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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSUB198800097 Other 1992-12-17COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 December 17, 1992 Eugene Ray and Carolyn B. Rushton, IV 1508 Greenleaf Lane Charlottesville, VA 22903 RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action AP-92-06; Estate of Charles W. Phillips Tax Map 63, Parcels 14, 14H, 14I, and 14J, 45B2, 45133 and 45B4 (original parcel 14) Dear Mr. and Mrs. Rushton: This letter is to inform you that on December 16, 1992 during the meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board (3:2) overruled the Zoning Administrator's determination of number of parcels and corresponding development rights. The Board felt that the notes on the plat should be followed in that the property could not be further divided. Anyone aggrieved by a decision made by the Board can appeal the decision to the Circuit Court of Albemarle County within thirty (30) days of the decision. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Sincerely, * elia GC . McCulley A.I.C.P Zoning Administrator AGM/sp cc: Dana and Christina Elzey Steve Raynor STAFF PERSON: Amelia McCulley PUBLIC HEARING: December 16, 1992 STAFF REPORT - AP 92-06 APPELLANTS: Eugene Ray and Carolyn B. Rushton, IV (parcel 14I) Dana M. and Christina Elzey (parcel 14J) The applicants appeal the Zoning Administrator's determination under Section 34.3 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance. DETERMINATION: The property of the Charles W. Phillips estate, originally tax map 63, parcel 14 consisted of two (2) parcels at the date of adoption of the Zoning Ordinance: one parcel lying on the east side of Route 621, and the other :n the west side. (See attachment A for 1980 tax map.) Therefore, four (4) development right remain with parcels 14, 14H and/or 14I. (Since the adoption of the Ordinance, this property has been subdivided into parcels 14, 14H, 14I, 14J, 45B1, 45B2, 45B3, and 45B4.) See attachment B for current tax map. APPEAL: Approved and recorded subdivision plats dated after the adoption of the Ordinance, establish the fact that no development rights remain with this property. PROPERTY: This property is located at Eastham, off Route 20 on both sides of Route 621 between Pantops and Stony Point. On the 1980 tax map, it was shown under one (1) parcel number, number 14. It currently consists of a total of nine (9) parcels: four (4) on the west side of Route 621 and five (5) on the east side. It appears that most of the parcels have been sold. Parcels 14, 14G and 14H remain in the Phillips estate. HISTORY: Charles and Mary Sue Phillips obtained the property in 1948. In July, 1959, a right of way for Route 621 was given to the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County. This is found in Deed Book 352, Page 281, found in attachment C. A review of the relevant subdivision history is as follows: 1) The property on the west side of Route 621 was divided in 1988 into four (4) lots. These lots ranged from 2.4 to 2.9 acres in size. No additional development rights remain. These are now shown on the tax maps as parcels 45B1, 45B2, 45B3 and 45B4. (See attachment D.) STAFF REPORT - AP-92-92-06 Page 2 2) The property on the east side of Route 621 was divided in 1988, creating one (1) 21 acre lot. This lot is shown as parcel 14G. (See attachment E.) 3) The residue of the 21 acre lot was divided in 1990, creating four (4) lots. (See attachment F.) These lots are shown as parcels 14, 14H, 14I and 14J. Parcels 14J and 14I belong to the appellants. These parcel acreages are as follows: Parcel 14 Parcel 14H Parcel 14I Parcel 14J 26.876 acres 21 acres 30 acres 2.683 acres APPELLANT'S JUSTIFICATION: (See the justification letter in Attachment I.) The Zoning Administrator's determination was in error due to the following: 1) The developer has abandoned the "rights" he now seeks to assert; 2) Because lots have been sold to others and is not under common ownership, the developer has restricted his right to subdivide further. RELEVANT CRITERIA FOR DETERMINATION OF PARCEL OF RECORD Of the several criteria applied to these determinations, the most relevant is that of a former Board of Zoning Appeals case, with the Inglecress or Ann Sanford property on Owensville Road. It is not a case of the descriptive clause of the deed, as with the Blandemar or Rosenstiehl property. It is instead, the fact that at the date of adoption of the Zoning Ordinance, the property was divided by the fee -simple ownership of the State Road #621 right-of-way. The findings of Judge Pickford of the Albemarle Circuit Court in the case of Ann Sanford V. Albemarle County Board of Zonina Appeals, 3984-L is the pivotal point of my determination. There is the basis for this local ruling in City of Winston Salem V. Tickle, 281 SE 2d 667 of the North Carolina Court of Appeals (1981). The ownership of others severs or subdivides the property into separate parcels. In the Sanford case and the subject determination, it was the Commonwealth of Virginia for highway right-of-way which has created separate parcels. STAFF REPORT - AP-92-06 Page 3 ZONING ADMINSTRATOR'S JUSTIFICATION: (See the Official Determination letter in Attachment G.) 1. The right-of-way for Route 621 subdivided Parcel 14 into two (2) separate parcels on the date of adoption of the Ordinance. This results in four (4) development rights on the west side of the road, based on the minimum acreage of 2 per lot or house. None of the lots are large enough to subdivide. In addition, it results in five (5) development rights on the east side of the road. One of these was utilized with the creation of parcel 14J; therefore, four (4) additional rights remain. 2. The subdivision plat does not reflect a review and determination of number of parcels of record on the part of either the owner or the County. Even if one were to assume that either the County or the owner had determined it to be all one parcel, there is no rational basis for perpetuating a mistake. 3. The sale of some of the involved property does to prohibit or restrict in any way, the further subdivision of this property in accordance with the finding of additional development rights. There is an Attorney General's opinion to that effect in Attachment H. The Phillips estate is entitled to allocate these rights as they see fit. Staff will not comment on the equity of the fact that the lot purchasers, and neighbors may have relied on the understanding that this property could not be further developed. This is a legitimate concern for the appellants, and is one to be resolved between them and the sellers of the property. AGM/ ALBEMARLE COUNT1 4! 35 32 300 \ 36 2 so MB ]/N JOB ne U6 vz Po. 610 29 /> ea 37 61 Z \ 15 19 I, � Is \ la Lt.IL W f([1 lleO Tx Igyp \ �\ 1 ` \ I )9 RIVANNA DISTRICT SECTION 63 ALBEMARLE COUN.,' ., -j a, as aoc WE '. jf' I • � m as D6 ax'J w Y• Ar m apl A • ao] w 306 JJo ]•1 !F aoa .�• a29. s I 45TH4M �' • • � �. ``.•� /• • a] •ec ie u 0 i a• .ik WI• • ] ae SEA 3. 31 9 O• •36 O.. ly � •a ti °Sex °• / B .ti se •!0J no A. Op 140 ��/�l{� r�(_� Q�i♦•� y^ t •Y• ' .� 40 p `!•l ,' des 19PI • ill {' ll�/l��C/u7 Sl Z���IY'//� \ `~A •!• 24 ,! /o' `µ' T TFt�C /✓fit � j . Y i ne 7- I Is is 19E � 64a w Faf] , RIVANNA DISTRICT Mt4B]wet.ala4Tu4a a Fa4eB]LL OIBTIIDI4Y.1NtOxlICIf4Y. 0lf.) SECTION 63 a To the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County: WHEREAS, a petition has been or is being submitted to the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County requesting the establishment as a part of the Secondary System of State Highways of a certain road/street, said road/street being at a End of Route 621, about 0.5 miles S.E.of Route 20, and thence extending in a S. E. direction about 0.6 miles to Dead End; and WHEREAS, the said road/street proposed to be established as a part To: Deed State Highway Secondary Syst Fee $ 3.50 - of the Secondary Satstem of State Highways extends or will extend along, through or over lands owned by the parties hereto: NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the benefits accruing !i 11 or to accrue to the undersigned landowners, said landowners do hereby execute" their consent to give unto Albemarle County, without compensation, each as to the lands by him owned, an easement and right of way for said road/street !i along, through or over said lands, said easement and right of way to be 30 feet in width, together with such additions. widths as may be necessary for the extension and maintenance of road slopes and/or ditches and all necessary drainage facilities, said right of way to be free from all encroachments. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set out hands and seals this 25th day of July, 1959. Witness to mark Gladys H. Ward STATE OF VIRGINIA COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE, to -wit: C. W. Phillips (SEAL) Nary Sue Phillips (SEAL) E. M. Frazier (SEAL) her Lucy C. (X) Frazier (SEAL) mark William Floyd Collier (SEAL) Mary E. Collier (SEAL) I, J. R. Harper, a Notary Public in and for the County aforesaid, II in the State of Virginia, do certify that C. W. Phillips, and Mary Sue Phillips, whose names are signed to the foregoing writing, bearing date on the 25th day' of July, 1959, have each acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid. My term of office expires: °1211�2. Given under my hand this 25th day of July, 1959. J. R. .. .. ..... STAT'r. OF VIRGINIA ATT��M/IENR_(/ COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE, to -wit: r, Gladys H. Ward, a Notary Public in and for the County of Albe- marle in the State of Virginia, hereby certify that E. M. Frazier, Lucy C. Frazier, William Floyd Calker and Mary H. Collrer, whos:: names are signed to the foregoing s;riting bearing date on the 25th day of July, 1959, have and each has acknopledged the seme before me in my County & State aforesaid. Given under my hand this 19th day of August, 1959, My commission expires: July 21, 1963. Gladys H. Ward, Notary Public I �YYCyyay. � Oli .i APPROVAL FIN STTx t lr of TITLE THE SLJ®NLjIH OF THE LAW OESCABEo TnE I4 SnO*N "fist hF+iE.ee IS e1TN OF F_LL C"SENT Br C,_:. PS llipi O&2T8 8 OBTAIrvEL � AGmf Cate Alwe t . .L.ER ,NNE Ov . , D£SinEi " TO THE BEST OF w %n10,v LEDGE 'nE ..+.LFkSi_NEC O.:NER, NEETS A11 THE REOUn£NENTS REGAROirpa BOOfo Of SupV. X �ntiru+:/v%..i' Cwi TnUSTEES.:..! THE PLRTTING OF SUBDIVISIONS. +EFEn&,CE TO FUTURE FOTENTi:1 Tx- AbeMode Co. • vZLOP• 14T IS TO 6E OEENEO AS THEORETICAL OHLY.ALL STATENENTS AF71%EO TO THIS PLAT ARE TRUE ANON . -i"nE lrSlT,Grl6ie -- 'E, wit It, bagavy e/ frument N"r-Iwy,d aatae in N..s 3"yR; of Tc�.a/g IS" ri- Y ChGirrnon Pommg Com. pare IIY CGa ExP DEC. B - 1988 AjbaaT.Orle County R3dk, Arc Cbyd QuJ Bcuin 1. 3.13 3d 20d6aa IID. NOTES: ,. 62.05 2 Sd a.43 S61°14'39"E I. Loh and reaidui acreage are not in a flood picjr, }. ti2°03'S2" 5Iw.11 27097 3Od.43 54da22'S �E IfrJ. 11 270.9T 24d33 906°36'3 j'E 2. tots are aoryd R4. 5 30°505S. 3. One dwelling unit per lot. 6?i°2011 215.27 116.46 115.03 S48°02'29"W 4. The residue maY be divided Into I lot of leas than 21 acres. . " 731°54'215. 27 83.52 83.39 134.34 S74°4291"W 5. Lo411Nu4 ho-a no division rights. . .n" 121.72 I17.60 S39°3514" W NOTES: 6. The 0.512 Dare M" is to be joined to Dolts] 43B and is w a, separpfs Wilding lot. 7. Lots and reaN" hate a mlnimaln of 30,000 p. N. 9 77°i2' S7" E - - of conllp.Iwe area 1n slopes of Is" than 25%. ..- 70. 6. 5'rs°1 dsdicofed to D"bc use I. make O total Of 2S' from f of Routs 621. ` `R0L erV 9. Min mum front satba•A Of 75', side 25' , rear 35'. Parcel45 ` rAL. °` 'r Q• 10. Residue acreage 108.3 scree. IIold" has at least 250' rand homage remaNrq. 12. Irons Set or rand at o11 corners. > LOT \ �`��. a CF 2.656 ACRES PARCEL 45C u W J'W n WAYNE A. HALL • D. 8. 699 •115 i o q0 TO Las w y9S' I I e r ACRES T a, 5 LOT 1 1 40" a r3 g 5 77° 47' 19" E S 6 6 ° 56' E S 78 33'40'E v 263.22 Par[ rl 5�.3 313.23 i _ N LO ry•a/ ^ o a w a 2.904 ACRES 8 o/DI r ° u PARCEL 45 B ^ o i N ;80° 26' 19" W N 8.289 ACRES ti m:o• LOT 4 • v m 14 Division rights removing with puce] 2.483 ACRES 32032'4 /1 P w 8.801 ACRES (TOTAL) m 753.05 y �26 8 35" W N 7]° 07' of.. W c u 022 8 '® 0,71, 40R� PARCEL 434 LIZZIE SPROUSE 0.0 376.139 1v) 62) /005237"W , A7 N%MENi" _ SURVEY SHOWING N+LVI FvAIC(I- 4_e� TAX MAP 63 PART OF PARCEL 14'- a PARCEL 458 THE CHARL.ES , W. PHILLIF-3 PRdPE�-� LTI! RIVANNA DISTRICT AaARLE _'�v Op LEj DATE MARCH 7 COl1jdTY I V - IA 1%? SCALE 1 ` 200 FEET 1988 R6Visrxl MAY 13 , I , o OBBIR L l0� • '.G6Ef7T L. LUM CEfiTIFICATEN4 a S :-PPROVAL THE SUBDIVISION OF THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS WITH 71�E FREE CONSENT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DESIRES OF THE UNDERSIGNED OWNER, PROPRIETORS , OR TRUSTEES. ANY REFERENCE TO FUTURE POTENTIAL DE- VELOPMENT IS TO BE DEEMED AS THEORETICAL ONLY. ALL STATEMENTS AFFIXED TO THIS PLAT ARE TRUE AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. �-Z liv _ Io wit the foregoing instrument was ac - knowledgJed before me this p�/BDay of 1988 4j,!/ MY rf1M FYP f1Fr A _'QAA r. M. �ronSet _% Sao 3 41 STATE VIE NT OF TITLE BK THE LAND SHOWN HERE WAS OBTAINED BY Charles Phillips D.8 278-368 AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE MEETS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE PLATTING OF SUBDIVISIONS. ,a 4A,& I F 4001f. 7-2$ • 88 APPROVED FOR RECORDATION a DATE 63 PARCEL 19AI 5=1„ W WILLIgM CpL 029Pc0363 Iron LIER fiTl h I 63 v r M. RCEL 14C �CCG` 14� TNOfVIAS LESTER m 0 D. B. 888 505 d D. B. 278 368 J o° 21.00 ACRES T - - �� y Q M 63 PARCEL a Q np AL 14D MORRIS ° . , p n z D. 8. 563 - 023 M M Iron Set '. J ~ �? NOTE: 1. Lot and residue ore' not In flood plain. Ng fd QI T M 63 2. Lot zoned RA. C)It CIJ ARNOLD P ARCEL 3. One dwelling unit per lot: . B1E 4. Minimum front setback 75 feet. 4 5. Residue has at least 250' road frontage 750 545 remaining. 5$' 04 6. This lot may not be further divide°. 427 n,n W Iron Fd. 721 SW Of 7. The residue may be divided into I lot of less than 21 acres. 8. Lot and residue have a minimum of 30,000 sq. It of contiguous area In slopes of less than 25 9 5 feet dedicated to public use to make a total of 25 from CL of Route 621. N v ti N 79 ° 459 4i a 43, 091, E CO N co SURVEY SHOWING o TAX MAP 63 PART OF FARCE'_ THE CHARLES PHILLIPS 558.26 560 54' 03 E 14 PROPERTY I I Garner 11 1 � Delta- 01008'01" Rodius = 9891.86 Arc = 195.73 ROUTE 621 11 I Delta = 02015 52" I Radius = 2638.28 IIArc _ 104. 27 Iran Set `y1r,AL� 0a Or X The lend use requ I at Ions Iated/descr Ibed herein we Iaposed purauent to the A beaer le Co,nty Zaninq Ordinance In effect this date end ere net restrictive ...anon[ nnnlnq .Ith fhe lend And their appearance on this plat 1a not Intended to l.Ms. them es suds. MY CDRRI510N / z / /PFV CHARMNJ RA'TIING COM. ORii te�y 'j M��T [• ALBEMARLE 1"TY F✓ Boord of S1."nor AlCenrvle CMIY .40. DELTA RADIUS ARC TANGENT C. BERRIN6 CHORD \9 1Z9 1 2'S6'07" 2638. 28' 135is, 67. 59' N32'26'10"N 135. ]4' \4F O�0 2 29.57'58" 234.11' 122:44: 62. 66; N19-07'26E 121.05; RC15 H�CA 181 4. 24°9'00" 293'19124.43130 542-01:06 25919P 5. 81°41'35" 1,N7"W . ' ,.8 77.24 N45°01'49"E 116.86, 3PCK g\' 6. 53°28'04" 260.27' 242.27' 130.71 N59°12'35"E 233.62, 13�' II I pqe Fd. 6.72 SW .1 Cnmer / / L'/Z1•fF. Iran s 1 / /7 f• F 1'32o vs 3z• / / SOLD 7-9d2 LOT D '- .21 1 �In T 00 3), VO4"'02"IE. -133.16 O 1 z �P, i Po31 Irm Set 1�. \\N7 W. PTURT 1.41M CERTIFICATE ND. LAPo�- L= i 0� D. B. 278 368 2.683 ACRES NGTES: 1. the readue -Y not ee 1unAer dvded. 2. '1 YMG* pYgGIG d 1"" I..Idv. 3. are not In flood plain. Theca I -r I, ere e:nad RR. e. S. One duetting unle y r lot. Iron sk.r. at ell An" won id. . I... tb... l..nO.d. 6. Ravi. 621 he. an eel.tlnq 7. RIM.a.of efront .etb.ck 7S feet. 8. Soot le setback I. 100' Free All 9, esem.. ityu lets and tee lv r.eldua Acreage each have of 30.001{ sq. ft. of lace.. than 75i 10. Thai du. he. at I.xt 250� irontaq. r eawnq, I I. there 3 lots mY rat be ee lortfer OiviGed. 12 S Itel d.d.W to WWe Yae le ,A,, 0 Ia101 m of Z5' from IL of Rovte 621 for Im D. 13, ID Lot D halt aebq feu, D/W , d.elbq And trust aytem. LOT B 21.00 ACRES _ NowtCH M EN//T F- D. B. 278 - 368 _ ce,15 { I 1414 14-� 14T 1 a L �TT' �J - 462.20 W 20" Cedor WJ°O 7�e 43 13 Iron 6e�' 5 PARCEL 14 CHARLES W. PHILLIPS O. B. 276 - 368 ( RESIDUE 26.8 7 6 ACRES ) S1anp • 4544 Jr. 5.1 F. C. NT • \ 95•' 235.3' I ft"I 196• PLAT SHOWING SURM VISION OF TAX MAP 63 PARCEL 34 Inn R. Jr. N. PARCEL 14G LINDSAY R. BARNES , JR. I D. B. 1029 - 363 plat THE CHRRLES PHILLIPS PROPERTY RIVANNA DISTRICT, ALSEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA KALE 1" = 200' DATE: AUGUST 10, 1989 R03ERT L. LUM REV.I/4/90 -AND PLANNING & SURVEYING DAL,HYRA, VIRGINIA id - LOT C 30.00 ACRES D. B. 278 - 368 50 L-D J I P � � d N 7-92 Set A I m ' 1YI t = � f 1 t m Ill � n 7bb.q j1.'N ST! S6 p 1A - \\2 ov O g. 8 COLLIER L W 1\=-T PN' 19 Al PARCEL B COUNTY OFALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville. Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 September 24, 1992 Steven L. Raynor 414 East Market Street, Suite B Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 RE: OFFICIAL DETERMINATION OF NUMBER OF PARCELS - Section 10.3.1 Tax Map 63, Parcels 14, 14H, 14I and 14J, 45B1, 45B2, 45B3, and 45B4,(originally Parcel 14); Estate of Charles W. Phillips Dear Mr. Raynor, The County Attorney and I have reviewed the chain of title you have submitted for the above -noted property. It is the County Attorney's advisory opinion and my official determination, that this property consisted of two (2) parcels at the date of adoption of the Zoning Ordinance: one parcel lying on the east side of Route 621, and the other on the west side. Since the adoption of the Ordinance, this property has been subdivided. Each of the two (2) lawfully separate parcels as of 1980,is entitled to associated development rights. This determination results in one (1) additional parcel than is shown with a parcel number on the 1980 County tax maps. This determination is based on the.fact that fee -simple right-of- way was dedicated to the Commonwealth of Virginia for State Route 621 on March 21, 1973, as recorded in deed book 526, page 523. Therefore, on the date of adoption of the Ordinance, this property was subdivided by the ownership of others. Furthermore, the road split the property for practical purposes. This determination is consistent with the findings in the Circuit Court in the case of Ann Sanford v Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals. A review of the relevant subdivision history is as follows: 1) The property on the west side of Route 621 was divided in 1988 into four (4) lots. No additional development rights remain. September 24, 1992 Steven Raynor - D-92-05 Page 2 2) The property on the east side of Route 621 was divided in 1988 and again in 1990, into a total of five (5) lots, only one of which is below 21 acres. The creation of parcel 14J (under 3 acres) required one of the development rights. Therefore, the remaining four (4) development rights are to be allocated between parcels 14, 14H and 14I, as shown on the current tax maps. These are shown on the plat dated revised January 4, 1990 by Robert L. Lum, and consist of 26.876, 21 and 30 acres respectively. Because there is common ownership between these three parcels, they may be recombined and redivided with County approval. Be advised that two (2) development rights are necessary to divide or to locate a second dwelling on an existing 21 acre lot. Only one (1) is necessary when the acreage is increased to 23. Anyone aggrieved by this decision may file a written appeal within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your convenience. Sincerely, VWf. d' ICfAmelia G. McCul y, A.I. P. Zoning Administrator AGM/ cc: Jan Sprinkle Gay Carver Lettie E. er, Clerk to the Board NOTE: One (1) additional parcel from 1980 One (1) by 1980 tax map, two (2) by determination Or eie� a COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Office of County Attorney 416 Park Street Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 Telephone 296-7138 GEORGE R. ST.JOHN November 12, 1992 JAMES M. BOWLING. IV COUNTY ATTORNEY DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY Amelia McCulley Zoning Administrator Albemarle County 401 McIntire Road Chalottesville, Virginia 22902-4596 In re: Phillips Estate Dear Amelia: I have found an attorney general's opinion which seems to refute the position taken by Ray Rushton in his appeal of your decision on the Phillips Estate. This opinion states, first, that where a subdivision plat is put to record containing lots which are large enough to allow redivision under the density provisions of the zoning ordinance, this can be done without vacating the first plat, and furthermore it is a matter of right. Second, this opinion holds that adjoining land owners have no vested right to keep lots within the first subdivision from being redivided, absent some private restrictions put on that first plat. I am enclosing a copy of the opinion, which is on pages 327 and 328 of the 1979-1980 Report of the Attorney General. Sincerely yours, George R. St. John County Attorney GRS/sw Enclosure REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 327 a clear criminal, if a competent patient consented to the procedure. provides o accomplish the Thus, while the Supreme Court of Virginia has not spoken have raised, I would answer definitively to the questions you ' each in the negative because I find no basis for liability. rhaps, the more Assembly intended ek a voluntary - 1See 44 54-325.3, 54-325.4, 54-325.5:1, and 54-325.6 0£ the der the decision Code of Virginia (1950), as amended. ,ge any hasty and 7 conseiuences to has a valid and Beal v. Doe, SUBDIVISIONS. RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS. NO VESTED RIGHT TO 1." MAINTAIN LOT SIZES IN ABSENCE OF GENERAL PLAN RESTRICTIONS. ;olute immunity to )ctors to inform October 26, 1979 ices. :e particularity, The Honorable Geoffrey W. Cole =atute which would Commonwealth's Attorney for Clarke County Lability when a You ask whether owners of subdivision lots have a vested ;ligence upon a In right to maintain the lots of other owners at a certain size, bent. other and whether 4 15.1-482 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as it no liability Ponter v. Ponter, amended, requires vacation of the recorded plat of a itutional right to - subdivision from which one or more lots have been sold before sband]; rra v. husband �_ resubdivision of one or more lots may be effected. Dnsent oMu Jessin v. You have stated that the parcels in question are of cnsent]; 9) [nontherapeutic fifteen acres each and were part of a recorded subdivision. the petent consent is The Clarke County subdivision ordinance requires that be in 50) (sterilization subdivision into parcels of forty acres or less conformity with the ordinance. The proposal giving rise to your inquiry is to resubdivide one of the fifteen -acre marked that the parcels into three five -acre plots. s that voluntary Vested Rights t manner and with not violative of nd the Law (1970). I assume that the persons asserting vested rights are could persons whose lots were conveyed to them by reference to a t7s spouse invasion subdivision plat that reflected a general plan of r an of ital relationship, development. It has been held that, in the absence of a tient defeats any general plan for development restricting lots to a certain th ed. 1971). "In size, a conveyance of lots by reference to a recorded map or f civil liability plat does not in itself raise any implied covenant that the to a lots shall remain as shown on the map or plat, or that they submission 'his result ca-• }^ may not be later changed in size or further subdivided. $ 174 are litigated .a 20 Am.Jur.2d Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions the necessary covenants or other terms �f the practice." (1965). However, when and conditions restricting lot sizes are in the deed of conveyance itself, or otherwise in the chain of title, the because with resubdivision of originally platted lots .ming See, e.g., 2is Vaprohibited. Fdbe committee 8 659, 239 e :ent. E Supra. Moreover ;ht o£ privacy and an abortion, The provisions of the enabling act regarding >tain S81 U.S. 479 (1965) subdivisions, 54 15.1-465 through 15.1-485, do not require a does not likely subdivider to set forth restrictions on lot sizes either,in ability, civil or deeds or on plats; therefore, the recordation of deeds and 328 REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL plats under those provisions does not in itself give rise to any implied covenant as to lot sizes. Accordingly, it is my opinion that unless there is a general plan for the development restricting lot sizes in a subdivision, there is no covenant between subdivider and purchasers, or among purchasers, as to the lot sizes and the purchasers have no vested right in retaining the status quo. Vacation You indicate that the local practice in the case of resubdivisions is to proceed to approve and record the plat just as in the case of a subdivision pursuant to § 15.1-475. Vacation of a plat under § 15.1-482 requires either an ordinance or the consent of the other landowners. Section 15.1-430(1) provides that a resubdivision is to be treated as a subdivision, and that a resubdivision is any division into two lots. A resubdivision is handled in the same manner as a subdivision. J.C. Penne v. Villa e of Oak Lawn, 349 N.E.2d 637 (I11. App. Wi kerson v. Marks, 538P.2d 403 (Ariz. App. 1975). Accordingly, any division of subdivided property requires compliance with the provisions of § 15.1-475, governing approval of plats. Not every change in a subdivision plat requires that the �- plat be vacated to effect the change. Certainly -where the developer makes changes affecting lot sizes, vacation is necessary. See Opinion to the Honorable Benjamin L. Pinckard, Commissioner of the Revenue for Franklin County, dated September 26, 1978, a copy of which is attached. Vacation is proper where the purpose is to remove a lot from a plat. Bob Lame, Contractor v BuennaQel, 301 N.E.2d 671 (Ind. 1973).However, the division of one parcel of a subdivision into two or more parcels constitutes a resubdivision, which may be accomplished without vacating the original plat. Accordingly, I am of the opinion that the situation you describe constitutes a resubdivision so that it is not necessary to satisfy the vacation requirements of § 15.1-482. 'This case also holds that where a landowner acquires vested rights through the chain of title they are not extinguished by vacation of the plat. SUBDIVISIONS. STATUTORY EXEMPTION FOR SUBDIVISIONS ANTEDATING ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE. NO SEPARATE AUTHORITY TO PROHIBIT BUILDINGS ON LOTS ABUTTING PRIVATE ,"PAPER STREETS." Eugene Ray & Carolyn B. Rushton 1508 Greeleaf Ln. Charlottesville, VA 22903 October 22, 1992 County of Albemiarle Board of Zoning Appeals Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Dana M. & Christina Elzey Rt. 7, Box 199 Charlottesville, VA 22901 i�R, , i F°; ;..., %T- 23 1992 ZONING 5. EPA! ii i ��crJ�s ETr� Re: OFFICIAL DETERMINATION OF NUMBER OF PARCELS - Section 10.3.1 Tax Map 63, Parcels 14, 14H, 14I and 14J, 45132, 45133, and 45134, (originally parcel 14); Estate of Charles W. Phillips, dtd. September 24, 1992. To Whom it May Concern, It is our opinion that the Zoning Administrator's determination was in error due to the following: 1. The developer has abandoned the "rights" he now seeks to assert. 2. Given that the application for additional rights was made after lots 14I and 14J were conveyed, the developer restricted his right to subdivide further by conveying the property with the existing plat. 3. The Zoning Administrator's approval was based on the assumption that (as of September 24,1992) parcels 14, 14H, 141, and 14J were under "common ownership." In fact, 14I was sold by deed dated June 29, 1992 and 14J by deed dated August 4, 1992, thus nullifying a material assumption of the approval. We respectfully request that the Board of Zoning Appeals overturn the Zoning Administrator's decision. Sincerely, Eugen . Ray Aush 6n, rV Carolyn B. Rushton Dania, M. Elzey Christina Elzey 17 J,r c,