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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB202200015 Staff Report 2022-03-15ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #/Name ARB-2022-15: Crozet Self Storage Review Type Final Site Development Plan Parcel Identification 05600000003200 and 056000000032A0 Location 5696 Rockfish Gap Turnpike (See Figures 1 and 2.) Zoned Highway Commercial (HQ / Entrance Corridor (EC) Owner/Applicant Yousef LC / Merchants Retail Partners LLC (Andrew Lewis) Magisterial District White Hall Proposal To construct a 90,000 sf, 3-story self -storage building with associated site improvements. Context The surrounding area is a mix of residential development and wooded lots, with institutional and commercial development further west on Rt. 250. Visibility All four sides of the proposed building will be visible from the Entrance Corridors. ARB Meeting Date March 21, 2022 Staff Contact Margaret Maliszewski PROJECT HISTORY Three conceptual designs for a storage building were presented for review at the September 7, 2021 ARB meeting. A design like one of the conceptual designs was reviewed by the ARB in an initial site plan review on December 20, 2021. (See Figures 3 and 4.) Comments from the December meeting are included in the analysis section of this report. Since December, the applicant has significantly revised the proposal to address the ARB's concerns. The building has been shifted to the east, away from Crozet Avenue and the intersection; a community meeting room has been incorporated into the plan; and substantial revisions have been made to the architectural design to address form, mass, and scale. (See Figure 5.) ANALYSIS REF GUIDELINE RECOMMENDA- ISSUE 3/21/2022 RECOMMENDATION TION 12/20/21 3/21/2022 Purpose; Compatibility with significant historic sites: Compatibility with the character of the Entrance Corridor; Structure design 1 The goal of the regulation of the design of development within the Provide perspective Perspective views have been provided showing the Revise the roof form of designated Entrance Corridors is to insure that new development within the renderings that show building from both directions on the corridor. There are no the southwest tower for corridors reflects the traditional architecture of the area. Therefore, it is the the proposed buildings located close enough to the site to be included in greater coordination purpose of ARB review and of these Guidelines, that proposed development building in the the images for scale comparison. The architectural throughout the building. within the designated Entrance Corridors reflect elements of design surrounding context changes improve the mass and scale of the building, and characteristic of the significant historical landmarks, buildings, and to clarify the scale, the images show that the landscaping will help soften the Replace some of the EIFS structures of the Charlottesville and Albemarle area, and to promote orderly extent of visibility, appearance of the development. with masonry (brick or and attractive development within these corridors. Applicants should note that and visual impacts stone) to establish a re lication of historic structures is neither required nor desired. along both corridors. The architectural design has been revised to include a change from a flat roof to a mansard roof, the addition of stronger tie to the historic architecture of the area. 2 Visitors to the significant historical sites in the Charlottesville and Albemarle area experience these sites as ensembles of buildings, land, and Revise the gabled bays on the EC elevation alternating with trellises, The southeastern tower vegetation. In order to accomplish the integration of buildings, land, and architectural design a pyramidal roof on the tower at the southeast corner of and/or the first stories of vegetation characteristic of these sites, the Guidelines require attention to to incorporate forms, the building, and a tower added at the southwest comer the gabled bays are four primary factors: compatibility with significant historic sites in the area; features and where a new community meeting room is located. These appropriate locations for the character of the Entrance Corridor; site development and layout; and materials that reflect elements are a better reflection of historic architectural additional masonry. landscaping. the traditional architecture of the forms than the previous proposal and they provide greater visual relief than the previous proposal. In this design, the 3 New structures and substantial additions to existing structures should respect the traditions of the architecture of historically significant buildings in the area. bays project over 3' from the main wall. Charlottesville and Albemarle area. Photographs of historic buildings in the area, as well as drawings of architectural features, which provide important Revise the The southwest tower is an improvement over the window examples of this tradition are contained in Appendix A. architectural design to include that was previously proposed in that location, but it has a roof form that differs from the others used in the building 4 The examples contained in Appendix A should be used as a guide for building design: the standard of compatibility with the area's historic architectural and this results in an uncoordinated appearance. structures is not intended to impose a rigid design solution for new elements with development. Replication of the design of the important historic sites in the greater relief. Building materials have been revised to EIFS (in colors area is neither intended nor desired. The Guideline's standard of SW 6112 and 6101) above a stone water table, white vinyl compatibility can be met through building scale, materials, and forms which windows and white accents, and a mix of metal and may be embodied in architecture which is contemporary as well as fiberglass shingle roofs. The amount of EIFS is extensive. traditional. The Guidelines allow individuality in design to accommodate Replacing some of the EIFS with masonry (brick or stone) varving tastes as well as special functional requirements. could establish a stronger tie to the historic architecture of the area. The southeastern tower and/or the first stories of 9 Building forms and features, including roofs, windows, doors, materials, colors and textures should be compatible with the forms and features of the the gabled bays would be appropriate locations for significant historic buildings in the area, exemplified by (but not limited to) additional masonry. the buildings described in Appendix A [of the design guidelines]. The standard of compatibility can be met through scale, materials, and forms The gabled bays and general arrangement of architectural which may be embodied in architecture which is contemporary as well as elements are reminiscent of the design of the buildings traditional. The replication of important historic sites in Albemarle County is fronting Rt. 250 at the Shops at Clover Lawn, an ARB- not the objective of these guidelines. approved development. The proposed building height is 35' to the top of the mansard on the Rt. 250 side (and 45' to the top of the southeastern tower roof). The gabled bays are approximately 33' tall and 21' wide. This compares to the 40' height of the main roof of the Clover Lawn buildings, and 37' height and 20' width of Clover Lawn's able bays. See Figure 6. 5 It is also an important objective of the Guidelines to establish a pattern of Revise the The revised building measures 135.5' x 225.5'. The None. compatible architectural characteristics throughout the Entrance Corridor in architectural design previous building size was 260' x 120'. The current order to achieve unity and coherence. Building designs should demonstrate with a combination proposal reduces the building size by 645 sf in footprint. sensitivity to other nearby structures within the Entrance Corridor. Where a of reduced footprint, Although the height of the main building has not changed, designated corridor is substantially developed, these Guidelines require reduced height, the change from flat roof to mansard roof tends to reduce striking a careful balance between harmonizing new development with the substantial breaks in the visual impact. (For comparison, the Clover Lawn existing character of the corridor and achieving compatibility with the the building form, buildings measure approximately 175' x 60' and 186' x sianificant historic sites in the area. and substantial changes in depth for recesses and 70'.) The building design has been further revised with 10 Buildings should relate to their site and the surrounding context of buildings. 11 The overall design of buildings should have human scale. Scale should be integral to the building and site design. projections along the walls to reduce the increased breaks in the building form and greater changes in depth. The gabled bays project over 3' from the main 12 Architecture proposed within the Entrance Corridor should use forms, shapes, scale, and materials to create a cohesive whole. mass and scale of wall. A canopy has been added above the overhead doors the building. on the east elevation. These changes substantially improve the general character and appearance of the building. The addition of the community meeting room with the canopy on two sides and the small patio introduces elements of human scale and pedestrian orientation into the design. 13 Any appearance of "blankness" resulting from building design should be Revise the The change in roof form significantly reduces blankness None. relieved using design detail or vegetation, or both. architectural design on all the elevations. The trellises, tower elements, gabled to eliminate bays, and material/color changes further reduce blankness blankness on all on the Rt. 250 side of the building. sides of the building. 14 Arcades, colonnades, or other architectural connecting devices should be None. A single building is proposed. None. used to unify ou s of buildings within a development. 15 Trademark buildings and related features should be modified to meet the None. The building does not have the appearance of a trademark None. requirements of the Guidelines. design. 16 Window glass in the Entrance Corridors should not be highly tinted or highly None. The architectural drawings note the window glass as Provide specs on the reflective. Window glass in the Entrance Corridors should meet the following "clear." window glass for review. criteria: Visible light transmittance (VLT) shall not drop below 40%. Visible light reflectance (VLR) shall not exceed 30%. Specifications on the proposed window glass should be submitted with the applicationforfinal review. Accessorystructures and equipment 17 Accessory structures and equipment should be integrated into the overall Include a detail of The dumpster has been removed from the plan. Add holly shrubs to wrap plan of development and shall, to the extent possible, be compatible with the the dumpster around the western side buildina desums used on the site. enclosure in the plan. Ornamental grasses and shrubs (Miscanthus sinensis and ilex crenata Hoogendom) are proposed near the lift of the equipment at the northwest comer of the 18 The following should be located to eliminate visibility from the Entrance Corridor street. If, after appropriate siting, these features will still have a station. building for better negative visual impact on the Entrance Corridor street, screening should be Add low level screening. provided to eliminate visibility. a. Loading areas, b. Service areas, c. Refuse planting to screen HVAC equipment is proposed at the northeast and areas, d. Storage areas, e. Mechanical equipment, the lift station from northwest comers of the building. Holly trees and shrubs f Above -ground utilities, and g. Chain link fence, barbed wire, razor wire, view. are proposed for screening. Wrapping these shrubs around and similar security fencing devices. the comer of the northwest equipment would provide for increased screening. 19 Screening devices should be compatible with the design of the buildings and surrounding natural vegetation and may consist of a. Walls, b. Plantings, and c. Fencing. 21 The following note should be added to the site plan and the architectural plan: Add the standard The note appears as general note #34 on Sheet C 1.0 of the Add the standard "Visibility of all mechanical equipment from the Entrance Corridor shall be mechanical site plan, but it is not on the architectural drawings. mechanical equipment eliminated." equipment note to note to the architectural the site and drawings. architectural plans. 22- Lighting Provide a complete A lighting plan is included in the site plan set. See below. 31 lighting plan for review. Include all proposed building - and ground -mounted lighting in the plan. 22 Light should be contained on the site and not spill over onto adjacent There is no excessive spillover. None. ro erties or streets; 23 Light should be shielded, recessed or flush -mounted to eliminate glare. All Proposed light fixtures are full cutoff styles. None. fixtures with lamps emitting 3000 lumens or more must be full cutoff fixtures. 24 Light levels exceeding 30 footcandles are not appropriate for display lots in The maximum illumination at the ground is 9.9 Revise the photometric the Entrance Corridors. Lower light levels will apply to most other uses in footcandles. However, the photometric plan was plan using an LLF of 1.0. the Entrance Corridors. calculated usin an LLF of .95 instead of 1.0. 25 Light should have the appearance of white light with a warm soft glow; The lamps are proposed with a color temperature of Revise the lighting plan however, a consistent appearance throughout a site or development is 4000K. 3000K would produce a warn white light, to use lamps with a color required. Consequently, if existing lamps that emit non -white light are to consistent with the EC guidelines. temperature of 3000K. remain, new lam s may be required to match them. 26 Dark brown, dark bronze, or black are appropriate colors for free-standing The color of the finish for the fixtures and pole has not Revise the lighting plan pole mounted light fixtures in the Entrance Corridors. been identified. to identify the color of the finish for the light fixtures and poles. Bronze is recommended. 27 The height and scale of freestanding, pole -mounted light fixtures should be A 20' pole is proposed, but a base for the pole is not Include a note on the plan compatible with the height and scale of the buildings and the sites they are addressed. stating that maximum illuminating, and with the use of the site. Typically, the height of pole fixture height is 20', freestanding pole -mounted light fixtures in the Entrance Corridors should including any base for the not exceed 20 feet, including the base. Fixtures that exceed 20 feet in height pole. will typically require additional screening to achieve an appropriate appearance from the Entrance Corridor. 28 In determining the appropriateness of lighting fixtures for the Entrance The surrounding area is generally not very brightly lit. See other lighting Corridors, the individual context of the site will be taken into consideration recommendations. on a case by case basis. 29 The following note should be included on the lighting plan: "Each outdoor The note appears on the plan. None. luminaire equipped with a lamp that emits 3,000 or more initial lumens shall be a full cutoff luminaire and shall be arranged or shielded to reflect light away from adjoining residential districts and away from adjacent roads. The spillover of lighting from luminaires onto public roads and property in residential or real areas zoning districts shall not exceed one half footcandle." 30- Guidelines for the Use of Decorative Landscape Lighting No decorative lighting is proposed. None. 31 Landscaping 7 The requirements of the Guidelines regarding landscaping are intended to None. Lawns and shade trees are characteristic of residential None. reflect the landscaping characteristic of many of the area's significant properties in the surrounding area but are not typical of historic sites which is characterized by large shade trees and lawns. commercial properties. The portions of the site not Landscaping should promote visual order within the Entrance Corridor and occupied by structures or parking do not have the help to integrate buildings into the existing environment of the corridor. appearance of lawns. 8 Continuity within the Entrance Corridor should be obtained by plantingNone. Sycamores and dogwoods are proposed along the Rt. 250 None. different types of plant materials that share similar characteristics. Such EC. Red Oaks are proposed west of the building. A variety common elements allow for more flexibility in the design of structures of other trees are proposed throughout the site. The tree because common landscape features will help to harmonize the appearance species are used throughout the corridors. of development as seen from the street upon which the Corridor is centered. 32 Landscaping along the frontage of Entrance Corridor streets should include See other landscape 13 large shade trees are provided along the Rt. 250 None, the following: recommendations, frontage. The spacing of the trees is adjusted to a. Large shade trees should be planted parallel to the Entrance Corridor below. correspond to the architectural features of the building Street. Such trees should be at least 3% inches caliper (measured 6 inches elevation facing the street. above the ground) and should be of a plant species common to the area. Such trees should be located at least every 35 feet on center. On the Crozet Ave. side, an informal mix of trees is b. Flowering ornamental trees of a species common to the area should be proposed between the building and existing wooded area interspersed among the trees required by the preceding paragraph. The to remain along the frontage. Note that much of the ornamental trees need not alternate one for one with the large shade trees. They existing wooded area stands in the right-of-way. may be planted among the large shade trees in a less regular spacing pattern. c. In situations where appropriate, a three or four board fence or low stone Ornamental trees are interspersed on both frontages. wall, typical of the area, should align the frontage of the Entrance Corridor street. d. An area of sufficient width to accommodate the foregoing plantings and fencing should be reserved parallel to the Entrance Corridor street, and exclusive of road right-of-way and utility easements. 33 Landscaping along interior roads: Provide 16 large A mix of trees and shrubs is proposed along Brownsville None. a. Large trees should be planted parallel to all interior roads. Such trees shade trees along Road, including large deciduous, ornamental, and should be at least 2% inches caliper (measured six inches above the ground) Brownsville Rd., evergreen, in an informal arrangement. The quantity of and should be of a plant species common to the area. Such trees should be 2%" caliper at trees is sufficient to meet the intent of the guideline. located at least every 40 feet on center. planting. 34 Landscaping along interior pedestrian ways: None. Trees are provided along or near all sidewalks on site. None. a. Medium trees should be planted parallel to all interior pedestrian ways. Such trees should be at least 2% inches caliper (measured six inches above the ground) and should be of a species common to the area. Such trees should be located at least every 25 feet on center. 35 Landscaping of parking areas: Add a large tree on Trees of the required planting size are distributed around None. a. Large trees should align the perimeter of parking areas, located 40 feet on the north side of the the perimeter of the parking areas at the required spacing. center. Trees should be planted in the interior of parking areas at the rate of parking lot, 2%" one tree for every 10 parking spaces provided and should be evenly caliper at planting. distributed throughout the interior of the parking area. b. Trees required by the preceding paragraph should measure 2% inches caliper (measured six inches above the ground); should be evenly spaced; and should be of a species common to the area. Such trees should be planted in planters or medians sufficiently large to maintain the health of the tree and shall be protected by curbing. c. Shrubs should be provided as necessary to minimize the parking area's impact on Entrance Corridor streets. Shrubs should measure 24 inches in height. 36 Landscaping of buildings and other structures: Increase the planting The number of trees along the Rt. 250 frontage remains Extend the shrubs and a. Trees or other vegetation should be planted along the front of long along the Rt. 250 the same, but significant low-level plantings have been ground cover planting buildings as necessary to soften the appearance of exterior walls. The side of the building added, including a double row of shrubs and ground along the Rt. 250 side of spacing, size, and type of such trees or vegetation should be determined by to offset the impacts cover. Extending the shrubs and ground cover along the the stormwater facility. the length, height, and blankness of such walls. of the scale of the street side of the stormwater facility would provide for a b. Shrubs should be used to integrate the site, buildings, and other structures; building. more coordinated appearance. Along Crozet Avenue, dumpsters, accessory buildings and structures; "drive thru" windows; service existing wooded area is now to remain, and a mix of large areas; and signs. Shrubs should measure at least 24 inches in height. Add low level shade and ornamental trees is proposed between the plantings all along wooded area and the building. The proposed sizes and the Rt. 250 frontage. uantities meet the requirements. 37 Plant species: a. Plant species required should be as approved by the Staff None. The plants are on the various lists. None. based upon but not limited to the Generic Landscape Plan Recommended Species List and Native Plants or Virginia Landscapes (Appendix D . 38 Plant health: The following note should be added to the landscape plan: "All None. The note is on the plan. None. site plantings of trees and shrubs shall be allowed to reach, and be maintained at, mature height; the topping of trees is prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall be pruned minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant. - Site Development and layout; Development pattern 6 Site development should be sensitive to the existing natural landscape and Revise the design to Much of the site is already developed. Large groups of None. should contribute to the creation of an organized development plan. This reduce the scale of mature trees currently stand near the center of the site and may be accomplished, to the extent practical, by preserving the trees and the building to not along the western perimeter. Smaller groups are at the rolling terrain typical of the area; planting new trees along streets and overpower the southeastern comer and at the driveway accessing pedestrian ways and choosing species that reflect native forest elements; setting of the site. Brownsville Rd. Previously, all trees were to be removed. insuring that any grading will blend into the surrounding topography thereby Now, with the building shifted to the east, the trees at the creating a continuous landscape; preserving, to the extent practical, existing western end of the site are to remain, though a large significant river and stream valleys which may be located on the site and portion of them are within the right-of-way. integrating these features into the design of surrounding development; and limiting the building mass and height to a scale that does not overpower the The proposed building is oriented parallel to Rt. 250. The natural settings of the site, or the Entrance Corridor. chamfered comer at the intersection with Crozet Ave. has been replaced with a projecting bay with hipped roof and 39 The relationship of buildings and other structures to the Entrance Corridor street and to other development within the corridor should be as follows: canopy. The layout appears generally organized. Access is a. An organized pattem of roads, service lanes, bike paths, and pedestrian proposed off Brownsville Rd. near the intersection with walks should guide the layout of the site. Rt. 250. A sidewalk is proposed along Rt. 250. b. In general, buildings fronting the Entrance Corridor street should be parallel to the street. Building groupings should be arranged to parallel the The design has been revised to take better advantage of Entrance Corridor street. topography to reduce scale and to increase landscaping to c. Provisions should be made for connections to adjacent pedestrian and offset visual impacts. vehicular circulation systems. d. Open spaces should be tied into surrounding areas to provide continuity within the Entrance Corridor. e. If significant natural features exist on the site (including creek valleys, steep slopes, significant trees or rock outcroppings), to the extent practical, then such natural features should be reflected in the site layout. If the provisions of Section 32.5.2.n of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance apply, then improvements required by that section should be located so as to maximize the use of existing features in screening such improvements from Entrance Corridor streets. f The placement of structures on the site should respect existing views and vistas on and around the site. Site Grading 40 Site grading should maintain the basic relationship of the site to surrounding Indicate on the plan The building has been redesigned with a slightly reduced Provide in the plan conditions by limiting the use of retaining walls and by shaping the terrain the material and footprint, a partial below -grade basement and a mansard details, including material through the use of smooth, rounded land forms that blend with the existing color proposed for roof. This takes better advantage of the topography to and color, on the design terrain. Steep cut or fill sections are generally unacceptable. Proposed contours the retaining wall. A reduce the mass and scale of the building. of the seat wall. A muted on the grading plan shall be rounded with a ten foot minimum radius where muted earth tone earth tone color is they meet the adjacent condition. Final grading should achieve a natural, rather color is The stormwater facility has been redesigned. It now recommended. than engineered, appearance. Retaining walls 6 feet in height and taller, when recommended. includes an emergency spillway on the EC side. necessary, shall be terraced and planted to blend with the landscape. Include a detail of Low level landscaping was not added at the facility, but Extend the shrubs and ground cover planting 44 Natural drainage patterns (or to the extent required, new drainage patterns) should be incor orated into the finished site to the extent possible. the retaining wall safety railing in the ground cover was added to the west, between the parking area and the EC, and all along the EC side of the building. along the Rt. 250 side of the stormwater facility. 20 Surface runoff structures and detention ponds should be designed to fit into the natural topography to avoid the need for screening. When visible from the plan. If shrubs were continued along the EC side of the Entrance Corridor street, these features must be frilly integrated into the stormwater facility, a more continuous landscape would landscape. They should not have the appearance of engineered features. Add low-level be achieved. landscaping in the vicinity of the The retaining wall is no longer proposed. A "seat wall" is stormwater facility proposed west of the community meeting room. Details to integrate it more have not been provided but the comment response letter fully into the states that the wall will match the stone of the building's landscape. water table. 41 No grading, trenching, or tunneling should occur within the drip line of any None. The building location has been shifted to the east to retain Show tree protection trees or other existing features designated for preservation in the final most of the wooded area along Crozet Avenue, a large fencing for the wooded Certificate of Appropriateness. Adequate tree protection fencing should be portion of which is in the right-of-way. Tree protection area to remain at the west shown on, and coordinated throughout, the grading, landscaping and erosion fencing is not shown on the plan. end of the site. and sediment control plans. 42 Areas designated for preservation in the final Certificate of Appropriateness should be clearly delineated and protected on the site prior to any grading activity on the site. This protection should remain in place until completion of the develo ment of the site. 43 Preservation areas should be protected from storage or movement of heavy e ui ment within this area. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. The revised building design: scale, style, character. 2. The extensive use of EIFS. 3. Landscaping: quantity and character relative to the building scale and building design. Staff recommends approval with the following conditions: 1. Revise the roof form of the southwest tower for greater coordination throughout the building. 2. Replace some of the EIFS with masonry (brick or stone) to establish a stronger tie to the historic architecture of the area. The southeastern tower and/or the first stories of the gabled bays are appropriate locations for additional masonry. 3. Provide specs on the window glass for review. 4. Add holly shrubs to wrap around the western side of the equipment at the northwest corner of the building for better screening. 5. Add the standard mechanical equipment note to the architectural drawings. 6. Revise the photometric plan using an LLF of 1.0. 7. Revise the lighting plan to use lamps with a color temperature of 3000K. 8. Revise the lighting plan to identify the color of the finish for the light fixtures and poles. Bronze is recommended. 9. Include a note on the plan stating that maximum pole fixture height is 20', including any base for the pole. 10. Extend the shrubs and ground cover planting along the Rt. 250 side of the stormwater facility. 11. Provide in the plan details, including material and color, on the design of the seat wall. A muted earth tone color is recommended. 12. Extend the shrubs and ground cover planting along the Rt. 250 side of the stormwater facility. 13. Show tree protection fencing for the wooded area to remain at the west end of the site. ATTACHMENTS Attach. 1: ARB2022-15: Crozet Self Storage Site Plan Attach. 2: ARB2022-15: Crozet Self Storage architectural drawings 67 CF 56-35A ^ 55-I5 + U N 56-32C1 51 5 6-35 G I 57 597 I I � '. gzfO„W1S1, r.: 56, -350 5634E 56-34f s 56-34C56-32C J 4 5708 5870 5716 680 5676 5584 5 5676 J 56-16 562 f�V� onnn / 97( —j—t 56-26E S a""-i 6A 1 56-3282 56-17G IS, 5651� 5646 "0 502 56-32D 56-32BIJ 5645 56- It 562' ab. ss-1sF It, 17F 501 7/1 5861 5805 -26F2 "+ 5 6-30 B 1 56 56-17Gi T? 482 _- 1{ 4 55-16B 56-3082 56.27 y 4� 479 56-16E 1 56-31 A2 4760 loll. 562.9 17 56-16C 56-31A1 SC-)CC1 Figure 1: Project location. 10 Figure 2: View of existing development at subject property, looking west on the Route 250 West Entrance Corridor. Figure 3: One of three conceptual designs presented at the September 7, 2021 ARB meeting. Figure 4: The design for the Crozet Self Storage Building reviewed at the December 20, 2021 ARB meeting. 13 Figure 5: Revised Crozet Self Storage Building design submitted for the March 21, 2022 ARB meeting. 14 Figure 6: Google street view of the Shops at Clover Lawn. 15