HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP200800023 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2008-08-18COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, Room 227
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596
Phone (434) 296-5832 Fax (434) 972-4126
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Megan Yaniglos
FROM:
Margaret Maliszewski
RE:
Shackelford: SP -08-23
DATE:
August 18, 2008
The personal wireless services facility is proposed for a site in the Southwest Mountains Rural Historic
District, a National Register district on the Route 20 Entrance Corridor. A balloon test was conducted for
this proposal on June 25, 2008. Routes 20, 600, 640 and 784 and Sneads Hill Road, Penny Baker Lane,
and Merrie Meadows Lane were traveled to determine the extent of visibility of the proposal. The balloon
was visible only for a short distance in the vicinity of the intersection of Routes 20 and 600, and from the
front yard of Fairmount, the property across Route 20. When the balloon was seen from Route 20, it was
visible through breaks in the trees along the Entrance Corridor. The narrow width of the road helped limit
the noticeability of the balloon. Although the balloon was visible for only a relatively short distance along
the EC, when it was visible, there was a material difference in the visibility when the balloon was reduced
in height from 10' above the reference tree to 7' above the treetop.
At 7' above the top of the reference tree, it is anticipated that the facility will not appear to be out of scale
with the surroundings, to dominate the setting, or to create a focal point or significant intrusion in the
landscape. Consequently, it is not expected to be noticed by most viewers or to disrupt the ability of the
traveling public to enjoy the landscape. Due to its limited visibility, it is not expected to have any adverse
scenic impact. The proposed work is not expected to cause damage to any historic resource. While the loss
of mature trees from the site is not a positive feature of the proposal and the applicant is encouraged to
maintain as many trees as possible, given the size of the overall historic district, the loss of trees is not
expected to have a significant negative impact on the district.
Regarding Fairmount, the view from that property is not known to be a significant component of the
history or significance of that resource. However, the view is important, so reducing the height of the
proposed pole from 10' to 7' is recommended to reduce the negative impact.