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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP201000022 Review Comments Preliminary Site Plan 2010-04-20�$�oF A COUNTY OF ALBEA ARLE Department of Community: Development 401 McIntire Road, North Wing Charlottesville, Virginia .22902 -4596 Phone (434).296-5832 Fax (434) 972 -4176 April 20, 2010 Mr. Scott Collins Collins Engineering 800 E. Jefferson Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 RE: SDP .2010-022 Hollymeade Town Center Apartments — Preliminary Site Plan . Dear Scott: You asked for my comments concerning a possible dedication of greenway land and trail in exchange for a density bonus for the project referenced above. You also asked about whether an interconnection to Willow Glen was necessary. Community Development staff has conducted .a -field inspection of the site, consulted -the existing and proposed County greenway plans, reviewed nearby rezoning plans, and discussed the .potential -for a greenway at this location with Parks and Recreation staff. At present, staff cannot support the request for.a density bonus as requested on SDP .2010 22. The reasons are as follows 1. The area proposed-to be dedicated is not shown on the existing Comprehensive Plan-for a greenway nor on the Places .29 Plan. You have asked us to consider the dedication because potentially, this greenway could connect into a County greenway system. 2. The northern part of the area proposed-for dedicated contains a stream and some-trees. of varying size and age; however, -the area proposed to be dedicated along the eastern property boundary is narrow and has no features-that -would suggest a county benefit. It is proposed as a ten foot cleared greenway that would adjacent to a parking lot and the .back yards of townhouses. '3. The proposed ten -foot greenway along the eastern boundary parallels a-public sidewalk on the adjacent lot, in front of townhouses, suggesting thattwo. parallel public -paths might not be needed. 4. Such a connection would require additional off -site dedication-to actually connect into a County greenway. 5. Parks and Recreation staff were consulted .as-to-the appropriateness of this trail to be added to -the :public greenway system. 'They are unable to recommend . acceptance because-the ,greenway is not recommended on any County�plans. In.: addition, -the only purpose for -the portion of the-trail in the proposed 710 =foot easement.alon.g -the .propegy line is to provide -a connection to-the public street. A pedestrian connection -to the -public street is already shown .on the.approved plan for Willow Glen. Parks and Recreation .staff has :said that the trail would have a low priority on the list of greenway trails-for the County-to accept. 6. If the Board were to accept the dedication,, staff would recommend that a wider easement adjacent to the property line be provided to allow for some landscaping and screening between the apartment buildings and parking and the property line. County staff has also considered whether the road interconnection to Willow Glen which would cross the creek on the northern boundary of the property is advantageous-to the :plan. Interconnections are a goal of the County Comprehensive Plan and are required in the subdivision ordinance for the Development Areas. Staff notes that a density bonus identified in Section 18.4.2. of the.Zoning Ordinance might be achieved if a up blic street were provided through -the development-to the stub -out on the northern boundary with Willow Glen. Such a street would require redesign of the development. This public street could connect the mobile home park with Willow Glen. In order for this street to be built, a stream crossing would have:to take place which will involve intensive engineering. A similar stream crossing has been approved nearby in the Willow, Glen development which took1wo years for approval. The creek bed will experience some degradation with this crossing. It is possible that-the environmental impacts might outweigh the benefits of the interconnection. However, if you were to propose a public street interconnection at this location, Current -Development staff might be able-to support .a density bonus. Elizabeth Marotta is the site planner on this project and if you should to speak-to her about the interconnection and density bonus. If a redesign of the site is.pursued, the front of,the °site and corresponding streetscape could be improved with all buildings fronting the street and :parking behind the buildings. Such a redesign might require a change in building type and a different grading plan. I recognize-that this may not be desirable by-the owner. I only offer it as a suggestion. Thank youfor the opportunity to comment on this site plan. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, �w lc Elaine K. Echols, AICP Principal Planner-for the Development Areas C: 'Elizabeth Marotta, Senior Planner Amy Pflaum, Senior Engineer.