HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200900013 Review Comments Site Plan Waiver 2009-05-08ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #: Name
ARB- 2009 -13: Watkins & Company
Review Type
Final Review of a Site Development Plan
Parcel Identification
Tax Map 56, Parcels 107C
Location
5168 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, on the north side of Route 250 East, just east
of the Clover Lawn development
Zoned
Highway Commercial (HC), Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner /Applicant
Watkins, Scott or Caroline
Magisterial District
Whitehall
Proposal
To establish a landscape contracting business with outdoor storage of
landscape materials.
ARB Meeting Date
May 18, 2009
Staff Contact
Margaret Maliszewski
SITE/PROJECT HISTORY
The ARB reviewed the application for a Special Use Permit for this project on December 17, 2007. A
preliminary review of the site development plan was also completed at that time. The action letter from that
review is included as an attachment to this report. The ARB had no objection to the request for the SP,
subject to conditions. The SP and the related rezoning were approved on March 12, 2008 (SP -07 -60 and
ZMA- 07 -16) with the following conditions, which address all of the ARB's conditions, excepting the
limitation on lighting (which was ARB condition #2):
1. Products shall be stored only in the areas indicated for storage on the Watkins & Company concept
Plan sheet L -1 dated January 2008;
2. All nursery stock shall be stored on the ground without the use of racks, display stands or other
similar items;
3. Any structure required for separating the mulch, topsoil and compost shall not exceed six (6) feet
in height. The design of such structure is subject to review /approval by the ARB during the site
plan review;
4. The site shall be landscaped according to the following criteria and ARB approval of landscape
plan to include:
A mixed planting of trees and shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous, shall be provided in
the thirty (30) foot planting strip along the south side of the site and along the west side of
the site from the shed to the EC. The planting shall be continued westward to the retaining
wall in all areas disturbed by grading; and
A mixed planting shall be provided along the east side of the site to provide screening for
the storage areas and to blend with the surroundings; and
ARB 5/18/2009 Watkins & Company — Page 1
5. The parking of trucks for the business beyond the nine (9) -space parking lot shown on the Concept
Plan shall be limited as follows: A maximum of five (5) trucks may be parked between the
mulch /topsoil storage area and the five thousand nine hundred fifty (5,950) square feet nursery
stock storage area during the night hours.
The applicant has requested a site plan waiver for the development. The waiver is under review by Current
Development. The applicant has proceeded with clearing, grading and filling the site prior to site plan
approval. A Notice of Violation has been issued (NOV- 2009 -51 issued 2/25/09). ARB staff has worked
with the applicant since the submittal of the ARB application to revise the proposal to meet the conditions
of the Special Use Permit related to the Entrance Corridor.
CONTEXT
The subject site is located on the north side of Route 250 West, just east of the Clover Lawn development
and across the street from Blue Ridge Builders Supply. The property to the east is occupied by a residence
and is wooded. The subject parcel contains a residence and a shed. The eastern edge of the parcel is
wooded. A few large trees were located in the southern half of the site; they have been removed.
PROJECT DETAILS /CHANGES
The applicant proposes to establish a landscape contracting business with outdoor storage of landscape
materials, including nursery stock, mulch, topsoil, etc. The storage areas are to be located between the EC
and the existing house on site. The proposal includes realignment of the driveway, establishment of a
parking area for vehicles serving the business, substantial grading /filling and landscaping.
VISIBILITY
The development will be highly visible from the Route 250 EC.
ANALYSIS (based on site plan sheets 1 -3, 5 with revision date of April 28, 2009; sheet 4 with revision
date of March 12, 2009; sheet 6 (approved Concept Plan) dated January 2008; and photo sheet, undated)
Issue: Planting along eastern property line
Comments: Condition #4 of the SP requires a mixed planting along the east side of the site. Although the
plants haven't been labeled on the plan, it appears that Spirea and Northern Bayberry are proposed in
groups in this area. The Spirea is a deciduous plant and the Bayberry is a semi- evergreen plant. The
wooded area on the property to the east helps screen the applicant's property from westbound traffic in
locations east of the site. Evergreen plants would provide better on -site screening.
Recommendations: Revise some of the plants proposed along the east side of the site to an evergreen
species. Label the Spirea and Northern Bayberry on the plan.
Issue: Planting along southern property line
Comments:
• A mixed planting is proposed along the EC frontage. These trees and shrubs are to be planted at an
elevation approximately 6' below the elevation of the EC. Two Wax Myrtles and one Red Maple in
this group are shown in the right -of -way. The applicant has indicated that he is seeking permission
from VDOT for this planting. It has been standard ARB practice to locate all plants required to
mitigate the impacts of a development within the parcel on which the development is proposed.
• Electric and water lines are shown across the EC side of the property, but the easements associated
with the lines are not included on the plan. It appears that some trees, as currently illustrated, may
ARB 5/18/2009 Watkins & Company — Page 2
conflict with utilities and easements. It appears that the Red Maples have already been planted.
• The western end of the frontage planting is located on the adjacent property to the west.
Recommendations:
• Shift the plants that are proposed in the right -of -way back inside the property line.
• Include the easements associated with existing and proposed utilities on the site and landscape plans.
Provide required plants outside of the easements or provide documentation from the easement holders
indicating permission to plant in the easements.
• Provide documentation, signed by the owners of both the subject parcel and the adjacent Clover Lawn
parcel, that permission has been granted for the off -site planting and grading.
Issue: Planting along western property line
Comments: Condition #4 of the SP requires a mixed planting along the west side of the site from the shed
to the EC, with the planting continuing westward to the retaining wall in all areas disturbed by grading. A
mixed planting is proposed along most of the western side of the property, but a 70' gap exists near the
southern end of the property line. The applicant has indicated that he intends to purchase the wedge- shaped
piece of property between his western property line and the Clover Lawn retaining wall.
Recommendations:
• Add or shift plants to close the 70' gap in plants that is currently shown near the southern end of the
western property line, while maintaining plants in all off -site areas disturbed by grading.
• Provide documentation, signed by the owners of both the subject parcel and the adjacent Clover Lawn
parcel, that permission has been granted for the off -site planting and grading, or that the owner of the
Clover Lawn parcel has agreed to the sale of the land on which the off -site planting and grading is
shown.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion:
1. Planting along the EC and impact of utilities, right -of -way and grading
2. Planting along the western property line: on -site v. off -site
3. The need for evergreens in the planting along the eastern property line
Staff recommends approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness, pending staff administrative approval of
the following conditions:
1. Revise some of the plants proposed along the east side of the site to an evergreen species.
2. Label the Spirea and Northern Bayberry on the plan.
3. Shift the plants that are proposed in the right -of -way back inside the property line.
4. Include the easements associated with existing and proposed utilities on the site and landscape plans.
Provide required plants outside of the easements or provide documentation from the easement holders
indicating permission to plant in the easements.
5. Add or shift plants to close the 70' gap in plants that is currently shown near the southern end of the
western property line, while maintaining plants in all off -site areas disturbed by grading.
6. Provide documentation, signed by the owners of both the subject parcel and the adjacent Clover Lawn
parcel, that permission has been granted for the off -site planting and grading, or that the owner of the
Clover Lawn parcel has agreed to the sale of the land on which the off -site planting and grading is
shown.
ARB 5/18/2009 Watkins & Company — Page 3
Attachment A
�'IRGINL�
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, Room 227
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 -4596
Phone (434) 296 -5832 Fax (434) 972 -4126
January 2, 2008
Scott Watkins
2601 Cardinal Ridge Road
Charlottesville VA 22906
RE: ARB- 2007 -142: Watkins Landscaping
Dear Mr. Watkins:
The Albemarle County Architectural Review Board, at its meeting on December 17, 2007 completed a
preliminary review of the above -noted request. The Board took the following actions.
Regarding _ tpecial Use Permit request, the Board by a vote of 4:0, forwarded the following
recommendation to the Planning Commission:
The ARB has no objection to the request for the Special Use Permit, subject to the following conditions:
1. Products shall be stored only in the areas indicated for storage on the Watkins & Company plan sheets
L -1, L -2 and L -3, dated November 2007.
2. Illumination of the site shall be limited to that which is required for safety and security.
3. All nursery stock shall be stored on the ground without use of racks, display stands or other similar
items.
4. Any structure required for separating the mulch, topsoil and compost shall not exceed 6' in height.
The design of such structure is subject to review /approval by the ARB during the site plan review.
5. The site shall be landscaped according to the following criteria. The planting is subject to
review /approval by the ARB during site plan review:
a. A mixed planting of trees and shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous, shall be
provided in the 30 -foot planting strip along the south side of the site and along the
west side of the site from the shed to the EC. The planting shall be continued
westward to the retaining wall in all areas disturbed by grading.
b. Provide a mixed planting along the east side of the site to provide screening for the
storage areas and to blend with the surroundings.
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6. It is understood that 3 to 5 trucks for the business would be parked north of the mulch/top soil storage
area, during the night hours.
Re arding the Preliminary Site Plan, the Board made the following preliminary comments and suggestions for
the benefit of the applicant's next submittal. Please note that these comments are those that have been identified
at this time. Additional comments may be added or eliminated based on further review and changes to the plan.
1. Because it is unclear how much planting area is available, provide clarification regarding the planting
on the east side of the site. Provide more information on the existing condition to determine what
additional plantings are required to maintain the deciduous forest with an evergreen edge. Photos
and/or a tree survey may be appropriate. It is important to make sure that edge is adequately planted.
2. The ARB was in favor of the house and the roof being darker earth colors.
You may submit your application for continued ARB review at your earliest convenience. Application forms,
checklists and schedules are available on -line at www.albemarle.org/planning.
Revised drawings addressing the comments listed above are required. Include updated ARB revision dates on
each drawing. Please provide a memo including detailed responses indicating how each comment has been
addressed. If changes other than those requested have been made, identify those changes in the memo also.
Highlighting the changes in the drawing with "clouding" or by other means will facilitate review and approval.
If you have any questions concerning any of the above, please feel free to call me.
Sincerely,
Margaret Maliszewski
Principal Planner
cc: Roxanne Brouse, Rieley & Associates, 601 East Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Rebecca Ragsdale
ARB -07 -142
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