HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200800154 Staff Report 2008-12-08ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #: Name
ARB- 2008 -154: Pantops Group LLC (NTELOS) CV853 Pantops Fill
Review Type
Preliminary Review of a Building Permit
Parcel Identification
Tax Map 78, Parcel 55A9
Location
1470 Pantops Mountain Place, located on the north side of Route 250
approximately 350 feet west of Pantops Mountain Road.
Zoned
Planned Residential Development (PRD), Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner
Pantops Group LLC
Applicant
Virginia PCS Alliance - Jessica Wilmer
Magisterial District
Rivanna
Proposal
To install a Tier 1 facility consisting of four stealth chimneys, each
approximately 7 ft. 4 in. in height, installed on the existing rooftop, with
associated equipment located at the interior of the building.
ARB Meeting Date
December 15, 2008
Staff Contact
Eryn Brennan
SITE/PROJECT HISTORY
This proposal includes changes to the Martha Jefferson Office Building Phase 2. The Phase 1 building
is complete and construction on the Phase 3 building has not yet begun. The Phase 2 & 3 buildings
received final approval in May 2003. The Phase 1 building received a Certificate of Appropriateness
in 1998.
It should be noted that the only other Tier 1 wireless stealth facility in Albemarle County are the
cupola added to the BP gas station in the Pantops area and the steeple added to the St. Paul Church in
Ivy.
CONTEXT/VISIBILITY
The four proposed stealth chimneys are to be installed on the roof of the Martha Jefferson Office Building
Phase 2. This building is located on Route 250 East approximately 300 feet east of State Farm Boulevard in
between the EC and Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge. The structure is set back on a raised slope 215
feet north of the EC. The surrounding area is characterized by widely dispersed large commercial buildings
surrounded by parking lots primarily to the east, and large open, wooded areas to the west. The slope and
landscaping along the EC obscures the parking lot, but the structure and roof are clearly visible from the EC;
consequently, the proposed chimneys will be visible. Related equipment typically associated with this type of
facility, including the chain link fence shown on S -8 Fence Details, will be located inside the building and will
not be visible.
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PROJECT DETAILS
The applicant proposes to construct a Tier 1 wireless facility consisting of four stealth chimneys 7' 4" in height
on the existing roof. The four chimneys are expected to be visible from the EC. The two chimneys closest to
the EC will contain an antenna array totally enclosed within the chimneys. Associated equipment will be
installed inside the building on the third floor. The two remaining chimneys proposed directly behind the front
chimneys will become the property of the building owner and could be leased to another wireless service
provider for telecommunications purposes in the future. The applicant proposed to construct four chimneys to
visually balance the distribution of the chimneys on the roof.
ANALYSIS based on:
• Site plan T -1, dated 10/20/08
• Architectural plan and elevation drawings S -1 — S -8, dated 10/20/08
• Electrical details E -1 — E -2, dated 10/20/08
• Photographs of building and site context
• A 6" x 10" sample of the faux brick and mortar material proposed for the new chimneys
Issue: Appropriateness of Chimney Additions /Chimney Scale
Comments:
• The appropriateness of chimney additions to this building is questionable given that they are not
functional. This building is also part of a series of three buildings (the Phase 3 building has not yet
been constructed), the other two of which do not have chimneys. Constructing chimneys on only one
of the buildings may present an awkward appearance in the larger context of this portion of the EC.
However, the four proposed stealth chimneys may have less impact than additional monopoles in the
area. Also, this building is the center building of the group of three and, if the chimneys are
appropriately scaled and detailed, they may have an appropriate appearance.
• Sheet S -1 Overall Roof Plan — Existing Conditions shows an elevation of the southwest fagade facing
the EC with the proposed chimneys added on the roof. The drawing is not drawn to a standard
architectural scale, and the chimney appears to be taller than the detail indicates, all of which makes it
difficult to determine whether the size and scale of the chimneys are appropriate and compatible with
the existing building.
Recommendations: Provide a to -scale drawing of the front (southwest) fagade with the proposed chimneys to
ensure that the size and scale of the chimneys are coordinated with the size and scale of the existing building.
Issue: Chimney Material
Comments: The applicant has indicated that the faux brick and mortar chimney material sample submitted with
the application was provided only to show the type of material proposed for the chimneys. The material sample
does not accurately show the proportions and dimensions of the faux brick and mortar joints that will be used
in the actual chimneys. The applicant has stated that the brick and mortar dimensions of the proposed chimney
material will be an exact match to the existing building.
Recommendations: Include a note on the drawing that the brick and mortar dimensions for the proposed
chimney material will be an exact match to the primary brick pattern and color on the existing building.
Issue: Chimney Details
Comments: The front (southwest) elevation drawing provided on Sheet S -1 Overall Roof Plan — Existing
Conditions shows the proposed chimneys with a trim cap and decorative banding. The proposed chimneys
shown on Sheet S -6 Concealment Chimney Details show a bonded and sealed stealthskin top cap to match
existing brick pattern on building. A chimney cap and banding are appropriate for this application; however,
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the stealthskin top cap does not present an authentic chimney appearance and is not appropriate for the existing
building.
Recommendations: Include in the drawing set a to -scale detail clarifying the size and appearance of the
chimneys and their detail, including the cap, banding, and any other related elements. Revise the design of the
chimney cap so that it is coordinated with the existing building and presents a more authentic appearance.
Revise the chimney design shown on Sheet S -1 Overall Roof Plan to match the chimney design shown on
Sheet S -6 Concealment Chimney Details.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion:
1. The appropriateness of adding chimneys to this building.
2. The scale of the proposed stealth chimneys in relation to the existing building.
3. The design details of the proposed stealth chimneys.
Staff offers the following comments on the preliminary site plan:
1. Provide a to -scale drawing of the front (southwest) fagade with the proposed chimneys to ensure that
the size and scale of the chimneys are coordinated with the size and scale of the existing building.
2. Include a note on the drawing that the brick and mortar dimensions for the proposed chimney material
will be an exact match to the primary brick pattern and color on the existing building.
3. Include in the drawing set a to -scale detail clarifying the size and appearance of the chimneys and their
detail, including the cap, banding, and any other related elements. Revise the design of the chimney
cap so that it is coordinated with the existing building and presents a more authentic appearance.
Revise the chimney design shown on Sheet S -1 Overall Roof Plan to match the chimney design shown
on Sheet S -6 Concealment Chimney Details.
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