HomeMy WebLinkAboutSE202300016 Correspondence 2023-03-27SHIMP ENGINEERING, P.C.
Design Focused Engineering
SDP202300004 2305 Hunters Way
Special Exception Request Per Sec. 24.2.1 - Area of
Storage/Warehousing/Distribution/Transportation
Uses Within Highway Commercial Zone
March 27, 2023
912 E High St Charlollesville, VA 22902 1434.227.5140 1 shimp-engineering.com
Sec. 24.2.1 - Special Exception Request for Increased Area of Storage/Warehousing/Distribution/Transportation Uses
Within a Highway Commercial Zone
WP Richmond Road, LLC is the property owner (the "owner") of tax map parcel 07900-00-00-004PO (the "property"). An
initial site plan for the property has been submitted for the property, to construct warehouse space on the site. In accordance
with Sec. 24.2.1(49) of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, the owner requests the Board of Supervisors waive the
requirement of Sec. 24.2.1(49) that limits the gross floor area of Storage/Warehousing/Distribution/Transportation uses
within a Highway Commercial District to 4,000 square feet per site. The owner requests to construct a two-story 21,800
square foot footprint, for a total of 43,600 square feet of warehouse space.
The property is located within the Hunters Hall subdivision. Within the subdivision, most of the parcels along the frontage
are zoned Highway Commercial and the remainder of the properties are zoned Light Industry. A variety of commercial
and industrial uses take place in Hunters Hall. On the subject property, an existing propane company tenant is present.
Surrounding the property, uses vary from auto repair shop, daycare, retail, self -storage, manufacturing, distribution, and
medical office/research.
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SH IM P ENGINEERING, P.C. 2305 Hunters Way Special Exception Request I Increased GFA of Certain Uses in HC Zone 12
An existing office use for a propane company is currently located on the property. This use is proposed to remain, as
improvements to the site would take place within the open space towards the rear of the site. Columbia Propane is located
on the subject 2.56 acres, within a two-story 6,000 sq. ft. building, for a total of approximately 12,000 sq. ft. of retail sales use.
Up to 43,600 sq. ft. of storage and warehouse use behind Columbia Propane would be a complementary use, not only to the
subject property, but to the subdivision as a whole.
There are several businesses are located on the adjacent Highway Commercial property TMP 794A, including Virginia
Business Systems, Floor Fashions of Virginia, Stereo Types, and Reico Kitchen and Bath. These businesses are located within
an existing two-story 40,000 sq. ft. building, for a total of approximately 80,000 sq. ft. of retail use. To the rear of TMP 794A,
a 11,000 sq. ff. building is utilized as a storage warehouse. Allowing for the construction of a 19,000 sq. ft. footprint on TMP
79-4P would align with the existing uses within the subject and adjacent Highway Commercial properties.
Furthermore, the surrounding Light Industry properties within the Hunters Hall subdivision include buildings of similar
sizes. Adjacent to the Highway Commercial parcels are Prime Storage and UPS. The Charlottesville -Albemarle UPS customer
service center and distribution depot is approximately 45,000 sq. ft. and Prime Storage consists of several buildings that
include office space and self -storage uses; Prime Storage features a variety of building sizes, from 4,000-13,000 sq. ft.
SHIMP ENGINEERING, P.C. 2305 Hunters Way Special Exception Request I Increased GFA of Certain Uses in HC Zone 13
With the existing context of the Hunters Hall subdivision, the addition of a two-story 21,800 sq. ft. building, for a total of
43,600 sq. ft. of warehouse space, would not be detrimental to the parcels surrounding the HC-zoned property. Moreover, the
proposed building is located nearly 300' from Route 250. The grade of Route 250 is approximately 356' and quickly increases
up to an elevation of 376' at the existing parking area. The new warehouse structure is proposed at an elevation of 377' Due
to the steep berm adjacent to the roadway and the presence of the existing buildings, the proposed structure would not be
visible from the Route 250 corridor.
Permitting approximately 43,600 sq. ft. of warehouse space would support the County's Economic Development goals.
For economic expansion in the County, the Comprehensive Plan encourages to "ensure that there is sufficient land to
accommodate future business and industrial growth" (6.11), while being compatible with the surrounding uses. The Hunters
Hall subdivision has functioned as an industrial park for many years and additional warehouse space on the subject property
would support employment and economic growth within an established industrial area. Where the industrial vacancy rate
in the region is just over 1% (Albemarle Land Use Buildout), there is clear demand for industrial and warehouse space in
Albemarle County, which is only anticipated to increase as the overall population of the County grows.
SH IM P ENGINEERING, P.C. 2305 Hunters Way Special Exception Request I Increased GFA of Certain Uses in HC Zone 14