HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP202200018 Review Comments Initial Site Plan 2022-12-19V
To:
From:
Division:
Date:
Re:
Comments
County of Albemarle
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Mariah Gleason, Senior Planner II
Lea Brumfield, Senior Planner II
Zoning
LEA BRUMFIELD
Senior Planner II, Zoning
lbrumfield@albemarle.org
tel: 434-296-5832 ext. 3023
16 December, 2022
SDP202200018 - 664 West Rio Initial Site Plan Development, revised 2022.10.18, Zoning Initial
The following comments are provided as input from the Zoning Division regarding the above noted site plan application for
a development at 664 West Rio Road, on tax map parcels 45-100, 45-100A, 45-10013, 45-101, and 45-101B within the
Rio29 Form Based Code Overlay District:
1. Character areas
a. The development is proposed within the Core and Flex character areas. The Core character area is
intended to have "the highest intensity and most urban form of development within the District,' with
"active street life... encouraged by non-residential uses on the ground floors of buildings."
The current design encompasses only residential uses on the ground floor of the multi -family building. The
current building design lists a fitness center amenity and club amenity as "commercial space," but these are
accessory to the residential use, and not open to the public. As they are only available to residents, the
amenities do not encourage "active street life."
2. Permitted uses
a. Per 20C.4.B.2(a)(i), "No more than two-thirds of the ground floor street facing fa4ade of a single building
may be occupied by multiple -family or single-family attached residential uses." As currently designed to be
accessible only to residents of the multi -family building, the entire ground floor street facing fa4ade of the
multi -family structure is dedicated to residential uses. One third of the ground floor street facing fa4ade
must be dedicated to non-residential uses, i.e. uses open to the public.
3. Parking standards
a. Location and setbacks of motor vehicle parking areas. Per 20C.9.A.1, motor vehicle parking in the Core and
Flex may be on -street surface parking, off-street surface parking located to the rear or side of a building,
or in structured parking. Additionally, for the Core character area, parking must be located at least 10 feet
from the right-of-way to allow for adequate screening.
As currently proposed, the development includes no screening of the off-street surface parking. Screening
must be included between Local Street A and the off-street surface parking provided for the multi -family
building.
b. Required number of motor vehicle parking spaces by use. Per 20C.9A.2, the multi -family structure of 89 units
is required to provide 89 spaces, and 100 are provided. This is within the minimum and maximum parking
standards.
The self-service storage facility of 92,175 square feet requires 1 parking space per 1,000 square feet, for
92 spaces, and 19 spaces are provided. This will provide adequate parking for the use. Please see staff's
WWW.ALBEMARLE.ORG
401 McIntire Road, Suite 228 1 Charlottesville, VA 22902-4596
comments on the parking modification request for further details.
c. Pick-up or drop-off zones. Pick-up or drop-off spaces should be located near the primary residential
entrance of the multi -family structure. Section 20C.9.A.5(d) requires one pick-up or drop-off space per 20
parking spaces provided, but this requirement may be reduced provided the resulting parking still meets
the purpose and intent of the section. These spaces must be clearly labeled on the final site plan.
d. Bicycle parking. The plan shows 70 residential bedrooms on site in estimations of bicycle parking, but
estimates a total of 89 residential dwelling units. If a number of residential dwelling units are intended to
be studios, studios must be counted as "bedrooms," as the studio provides all living purposes, including a
bedroom, within the single living area.
Additionally, the bicycle parking areas are not shown on the plan. Include them on the site plan, or indicate
in notes that the bicycle parking will be provided interior to the building.
4. Civic space standards
a. Provide additional details regarding the nature of the civic space shown as "outdoor recreational area," or
clarify that the outdoor recreational area is not provided as a publicly accessible civic space.
b. Natural Area. The two labeled and provided civic spaces on the plan include a Natural Area and a Linear
Park. The definition of a Natural Area is: "Natural area" means a vegetated outdoor civic space of at least
0.5 acres with little to no impervious surfaces, designed to accommodate wildlife habitats and recreational
functions including (but not limited to): walking, jogging, biking, relaxing, or picnicking.
Indicate how the natural area will provide for any wildlife habitat or recreational function with a width of
17 feet and a single steep stairway leading to the linear park.
Additionally, indicate on the plan where the natural area will include the additional element of a
community garden or areas to sit, as required by 20.C.11.C(1)(b) and Table 12: Civic Space Design
Standards.
c. Linear Park. Indicate how or where the linear park will provide additional elements of "areas to sit,"
"plantings," or an "open grass lawn" as required by 20.C.11.C(1)(b) and Table 12: Civic Space Design
Standards.
W W W.ALBE MARLE.ORG
401 McIntire Road, Suite 228 1 Charlottesville, VA 22902-4596