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Home My WebLink AboutARB200800170 Staff Report 2008-12-19ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #: Name ARB- 2008 -170: St. David's Anglican Church Review Type Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan Parcel Identification Tax Map 60, Parcel 68I Location Located at the south corner of the intersection of Barracks Road [Rt. 6541 and Colthurst Drive. Zoned Rural Areas (RA) and Entrance Corridor (EC) Owner St. David's Anglican Church Applicant William Lee Anderson, Grant Howlett, etal. Magisterial District Jack Jouett Proposal To construct a one -story 2,352 square foot church building with a sanctuary occupancy of 72, an entrance drive, gravel parking and associated site work. ARB Meeting Date January 5, 2009 Staff Contact Eryn Brennan SITE/PROJECT HISTORY In 2002, the ARB reviewed and approved a development for this site consisting of a 3,600 sq. ft. brick church with 30 parking spaces southwest of the proposed church. The proposed church was to be situated toward the north corner of the site with a 40' wooded buffer between the structure and EC, and the long side of the church was proposed parallel to the EC. A freestanding monument sign was also included in the proposal. A Certificate of Appropriateness was issued to the applicant on August 12, 2004, but the development was not constructed. The current application is for an alternate site plan and church design requiring ARB approval. CONTEXT The site is located on the south corner of the entrance into the Colthurst residential subdivision. It is currently vacant and consists of primarily evergreen and deciduous woods. There are several large trees on the property. The site slopes down from the west corner at an elevation of 500' to the east corner at an elevation of 478', and a 40' wide critical slope area exists along the front of the property near the EC. Overhead electric lines cross the property along the EC side of the site. Single family residential development, farmland and open space characterize the surrounding area. PROJECT DETAILS The applicant is proposing to construct a one -story 2,352 sq. ft. church with a sanctuary occupancy of 72, a new entrance drive from Colthurst Drive, and 13 gravel parking spaces. The development is to be concentrated in the northwest portion of the parcel. The existing wooded area would be removed where the church and parking are proposed to be constructed, leaving an approximately 70' deep wooded buffer between the ARB 1/5/2009 St. David's Anglican Church Preliminary - Page 1 northeast corner of the structure and the EC and a 120' deep wooded buffer from the northwest corner of the structure and the EC. A stormwater management facility is shown to the east of the proposed church. The proposed church sits at a 45 degree angle from the EC, with the north (rear) and east elevations facing the EC. The ridge of the roof stands approximately 30' high, and the top of the cross on the cupola stands 49' high. The church design presents a traditional form, with Gothic Revival windows and a Colonial Revival entrance portico. Composite shingle is proposed for the roof material, and white cement fiber siding is proposed for the exterior sheathing. VISIBILITY The site sits approximately 16' above the grade of the EC. The 70' to 120' deep wooded buffer along the EC is expected to mitigate some of the visual impact of the proposed development on the EC; however, the north and east elevations of the church, along with the cupola, are still expected to be somewhat visible from the EC. The rear elevation is oriented towards the Colthurst intersection. The 13 proposed parking spaces and south (front) and west elevations will not be visible from the EC. ANALYSIS (based on Sheets C -1 andC -2 dated 11/14/08; photos of the site; and elevation drawings dated 11/14/08) Issue: Site Layout/Visibility/Tree Protection Comments: The EC Guidelines state that buildings fronting the EC should be parallel to the street. The proposed building is oriented at a 45 degree angle to the EC, but this may be acceptable given the rural character of the area and the wooded buffer along the EC. Also, the plan does not show any tree protection for the wooded area to remain. Recommendations: Site sections would be useful to further clarify the level of visibility. Submit site sections traversing the structure and site from the east, northeast, and north corners of where the parcel meets the EC. Show tree protection fencing on the plan and provide a conservation checklist. Issue: North Elevation Comments: The north (rear) elevation of the church facing the EC shows a door, but the plan shows no sidewalk or seemingly functional accessibility from the exterior. The windows on the north elevation are unevenly distributed, which presents an unbalanced and awkward appearance, and the area left of the door and closest to the EC presents a blank wall. The addition of a single lancet window left of the door would present a more balanced and coordinated appearance. Recommendations: Revise the drawings to clarify the exterior access to the door on the north elevation. Revise the north elevation drawing to add a lancet window to the left of the door. Issue: Mechanical Equipment Comments: An HVAC unit is proposed on the west end of the north elevation. Five Nigra Inkberry are proposed to be planted around the HVAC unit in order to screen it from the EC; however, the proposed plantings are not sufficient to integrate the accessory equipment into the overall development plan as required by the EC Guidelines. The proposed arrangement also tends to emphasize the elements to be screened. A less rigid planting scheme more integrated with the surrounding natural landscape would be more appropriate. Depending on visibility, plantings taller than 24" at initial time of planting might also be appropriate. Recommendations: Revise the site plan to show a planting scheme that is more integrated with the surrounding natural landscape to screen the HVAC unit. Include plantings taller than 24" at the initial time of planting in the revised scheme. ARB 1/5/2009 St. David's Anglican Church Preliminary - Page 2 Issue: Cupola Details Comments: The proposed church design includes a cupola, but the elevation drawings don't provide enough information to fully understand its appearance. A detailed drawing of the cupola design, addressing any proposed lighting, the colors and materials of the cupola and cross, and whether the cupola is enclosed or consists of an open frame would assist in understanding its appearance. Recommendations: Submit a detailed drawing of the cupola design that addresses any proposed lighting, the materials and colors to be used for the cupola and cross, and whether the cupola is enclosed or consists of an open frame. Issue: Material and Color Samples Comments: Material and color samples for the proposed roof shingle, cement fiber siding, trim, and cross have not been submitted. Recommendations: Submit material and color samples for the proposed roof shingle, and color samples for the proposed cement fiber siding, trim, and cross. Issue: Lighting Comments: The plan includes no proposed lighting. If lighting is proposed for the site, a photometric plan will need to be submitted along with cut sheets of any light fixtures to be used on the building or site. Recommendations: Indicate that no lighting is proposed for the building or site. Or, if lighting is proposed, submit a photometric plan, cut sheets of proposed light fixtures to be used on the building and/or site, and all related details. Issue: Freestanding Sign Comments: A proposed freestanding sign is shown in the north corner of the site. No sign drawings have been submitted and no planting is shown at the base of the sign. (The applicant should be aware that although the sign location should be included on the plan for coordination purposes, approval for the sign location is handled with the review of the sign permit.) Recommendations: Submit detailed drawings of the proposed sign addressing all ARB sign checklist requirements, including overall design and size, lettering, color, manner of illumination, and landscaping around the base of the sign. Submit color and material samples. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. Site Layout/Visibility/Tree Protection 2. North Elevation 3. Cupola Details Staff offers the following comments on the preliminary site plan: 1. Site sections would be useful to further clarify the level of visibility. Submit site sections traversing the structure and site from the east, northeast, and north corners of where the parcel meets the EC. Show tree protection fencing on the plan and provide a conservation checklist. 2. Revise the drawings to clarify the exterior access to the door on the north elevation. Revise the north elevation drawing to add a lancet window to the left of the door. 3. Revise the site plan to show a planting scheme that is more integrated with the surrounding natural landscape to screen the HVAC unit. Include plantings taller than 24" at the initial time of planting in ARB 1/5/2009 St. David's Anglican Church Preliminary - Page 3 the revised scheme. 4. Submit a detailed drawing of the cupola design that addresses any proposed lighting, the materials and colors to be used for the cupola and cross, and whether the cupola is enclosed or consists of an open frame. 5. Submit material and color samples for the proposed roof shingle, and color samples for the proposed cement fiber siding, trim, and cross. 6. Indicate that no lighting is proposed for the building or site. Or, if lighting is proposed, submit a photometric plan, cut sheets of proposed light fixtures to be used on the building and/or site, and all related details. 7. Submit detailed drawings of the proposed sign addressing all ARB sign checklist requirements, including overall design and size, lettering, color, manner of illumination, and landscaping around the base of the sign. Submit color and material samples. ARB 1/5/2009 St. David's Anglican Church Preliminary - Page 4