HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201400011 Staff Report 2014-01-311
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #/Name ARB-2014-011: Rio Square Building B
Review Type Review of a Building Permit
Parcel Identification 062A1040000400
Location On the west side of Rio Road approximately 120’ south of Wakefield Road
Zoned Planned Residential Development (PRD), Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner/Applicant Commercial Rentals LLC/Daggett & Grigg Architects (Clark Gathright)
Magisterial District Rio
Proposal To construct a 2-story office building.
Context The subject parcel is located on the south/west side of Rio Road where the neighborhood contains a mix of
commercial, residential and institutional buildings.
Visibility The north and east elevations of the proposed building will be readily visible from the Entrance Corridor.
ARB Meeting Date March 17, 2014
Staff Contact Margaret Maliszewski
PROJECT HISTORY
DATE APPLICATION RESULT
2001 ZMA-2001-03 Rezoning approved from Residential (R6 and R2) to Planned Residential District (PRD) to allow for
townhomes, single family detached homes, and office.
2005 ZTA-2005-08 Rio Road East established as an Entrance Corridor.
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ANALYSIS
REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION
1 The goal of the regulation of the design of development
within the designated Entrance Corridors is to insure that new
development within the corridors reflects the traditional
architecture of the area. Therefore, it is the purpose of ARB
review and of these Guidelines, that proposed development
within the designated Entrance Corridors reflect elements of
design characteristic of the significant historical landmarks,
buildings, and structures of the Charlottesville and Albemarle
area, and to promote orderly and attractive development
within these corridors. Applicants should note that replication
of historic structures is neither required nor desired.
The proposed building forms and
materials are compatible with the
traditional architecture of the area
and with architecture in the Entrance
Corridors. The brick walls, jack
arches and soldier course detailing,
the hipped roof with fan lights, and
the gabled entry porch all recall
traditional building forms and
features.
None.
3 New structures and substantial additions to existing structures
should respect the traditions of the architecture of historically
significant buildings in the Charlottesville and Albemarle
area. Photographs of historic buildings in the area, as well as
drawings of architectural features, which provide important
examples of this tradition are contained in Appendix A.
9 Building forms and features, including roofs, windows, doors,
materials, colors and textures should be compatible with the
forms and features of the significant historic buildings in the
area, exemplified by (but not limited to) the buildings
described in Appendix A [of the design guidelines]. The
standard of compatibility can be met through scale, materials,
and forms which may be embodied in architecture which is
contemporary as well as traditional. The replication of
important historic sites in Albemarle County is not the
objective of these guidelines.
5 It is also an important objective of the Guidelines to establish
a pattern of compatible architectural characteristics
throughout the Entrance Corridor in order to achieve unity
and coherence. Building designs should demonstrate
sensitivity to other nearby structures within the Entrance
Corridor. Where a designated corridor is substantially
The proposed building uses red
brick and white trim to relate to the
adjacent building in the development
and other buildings along the
corridor.
None.
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developed, these Guidelines require striking a careful balance
between harmonizing new development with the existing
character of the corridor and achieving compatibility with the
significant historic sites in the area.
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.
The brick material, the soldier
course and water table, and the
window and door patterns of the
building help establish human scale.
None.
12 Architecture proposed within the Entrance Corridor should
use forms, shapes, scale, and materials to create a cohesive
whole.
The forms, divisions and detailing of
the proposed building are similar to
those of the adjacent building in the
development.
None.
13 Any appearance of “blankness” resulting from building
design should be relieved using design detail or vegetation, or
both.
The elevations visible from the EC
are not characterized by blankness.
None.
14 Arcades, colonnades, or other architectural connecting
devices should be used to unify groups of buildings within a
development.
The proposed building is connected
visually with the other buildings in
the development by the use of
similar materials, colors, form and
detailing.
None.
16 Window glass in the Entrance Corridors should not be highly
tinted or highly reflective. Window glass in the Entrance
Corridors should meet the following 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 application
for final review.
Information on window glass was
not included in the submittal.
Provide information to
confirm that window
glass meets the following
criteria: Visible light
transmittance (VLT) shall
not drop below 40%.
Visible light reflectance
(VLR) shall not exceed
30%.
17 Accessory structures and equipment should be integrated into
the overall plan of development and shall, to the extent
possible, be compatible with the building designs used on the
site.
Three mechanical units are proposed
on the EC side of the building. A
row of VR viburnum shrubs is
shown along the units for screening.
Increase the size of the
viburnum to 3’ high at
planting.
18 The following should be located to eliminate visibility from
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the Entrance Corridor street. If, after appropriate siting, these
features will still have a negative visual impact on the
Entrance Corridor street, screening should be provided to
eliminate visibility.
a. Loading areas,
b. Service areas,
c. Refuse areas,
d. Storage areas,
e. Mechanical equipment,
f. Above-ground utilities, and
g. Chain link fence, barbed wire, razor wire, and similar
security fencing devices.
Viburnum shrubs are also used
elsewhere on the site for screening
purposes. The mechanical units are
expected to be approximately 3’
high, and the shrubs will be planted
on the slope somewhat higher than
the units. To ensure immediate
screening, it is recommended that
the shrubs be planted at a minimum
of 3’ high.
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.
36 Landscaping of buildings and other structures:
a. Trees or other vegetation should be planted along the front
of long buildings as necessary to soften the appearance of
exterior walls. The spacing, size, and type of such trees or
vegetation should be determined by the length, height, and
blankness of such walls.
b. Shrubs should be used to integrate the site, buildings, and
other structures; dumpsters, accessory buildings and
structures; “drive thru” windows; service areas; and signs.
Shrubs should measure at least 24 inches in height.
21 The following note should be added to the site plan and the
architectural plan: “Visibility of all mechanical equipment
from the Entrance Corridor shall be eliminated.”
The note does not appear on the
plan.
Add the standard
mechanical equipment
note to the architectural
drawings.
Lighting No lighting information was submitted for review. If
wall lights are proposed for the building, complete
information is required for review.
Indicate if wall lights are proposed for the
building. If they are, submit complete
information for review.
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SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion:
1. The appropriateness of the building design for the site and the Entrance Corridor
2. Location and screening of the mechanical units
Staff recommends approval of the proposal with the following conditions:
1. Provide information to confirm that window glass meets the following criteria: Visible light transmittance (VLT) shall not drop below
40%. Visible light reflectance (VLR) shall not exceed 30%.
2. Increase the size of the viburnum to 3’ high at planting.
3. Add the standard mechanical equipment note to the architectural drawings: “Visibility of all mechanical equipment from the
Entrance Corridor shall be eliminated.”
4. Indicate if wall lights are proposed for the building. If they are, submit complete information for review.
TABLE A This report is based on the following submittal items:
Sheet # Drawing Name Drawing Date Sheet # Drawing Name Drawing Date
1 Description and Compatibility - 8 Details of exiting building to be
incorporated in new building
-
2 Proposed building location - 9 Basement plan -
3 View of site from west - 10 First floor plan -
4 View of site from east - 11 Second floor plan -
5 North Elevation - 12 Wall section -
6 South Elevation - 13 Revised Site Plan with screening shrubs at
cond. units
-
7 East and West Elevations - 14 Landscaping Schedule -
15 Overall Site Plan -