HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP200900006 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2009-05-01�'JRGINLP
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 -4596
Phone (434) 296 -5832 Fax (434) 972 -4126
May 1, 2009
Mr. Scott Collins
Collins Engineering
800 East Jefferson St.
Charlottesville, VA 22902
RE: SP2009 -006 Kenridge — Special Use Permit
Dear Mr. Collins:
Thank you for your recent submittal received on March 16th for the above noted project for Tax
Map and Parcels 60K -61 and 60K -A2. Staff has reviewed your submittal and cannot support
your special use permit request at this time.
1. After visiting the site, staff cannot tell how you are going to construct this road
as shown on the plan.
2. The existing road adjacent to the commercial building that you are proposing
to extend and connect to the existing road adjacent to the manor house is very
narrow and the terrain is very steep.
3. Grading for this road has not been addressed with your application.
4. It appears retaining walls will be needed.
5. In addition, the proposed circulation pattern is problematic because of the
likelihood that traffic will not flow as shown on the plan.
Although most of the staff comments below are things that can be addressed during the site plan process, the
concerns above needs to be adequately addressed with the special use permit.
The following comments are provided to help you meet requirements for CO (Commercial Office) District,
amend special use permit SP2004 -052 to allow a change to the approved application plan and help you
address staff concerns.
Current Development:
• The location of the proposed access will likely impact unit 47D requiring an easement.
• The circulation pattern of the proposed access road is unclear and needs to be clarified. It appears you
are describing a road with two way circulation up to the commercial parking area and then the road
becomes one way for access to the manor house. It seems highly unlikely that the manor house traffic
will use the commercial access road to get to the house and its' parking. It seems more likely that the
manor house traffic will use the one way road in the opposite direction for quick and easy access to the
house and its' parking area. This type of scenario could result in a conflict should traffic exit the
commercial building using the one way road. The plan as shown will need waivers for one way access.
Current Development does not recommend approval with the design shown.
• Landscaping will be required to screen the parking and commercial use from the adjacent
residential development. This will require the installation of significant landscaping on all
sides of the parking area and building. (Reference 32.7.9.8.c)
• Landscaping needs to be conceptually shown and conditioned with the concept plan. Commercial
areas need to be screened from residential areas. The requirement of screening may be waived or
reduced. The Board of Supervisors may determine the level of screening that is appropriate to insure
compliance with Section 32.7.9.8c of the Zoning Ordinance. The landscaping will need to be shown on
the site plan.
• Sidewalks to the commercial building are not currently shown on the plans. Are you requesting this
requirement be waived? If not, this requirement will be requested at the time of site plan review.
Engineering:
• The revised access road and parking rely on an inadequate and unsafe one -way circulation pattern
around the building with unsuitable grades, widths and sight distance. Staff believes it is highly unlikely,
if not impossible to adequately construct the road as shown on the plan. Tell us how you plan to develop
this road.
• The roads and paths in the front of this development and connecting to White Gables are inadequate.
As you may be aware the curb lines, signs, pathways, etc., were constructed incorrectly and need to be
rebuilt.
Fire Rescue:
• Indicate the location of fire hydrants. Hydrants must be located within 400 feet of the structure
by way of a prepared travel way. Also, where access roadways exceed 150 feet in length, you
need to ensure adequate emergency vehicle turn around space.
Zoning:
• Staff is not able to approve the pending subdivision plat involving this property at this time, until the
special use permit amendment is settled.
• The site plan should be revised to properly reflect zone A as approved with the current special use
permit.
After you have reviewed these comments, if you wish to meet with staff on the comments, please let me
know and I will set up a meeting.
When you are ready to resubmit, please provide that re- submittal on a re- submittal Monday (see attached
schedule). Make sure to put my name on the cover page of your re- submittal. After you have
resubmitted, staff will provide a set of written comments for your review prior to setting a public
hearing. In those comments, we will advise you as to whether all substantive issues have been resolved
or if additional resolution is needed.
A public hearing with the Planning Commission will not be advertised until you advise us that the
project is ready to proceed to a public hearing. At that time, the legal advertisement will be run in the
newspaper and a staff report will be prepared to go to the Planning Commission.
Please be advised that, once a public hearing has been advertised, only one deferral prior to the Planning
Commission's public hearing will be allowed during the life of the application. The only exception to
this rule will be extraordinary circumstances, such as a major change in the project proposal by the
applicant or more issues identified by staff that has not previously been brought to the applicant's
attention. As always, an applicant may request deferral at the Planning Commission meeting.
Additional questions or comments may occur at a future date. If you have questions or need
additional information, please feel free to call me at 296 -5832 x 3250 or send me an e-mail at
cgrant @albemarle.oriz .
Sincerely,
Claudette Grant
Senior Planner
C: Kenridge, LLC