HomeMy WebLinkAboutSUB202200122 Correspondence 2022-07-01Date: June 29, 2022
Ms. Rebecca Ragsdale, Planning Manager
Albemarle County Community Development Department
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 229002
Re: TMP 58-95 Subdivision Plat
Private Street Waiver Request
Dear Rebecca,
Street Request:
On behalf of our client, Blue Springs Land Corporation, the owner of Tax Map 58 Parcel 95, a Private Street waiver
pursuant to Section 14-232.A.1 of the Albemarle County Subdivision Ordinance is hereby requested for the private
driveway access for Lots 1 and 2 (46.87 and 24.64 acres respectively) as shown on the enclosed plat dated June 14,
2022 entitled "Lots 1 & 2, Being a Division of Tax Map 58, Parcel 95, The Lands of Blue Springs Land Corporation'
(hereinafter referred to as the "Plat').
The access road to Lots 1 and 2 along the private driveway starts at Point A on the Plat (at Dick Woods Road) (State
Route 637) and continues to its terminus at "Point C on the Plat at the entrance to Lot 2.. The private driveway will
be for the exclusive use of Lots 1 and 2. The 370.91 acre residue of Tax Map 58 Parcel 95 has multiple other public
street accesses, including along Dick Woods Road, Ivy Depot Road (State Route 786), Grassmere Road (State Route
679), Spring Lane and Loblolly Lane, and therefore does not need access from Lots 1 and 2 private driveways.
Property Characteristics:
Tax Map 58, Parcel 95 is located in the Ivy area with extensive road frontage along Dick Woods Road, Ivy Depot
Road and Grassmere Road. Ivy Creek runs through the property parallel to Dick Woods Road on the easterly side of
the property and there are three tributary streams which run through the property, including Little Ivy Creek.
Elevations are not extreme, from about 620 to 770 feet in the main areas, with several areas of critical slopes on the
northern section of the property near Grassmere Road. There is an "AE" Flood Zone along Ivy Creek with a base
flood elevation of 640 feet as determined by FEMA and shown on flood map 51003CO265D. The property is mostly
forested with a few patches of open land and lies within the Ivy Creek Watershed. Its current land use is Agricultural.
Existing Driveway Characteristics:
The private driveway utilizes an existing gravel logging road. It varies in width between 11 and 15 feet with drivable
slopes, protected ditches and protected outfalls. It is approximately 1,860 feet long traveling from Points A to C,
passing Point B at roughly 1,210 feet as shown on the Plat. From its beginning point at Dick Woods Road, the
driveway runs parallel to an Ivy Creek tributary in the AE Flood Plane for approximately 863 feet with an average
Kirk Hughes & Associates - Land Surveyors & Planners
220 East High Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902 1 Voice: (434( 296-6942 1 Email: kirkPkhals.net
Micro Business Certified SWaM Certification #697836
Ms. Rebecca Ragsdale, Planning Manager
June 29, 2022
Page 2
grade of 1.2% and then crosses such tributary creek over a 42 inch culvert outside of the flood plain at an elevation
of approximately 542 feet. The driveway then travels up the slope and turns westerly approximately 375 feet with
an average grade of 11.5%to Point B, which is the entrance to Lot 1. The driveway then continues southwesterly
approximately 660 feet with an average grade of 1.6%to Point C, which is the entrance to Lot 2. The average grade
of the driveway is approximately 4.8%, but does not exceed 12% at any point.
Justification for Request:
This justification for the Private Street waiver request is pursuant to Section 14-232.A.1, A//eviatesigniricant
degradation to the environment."
The proposed private driveway utilizes the roadbed of the current logging road to exclusively serve Lots 1 and 2. Any
further expansion of the width of the driveway in order to meet the private street specification requirements would
involve substantial additional earthwork cutting into the hillside to the south of the driveway. The required
additional earthwork is unnecessary and therefore should fall within the definition of "significant degradation' for
purposes of Section 14-232 A.1. Improving the existing logging road to serve an additional use where not needed
defeats the intent of the ordinance. Utilizing the existing logging road as a private driveway for two lots "encourages
the subdivision of land in a manner that is consistent and harmonious with the surrounding development.
Road Maintenance:
A private road maintenance agreement will be created to insure maintenance of the street is shared with owners of
Lots 1 and 2.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or require
further information.
Respectfully submitted,
Sincerely,
G.V. "Kirk" Hughes, L.S.
Principal