HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP200900008 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2009-06-18�'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
June 17, 2009
Mr. Scott Collins
Collins Engineering
800 East Jefferson St.
Charlottesville, VA 22902
RE: SP2009 -008 White Gables — Special Use Permit
Dear Mr. Collins:
Thank you for your recent re- submittal received on May 18th for the above noted project for Tax
Map and Parcel 60 -26. Staff has reviewed your re- submittal and cannot support your special use
permit request at this time for the following reasons:
• During the approval process of the special use permit (SP 2002 -023) the use of the
manor house is described as a community building with the potential for a few small
office spaces for use by residents within it. At that time staff noted in a staff report
that the manor house was seen primarily as a support structure for the residential use.
Staff also stated that a substantial supply of office use exists along the corridor and
more is not needed on this site. The expectation was that the manor house would be a
community building for residents to use. Changing the use of the manor house from
the original intent of a community building for residents to an office use would
eliminate a recreation amenity for the current and future residents of White Gables.
• By proposing to add some required parking for the proposed commercial use in a
portion of the area approved for open space you are changing the original open space
amenity. Although you are proposing a walking path in the rest of the open space as a
substitute for the elimination of the community building and the change in character
of the open space, this substitute of a walking path does not seem sufficient enough
for the recreation losses for this residential development.
As stated in your response letter, the residents of the development do not use the
clubhouse for recreation. However, there are three (3) additional residential buildings
proposed for future development, which would add more people and traffic to the
development. While the need for recreation space may not seem pertinent with the
current number of residents in this development, the addition of more residents and an
active association may change this dynamic.
• The access road/loop road is inadequate for commercial use. You have stated that
dimensions of the roads are provided to illustrate its adequacy per waivers approved
for this development. However, these waivers were approved for a development that
is entirely residential and included no commercial uses on the site. If the road and
circulation were to become adequate for commercial use some physical changes
would most likely need to occur to the layout of the site. Staff believes the type of
changes necessary cannot be done at the site plan stage and would be necessary during
the special use permit amendment.
Additionally, the following revisions need to be addressed with the special use permit amendment:
Planning:
• The parking analysis table located on the cover sheet of the plan includes parking that will be
built in the future. Please note in the parking analysis table that some of the spaces included in
the parking provided category are to be built in the future.
Zoning:
• Please clarify that the parking on the perimeter road is not currently restricted (by covenant or
other document) from use by the office building.
The following comments relate to the site plan process and would need to be addressed at that
time:
Engineering:
• The roads in the front of this development and connecting to Kenridge are inadequate, and unsuitable
for any further development. The curb lines, signs, radii, pathways, etc., were constructed incorrectly and
need to be rebuilt.
• The parking areas around the loop road need to be rebuilt or replaced. The plastic reinforcing used for
the pervious surfaces of these parking spaces has failed. The result is a mud - laden, uneven, and erosive
surface.
Zoning:
The site plan amendment will need to address the following:
• How and where employee versus customer parking will be provided; and
• The proposed walking trail specifications as well as the timing for construction
Fire Rescue:
• This development must comply with the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. As noted in
the previous comment letter, approval is subject to field inspection and verification.
Current Development:
• If the special use permit is approved a site plan amendment will need to be submitted for review and
approval prior to the use of the office space.
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. 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: White Gables of Charlottesville, LC —
c/o Robinson Development Group