommodate after school activities. This service
is anticipated to continue, however, with the Middle School relocating it is possible that
ridership will decrease; this is based on the assumption that high school students (with
vehicles) will continue to carpool to the lower campus as they currently do today.
On a final note, the memorandum indicates that VDOT will prepare a cost estimate for
potential improvements and subsequently work with the County and the applicant to
determine the applicant's "fair share" cost for these improvements. To date, the
applicant has not been included in collaborations between the County and VDOT with
respect to traffic concerns/issues. That being said, the applicant and his engineer
request that an itemized engineer's opinion of probable cost be provided for review prior
to any meetings in which cost estimates or contributions will be discussed.
If any additional information or data is required from the applicant, feel free to contact
me directly at (804) 200-6955 or Scott.Dunn@Timmons.com.
1�h ",Ai] Of �.
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Planning&Community Development
401 McIntire Road,Room 218
Charlottesville,Virginia 22902-4596
(434)296-5823
Fax(434)972-4035
MEMORANDUM
TO: Kurt Gloeckner, Michael Waylett, Scott Dunn
CC: Elaine Echols, Juan Wade, John Shepherd, Glenn Brooks, Sherri Proctor,
Margaret Maliszewski, Joel DeNunzio, Chuck Proctor
FROM: Judy Wiegand, Senior Planner
SUBJ: Staff Response to the Planning Commission's direction on April 29, 2008 and on
the Plan and supporting materials submitted on April 27, 2008
DATE: May 16, 2008
Comments from County staff are given below based on:
• Direction from the Planning Commission during the April 29, 2008 worksession
• The material submitted on April 27, 2008
• The traffic study
These comments are in addition to those submitted by the County in the memorandum dated
April 28, 2008. Please note that several of these comments have been made at least once
previously.
First, several reviewers have commented that the plan submitted on April 27 is illegible. Staff
suggests that the consultant look at the actual plan as it is printed out, not simply review it on
the screen. The letters are too small and blocked in to be legible. Staff may have additional
comments once we review a legible plan.
Also,the Planning Commission and the Board prefer 11 x 17 size plans, unless the plans must
be larger to be readable. Please see if it is possible to reduce the page size while increasing the
print size.
e ‘ Additional Traffic Data
CP During the Planning Commission's worksession on this Special Use Permit on April 29, 2008,
the Commission commented:
4.1
1A- 'a Regarding traffic impacts, since the school will add to the existing problem at several
✓� area intersections, the Commission questioned what the school's proportional share
should be towards improvements that address that impact. The Commission asked the
applicant to provide the missing information in its traffic study so this could be
determined. The Commission asked staff to work with VDOT and the applicant to
SP 2007-053, St. Anne's-Belfieia, May 16, 2008 3
workable, but I cannot be sure what areas are captured to be treated. I would still prefer to have a
'a"/ drainage area preliminary analysis as indicated in my earlier comments.
,
, t CConceptual Site Plan
!e' Regarding the landscape buffer,what type of trees are being used for the parking buffer? The
new field proposed along the southeast part of the property does not meet the buffer requirement
f4., for recreational facilities. [Sec. 32.7.9.8.c(3)] A buffer will be required along the proposed
fields that are adjacent to the southern and southeastern boundaries. This buffer should
consist of a fence at a minimum as allowed in 32.7.9.8(a). Applicant has not provided
requested details of the parking buffer and screening for recreational facilities. e vt LF O
1(� t is the p .17
roposed height of the structure(s)? The maximum height for any building within i�
„..\p a residential district is 35 feet. Please provide a note on the plan that proposed buildings , '�rypc te
\ will not exceed 35 feet. fl
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Entrance Corridor
J
The notes on this plan are not legible and some information has been removed from the plan.
/ Outstanding issues, or issues that appear to remain outstanding because the plan can't be read,
�
are outlined below.
..K•f1,
i- 1. The note regarding trees on the south side of the parking lot that is located near the Bypass
3/ should read: "Minimum 20' deep landscape buffer at parking area subject to ARB approval."
0,../2. Indicate the intention regarding illumination of the new playing fields.
AVI v/3. Include notes on the plan indicating: "Minimum 20'-deep landscape buffer at playing fields
ei4'ec subject to ARB approval."
Oti.>p v4. The following conditions of approval are recommended:
Q " — a. Landscaping may be required to be in excess of the minimum requirements of ARB
. guidelines or the Zoning Ordinance to compensate for the negative visual impact of
• 0. the playing fields and parking on the Entrance Corridor. Planting for screening ! /
�o-( purposes shall be provided between the parking lot and the southern property line. if
�' b. A row of 2 Y2" caliper shade trees shall be provided along the east side of the `
relocated portion of SR 855. (A'5 "5i-4Ou0u
5. Provide for review information on proposed building heights. Provide one or more site
,pJ
L- ,, sections showing the relationship of the proposed building heights to the existing and vv k,` �
�0 �proposed topography and to the Bypass. ti
6. Without complete legible information on utilities,the full extent of potential conflicts and . �, `�l}'�
%impact on the EC can't be assessed. F�L,o A) U? V3,C. . P t A rl Via
Historic Preservation—The Headmaster's House tlidi ii i,
The applicant has submitted a historical and architectural assessment for the Headmaster's {�yl;���� r' f
house. The report indicates that the house is not architecturally or historically distinguished. The ;�t��'�'1,114S�
historian's recommendation is that the house is not eligible for listingin the National Register. !` Irl,�, .[y'
g
ii II �' .j
Although it is disappointing that the applicant is not able to find a way to re-use the resource, ' �.
particularly given the size of the site and the educational opportunities and environmental
benefits the existing building offers, the historic preservation planner's recommendations on this
proposal are satisfied with this submittal.
3
SP 2007-053, St. Anne's-Belfield, May 16, 2008 2
determine the school's impact on the intersections and to determine what the applicant's
pro-rata contribution should be to address the impact of this project on the road network.
[Draft Action Letter]
Given this direction from the Commission,the County's transportation planner discussed the
need for additional information with VDOT and Community Development staff. Our main
concern is for the applicant to provide information that the County can use to verify the 30
percent reduction in the number of trips. We understand that, due to the end of the school year,
a survey will not be feasible at this time. Therefore,we request that the applicant provide
information on the travel direction of student households, the sibling composition of
high/middle school and lower school students, as well as the school's transportation demand
management (TDM) efforts for the past five years. This information should support the
applicant's request for a 30 percent reduction. Staff is available to discuss this request with the
applicant.
Additionally, VDOT will be developing a cost for improvements to the intersection the TIA
identified as the most impacted by the St. Anne's-Belfield expansion. Staff will then work with
the applicant and VDOT to determine the applicant's "fair share" cost for these improvements,
based on the TIA. Staff will contact the applicant as soon as the amount of a recommended
contribution has been prepared.
Parking Study
�1(i The Zoning Administrator has reviewed the parking study and can support the number of
proposed parking spaces based on the information provided. This parking determination relies
heavily on the applicant's knowledge of their parking needs based on a significant history of use.
The plan calls for a total of 306 parking spaces. During regular daily academic school use, the
number of spaces in use may be much less than that number. However, these facts contribute to
the need for some flexibility and the allowance of more than the minimum number of parking
spaces:
1. The campus is on a large parcel and different uses/facilities are spread out over a
0 distance of almost '/4 mile. This distance tends to discourage the use of shared parking
spaces for multiple functions/uses.
2. There are numerous facilities and related activities on this property: academic school,
numerous athletic fields, convocation center, gymnasium, and the like. There can be
several concurrent events.
3. The convocation center and gym are areas of assembly,which can seat up to 700
people (together) and often seat up to 500 attendees.
4. The athletic fields can be the site of regional meets or tournaments involving other
schools. This requires more parking than if the fields only served these students.
County Engineer
These plans are almost illegible. However, the plans shown by the architect at the Planning
VLa' Commission meeting were a clear picture of the proposed project. I also had the opportunity to
talk with Kurt Gloeckner after the Commission meeting. He explained his intent with
stormwater, which is briefly noted in his handwritten narrative submitted on April 27. It sounds
2