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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200900005 Review Comments Final Site Plan and Comps. 2009-02-20ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #: Name ARB- 2009 -005: St. David's Anglican Church Review Type Final 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, et al. 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 March 2, 2009 Staff Contact Eryn Brennan SITE/PROJECT HISTORY • January 21, 2009: SDP2008 -175, St. David's Anglican Church, Preliminary Site Plan submitted to Current Development and currently under review. • January 5, 2009: ARB2008 -170, St. David's Anglican Church, Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan. Comments were provided to the applicant for the benefit of their next submission (Attachment A). 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 some deciduous woods. Most of the northwest portion of the site has been cleared of trees, but the south and southeast portion of the site still has many large pines. 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 /CHANGES The applicant is proposing to construct a one -story 2,352 sq. ft. church with a sanctuary occupancy of 72 and a new entrance drive from Colthurst Drive. The applicant has increased the parking from the previous submittal from 13 to 19 parking spaces. The development is to be concentrated in the northwest portion of the parcel. A few extant trees would be removed where the church and parking are proposed to be constructed, leaving an ARB 3/2/2009 St. David's Anglican Church Final - Page 1 approximately 70' deep wooded buffer between the 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. Construction of the primary drainfield would require clearing a few existing trees in the area; however, the area outlined for the reserve drainfield would require extensive clearing. 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 32' high and the top of the cross on the cupola stands 42' high, constituting a 7' reduction in height. 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. Changes to the proposal since the previous review were largely in response to comments made by the Board (See Attachment A). The height of the cupola has been reduced by approximately 7', tree protection fencing has been included on the site plan, color samples have been submitted, and changes addressing the ARB's comments have been made to the north elevation. 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 19 proposed parking spaces and south (front) and west elevations will not be visible from the EC. ANALYSIS (based on Sheets C -1 through C -8 dated 2/9/09; photos of the site; architectural drawings A1.01, A4.01, and ARB -A5 dated 1/19/09; and a white color sample for all elements of the building's exterior) Issue: Proposed Parking Comments: The applicant was asked to provide a copy of the parking study. The site plan review is not yet at a point to require a parking study, although it is likely one will have to be provided in the future. If county review of the parking study results in a determination that additional parking will be need on the site, additional ARB review will be required. Recommendations: None at this time. If additional parking is required, an ARB application and revised site plan must be submitted. Issue: Landscape Plan Comments: • The applicant was asked to clarify with a tree inventory the quantity and species of trees on the site (6" caliper or greater) within the area marked in red on the plan dated 1/5/09, noting those that are to remain. The applicant noted 6" caliper trees and greater in the north, northeast, and northwest portions of the site, but did not note those trees in the southeast corner of the site located in the area marked in red where the reserve drainfield is proposed. It is common practice to clear all vegetation in a proposed drainfield either when the development is built or when the reserve drainfield is needed. However, alternative solutions exist. It may be possible to design the reserve drainfield around significant trees. Maintaining significant trees in the area proposed for the reserve drainfield is important to preserving the rural character of the site and mitigating the visual impact of the development on the EC. Consequently, identification of trees 6" caliper or greater in this area is required, as is indication that the drainfield will be designed to maintain those trees. • A biofilter underdrain is shown crossing the tree protection fencing east of the proposed building. ARB 3/2/2009 St. David's Anglican Church Final - Page 2 • No utility easement for the overhead electrical line is shown on the landscape plan, and the new plantings proposed in the northeast corner might conflict with a utility easement. • Four Cedrus Deodara and four Quercus Phellos trees are proposed in the northeast corner of the site. Given the height and spread (width) dimensions of these trees at full maturity, they appear to be planted too close together, which would compromise the health and full growth potential of the trees. • The applicant was asked to include plantings taller than 24" at the initial time of planting around the HVAC unit to screen it from the EC and help integrate it into the surrounding landscape. The applicant did increase the number of proposed Nigra Inkberries around the unit, but the plant list still states that they will be 24" at the initial time of planting. Recommendations: • Subject to Health Department approval, design the reserve drainfield to maintain the existing trees of 6" caliper and greater in the reserve drainfield area. Provide a plan that identifies the location and species of those trees and indicates that they are to remain. • Revise the landscape plan to show that the biofilter underdrain will not cross the tree protection fencing. • Show the utility easement for the overhead electrical line on the landscape plan. Show that no trees will be located within the easement. • Revise the planting scheme in the northeast corner of the site to ensure that the proposed trees are far enough apart to reach full maturity. • Revise the plant list to show that the 7 Nigra Inkberries proposed around the HVAC unit will be taller than 24" at the initial time of planting. • Add the following note to the landscape plan, "All site plantings of trees and shrubs shall be allowed to reach, and be maintained at, mature height; the topping of trees is prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall be pruned minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant." Issue: Lighting Comments: The plan includes cut sheets of proposed lighting fixtures, but no fixture locations are shown on the architectural drawings. Also, the applicant's preferred options for the fixtures have not been identified. Recommendations: Confirm on Sheet C8 Details the color and specific options proposed for the exterior lighting fixtures. Add a note on the same sheet that, "Each outdoor luminaire equipped with a lamp that emits 3,000 or more initial lumens shall be a full cutoff luminaire. The spillover of lighting from luminaires onto public roads and property in residential or rural areas zoning districts shall not exceed one half footcandle." Revise the architectural drawings to show where the exterior lighting fixtures will be located on the building. Issue: Freestanding Sign Comments: A proposed freestanding sign is shown in the north corner of the site, although no sign drawings have been submitted. The applicant has requested to withdraw the proposed sign and its location from consideration of the final site development plan and indicated that a separate sign application will be submitted at a later date. Recommendations: None at this time. The applicant should note that a sign application addressing all ARB sign checklist requirements must be submitted to the ARB for review and approval prior to installation of any signs. Plants at the base of the sign will be required to integrate the sign into the surrounding landscape. Sign permits will also be required. ARB 3/2/2009 St. David's Anglican Church Final - Page 3 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. Tree preservation in the reserve drainfield. Staff recommends approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness, pending staff administrative approval of the following conditions: 1. Subject to Health Department approval, design the reserve drainfield to maintain the existing trees of 6" caliper and greater in the reserve drainfield area. Provide a plan that identifies the location and species of those trees and indicates that they are to remain. 2. Revise the landscape plan to show that the biofilter underdrain will not cross the tree protection fencing. 3. Show the utility easement for the overhead electrical line on the landscape plan. Show that no trees will be located within the easement. 4. Revise the planting scheme in the northeast corner of the site to ensure that the proposed trees are far enough apart to reach full maturity. 5. Revise the plant list to show that the 7 Nigra Inkberries proposed around the HVAC unit will be taller than 24" at the initial time of planting. 6. Add the following note to the landscape plan, "All site plantings of trees and shrubs shall be allowed to reach, and be maintained at, mature height; the topping of trees is prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall be pruned minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant." 7. Confirm on Sheet C8 Details the color and specific options proposed for the exterior lighting fixtures. 8. Add a note to Sheet C8 that, "Each outdoor luminaire equipped with a lamp that emits 3,000 or more initial lumens shall be a full cutoff luminaire. The spillover of lighting from luminaires onto public roads and property in residential or rural areas zoning districts shall not exceed one half footcandle." 9. Revise the architectural drawings to show where the exterior lighting fixtures will be located on the building. 10. The Certificate of Appropriateness shall be subject to the following condition: In the event that additional parking is required, the applicant shall submit the revised plan for review as part of a new ARB application. ARB 3/2/2009 St. David's Anglican Church Final - Page 4