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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZMA202100016 Review Comments Zoning Map Amendment 2022-10-31County of Albemarle COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 401 McIntire Road, North Wing Charlottesville, VA 22902-4579 MEMORANDUM Phone: 434.296.5832 www.albemarle.or¢ To: Applicant From: Kevin McDermott; Planning Manager Date: October 31, 2022 Re: ZMA202100016 - North Fork Transportation Comments (Second Submittal) The Albemarle County Community Development Department, Planning Division, Transportation Planning has reviewed the above referenced plan and associated traffic impact analysis as submitted by Timmons Group (December 2021) and offers the following comments: Traffic Impact Analysis • Understanding that Carriage Units and/or Accessory Apartments are allowed in the districts, it still seems like this is a point where the TIA is likely undercounting the total number of trips that would be generated by the development. I do not know how to address this but in considering impacts it will be noted that actual impacts would likely be on the higher side of any assumptions. • By optimizing signals in the Build alternative and not the No Build it ends up creating the appearance of improved conditions when it's very likely that signals will be optimized as conditions warrant it with or without the development. I recommend either not optimizing or optimizing in both the Build and No Build in order to display an accurate comparison. • Staff recognizes that there are only a few specific movements that change between the Build and No Build. However, many of the movements that are already failing appear to fail significantly worse. For example, the WB thru and left movements from Boulders Rd in the PM increase by almost 2 minutes. Several movements at the Proffit Rd/Airport Rd intersection also see significantly worse delay under the Build scenario. • The recommended improvement plan doesn't appear to actually address the transportation issues. The proffers seem to be based on these recommendations, but I don't expect that those proffers would be implemented if they don't actually result in any improvements. Even if other options are not proffered, were any recommendations identified that could provide actual improve operations at the failing intersections? For example, was a grade separated interchange considered? What if VDOT identifies an alternative recommendation for failing intersections? Proffers • Proffers all state that they are triggered by approval of site plans that cause a turning movement to exceed a specific number resulting from that site plan. Does the applicant intend to recount the intersection prior to a site plan submittal and then use the directional split of the traffic generated by a development to determine that? Typically, when we see a proffer triggered by a traffic count it is just based on a total number of trips that the overall development generates. For example, when an SDP is approved that causes the total number of trips generated by the development to exceed a certain amount for that development a proffer could be triggered. • Overall, the addition of what is likely well over 13,000 daily trips to a network that already has significant operational issues is a concern. The proffers appear unchanged between the existing zoning and the requested rezoning. Is this correct? • Regarding the proffer to widen Lewis and Clark to four lanes, was there an analysis done to determine that is necessary? It may be more efficient to consider turn lanes and or alternative intersections which would reduce cost County of Albemarle COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 401 McIntire Road, North Wing Charlottesville, VA 22902-4579 Phone: 434.296.5832 www.albemarle.or¢ and levels of impervious surface while addressing the operational needs and providing traffic calming throughout the development. Application Plan • Please add a note that describes what would be included in a potential bus stop. For example, a shelter and bench. • The proposed Sports Field/Active Recreation Area the applicant is proposing in the northern portion of the site may be infeasible to develop because of the transportation constraints of Dickerson Rd. Would there be any vehicular access to this amenity from within the development? If you have any questions regarding these comments, please feel free to contact me. Kevin M. McDermott Planning Manager Albemarle County 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 296-5841 Ext. 3414 kmcdermott@a I be ma rle.org