HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP200800035 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2009-07-15COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, Room 227
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596
Phone (434) 296-5832 Fax (434) 972-4126
July 15, 2009
Tim Keeney
Keeney & Company Architects, PLC
1413 Sachem Place, Suite One
Charlottesville, VA 22901
RE: SP2008-35, First Baptist Church Covesville
Dear Mr. Keeney:
Thank you for your recent application for a special use permit to construct a parking lot and new
sanctuary next to an existing church. The members of the County's Site Review Committee have
reviewed the development proposal resubmitted on June 15, 2009 and referenced above. Comments are
included below.
Planning Division
The applicant is seeking approval to construct an approximately 3,200 square foot sanctuary 34' east of an
existing church. The new sanctuary would mirror the existing church, and the entrance porches would be
connected by a covered breezeway. The existing sanctuary seating would be relocated to the new sanctuary,
and the old church would be used as a fellowship hall, with Sunday School classrooms and offices in the
basement. The proposed development would not increase the maximum number of 180 seats in the
sanctuary allowed by the current Special Use Permit, and no day-care, after-school program, or kitchen
facility is proposed.
A new paved parking area is also proposed in front of the church. The proposed parking would be able to
accommodate 37 parking spaces, as opposed to the current 29 informal parking gravel spaces east of the
existing church. The new sanctuary would not represent an increase in intensity in the use of the site and
would serve to support existing activities more efficiently. The Rural Areas Section of the Comprehensive
Plan includes the achievement, maintenance, and improvement of rural land patterning. Part of this vision
includes the support of agricultural and forestal communities through community meeting places, at rural
scales, that provide the opportunity to take part in community life.
Division of Zoning and Current Development
A site plan will be required. Show on the concept plan an overflow parking area for peak events, such as
weddings. Access over, or parking over the drainfield should be discussed with the Health Department as it
may cause damage to the drainfield. As the proposed new sanctuary would visually impact the neighboring
property owner to the east, existing and proposed landscaping should be shown along the east edge of the
parcel at this time. Landscaping at a rate of 1 tree for each 10 parking spaces will be required. Remove
SP 2008-035, First Baptist Church Covesville 2
"Approved New" to the 25 ft setback reference on the concept plan, and show the western property line. The
note about an iron being removed is confusing and should be removed from the concept plan. No building
height for the sanctuary is provided. The setback increases 2 feet for every 1 foot that the building is over 35
feet tall.
County Engineer
A stormwater management plan and erosion control plan will be required. It is unlikely that this private lane
will meet the private road requirements, which are equivalent to public road requirements for an institutional
use. The drop inlet proposed in the area of the existing drainfield will not be approvable during the site plan
review; hence the applicant may wish to relocate the drop inlet at this time.
Architectural Review Board
No objection.
Inspections Division
No objection.
Health Department
The 6' x 6' manhole over the distribution box is sufficient enough to allow access to the box. The concept
plan shows paved parking proposed over the drainfield, which would require at least 28" of soil cover over
the gravel and underneath the paving.
Comments from each reviewer reflect information available at the time the development proposal was
reviewed, and should not be considered final. However, the Site Review Committee has attempted to
identify all issues which could effect approval of the proposed project.
A copy of the re -submittal schedule is enclosed. It is important to submit all of the information/changes at the
same time. Please provide one reduced size plan (11" X 17") and nine (9) full-sized copes of the Concept Plan
and nine (9) copies of any correspondence. The receptionist in the Community Development Department will
date and stamp the materials and forward them to me for distribution. Please note that the date of the
resubmittal will determine the public hearing schedule.
If you need additional information or need to discuss any of these comments, please give me a call at 434-
296-5823 x3029.
Sincerely,
Eryn Brennan
Senior Planner
Cc: File