HomeMy WebLinkAboutWPO201400053 Request of Modification, Variance, Waiver 2014-06-02 waterstreetstudio
June 6, 2014
Mr. Glenn Brooks
County Engineer
Community Development
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
RE: TMP 72-36C6 - Hanson/Burr Property Stream Buffer Disturbance Exception Request
Dear Mr. Brooks,
On behalf of the owners of TMP 72-36C6, we would like to request an exception to Section 17-
320(D) of the Albemarle County Code, types of development authorized in stream buffer, to
allow two 48" corrugated metal (CMP) pipe culverts that have previously been installed to cross
a perennial stream to access a potential home site on TMP 72-36C6 in the Samuel Miller
District to remain in place.
The CMP pipe culverts were installed in order to clear trees to create a building site on the
parcel. At the time of their installation, a study of USGS mapping indicated that the stream in
question was not a "blue" line, or perennial stream, a common practice for identifying perennial
streams. However, per the Albemarle County GIS system, the stream is a perennial stream that
included a 100' protective buffer on either side of the stream where clearing and construction
activities are restricted. In light of the County GIS information it is now realized that pipe culverts
were installed in error. Additionally it is now also realized that existing trees were cleared within
the protective stream buffer in error.
The pipe culverts were sized to pass the 10-year storm without backing water onto upstream
properties and the pipe culvert inverts were countersunk approximately 6" below the stream bed
which is consistent with Section 17-320(D)(1)(a). The pipe culverts have been tested by recent
heavy rain falls and have operated as expected. There does not appear to be any additional
stream degradation, downstream or upstream, caused by the culverts. Since it appears that the
stream has stabilized, the owner would like leave the two 48"culverts in place
A Stream Buffer Mitigation Plan has been submitted in accordance with Section 17-308(C)(1)
which shows how the owner proposes to re-populate the disturbed stream buffers with sapling
trees as well as measures that will further stabilize the pipe culvert crossing and the stream just
downstream of the crossing.
We thank you in advance for your consideration of this exception request.
Sincerely,
Alan Franklin, PE
Waterstreet Studio, LLC
cc: Al Hanson
111 3'° street sec- s 434 295 8177 t