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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201000132 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2011-01-31ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #/Name ARB- 2010 -132: Charlottesville Power Equipment — Outdoor Sales/Storage/Display Review Type Advisory Review for a Special Use Permit, Preliminary Review of a Site Plan Amendment Parcel Identification Tax Map 61, Parcel 124F Location 1510 Putt Putt Place, at the northwest corner of the intersection of Putt Putt Place with Rio Road Zoned Highway Commercial (HC), Entrance Corridor (EC) Owner /Applicant L. F. Wood, Jr. and Patricia E. Wood/Charlottesville Power Equipment (Kevin Carson) Magisterial District Rio Proposal To establish outdoor sales, storage and display of equipment in the Entrance Corridor Context The development of this site predates the establishment of Rio Road as an Entrance Corridor. The barn style building has been used in the past as a restaurant. An open field is situated to the west. A bank, mini -golf and storage units are located to the east. The Fashion Square Mall and Aldersgate Church are located across Rio Road to the south. The Arden Place development was recently approved for a location to the north. The Albemarle S uare sho ping center is located to the northwest. Visibility The site is clearly visible from the Rio Road Entrance Corridor. Parking areas are located on the east side of the building (between the building and Putt Putt Place) and to the north (back) of the building. The parking lot is clearly visible to westbound traffic for approximately 300' along the EC, from the bank at the southeast corner of Rio and Putt Putt Place to the Charlottesville Power Equipment building. The parking lot is visible to westbound traffic, but it has less noticeability given that the view is across several lanes of traffic. ARB Meeting Date February 7, 2011 Staff Contact Margaret Maliszewski Project History DATE REVIEW TYPE RESULT 11 -2 -2005 ZTA Rio Road was established as an Entrance Corridor. 12 -17 -2010 SDP - 2010 -92, ARB -2010- 132, SP2010 -58 Minor site plan amendment, ARB application, and Special Use Permit application for Charlottesville Power Equipment outdoor display submitted for review. Relevant Guidelines REF GUIDELINE ISSUE 1 The goal of the regulation of the design of development within the designated The existing development on this site predates the Entrance Corridors is to insure that new development within the corridors establishment of Rio Road as an Entrance Corridor. The reflects the traditional architecture of the area. Therefore, it is the purpose of main building on site has a barn-like roof, but overall it is ARB review and of these Guidelines, that proposed development within the not reflective of the historic architecture of Albemarle designated Entrance Corridors reflect elements of design characteristic of the County. The addition of equipment on display is not significant historical landmarks, buildings, and structures of the Charlottesville expected to increase the historic compatibility. With this and Albemarle area, and to promote orderly and attractive development within proposal, promoting orderly and attractive development these corridors. may be best achieved by not increasing negative visual impacts. Compatibility with the character of the EC 5 It is also an important objective of the Guidelines to establish a pattern of Most of the buildings in this commercial area predate the compatible architectural characteristics throughout the Entrance Corridor in establishment of the EC and are, therefore, not reflective order to achieve unity and coherence. Building designs should demonstrate of the historic architecture of the county. The corridor is sensitivity to other nearby structures within the Entrance Corridor. Where a substantially developed, with the exception of the large lot designated corridor is substantially developed, these Guidelines require striking to the west of the site in question. The balance that is a a careful balance between harmonizing new development with the existing goal of the EC Guidelines may be best achieved here by character of the corridor and achieving compatibility with the significant minimizing additional negative impacts and using historic sites in the area. landscaping to help coordinate the non - conforming site with the overall corridor. Accessory structures and equipment 16 Accessory structures and equipment should be integrated into the overall plan No screening is proposed for display Areas B, C, D or E. of development and shall, to the extent possible, be compatible with the Additional landscaping could help integrate the display building designs used on the site. into the site and the corridor. The storage area behind the building will be screened by an 8' -tall board fence. The 17 The following should be screened to eliminate visibility from the Entrance Corridor street: a. Loading areas, b. Service areas, c. Refuse areas, d. Storage screening fence is not expected to have a negative impact areas, e. Mechanical equipment, f. Above - ground utilities, and g. Chain link on the EC. fence, barbed wire, razor wire, and similar security fencing devices. 18 Screening devices should be compatible with the design of the buildings and surrounding natural vegetation and may consist of: a. Walls, b. Plantings, and c. Fencing. Landscaping 7 Landscaping should promote visual order within the Entrance Corridor and help Adding trees and shrubs in the existing planting areas to integrate buildings into the existing environment of the corridor. could help integrate the site within the overall corridor. 8 Continuity within the Entrance Corridor should be obtained by planting different types of plant materials that share similar characteristics. Such REF GUIDELINE ISSUE common elements allow for more flexibility in the design of structures because common landscape features will help to harmonize the appearance of development as seen from the street upon which the Corridor is centered. 27 Landscaping along the frontage of Entrance Corridor streets should include the This standard EC planting does not exist at this site. The following: area between the patio (Display Area A) and the EC is a. Large shade trees should be planted parallel to the Entrance Corridor Street. landscaped with ornamental grasses, a few trees, and a Such trees should be at least 31/2 inches caliper and should be of a plant species pond. An overhead electric line is located near the Rio common to the area. Such trees should be located at least every 35 feet on Road property line, as is a rail fence. The addition of center. plants in the existing planting area along the EC is not b. Flowering ornamental trees of a species common to the area should be practical. interspersed among the trees required by the preceding paragraph. d. An area of sufficient width to accommodate the foregoing plantings and fencing should be reserved parallel to the Entrance Corridor street, and exclusive of road right -of -way and utility easements. 30 Landscaping of parking areas: The site includes no interior parking lot trees and five a. Trees should align the perimeter of parking areas, located 40 feet on center. perimeter trees spaced at approximately 50' apart. There Trees should be planted in the interior of parking areas at the rate of one tree for appears to be space to add two trees south of the southern every 10 parking spaces provided and should be evenly distributed throughout entrance into the site, although the species would have to the interior of the parking area. be chosen to accommodate the overhead electric lines that b. Trees required by the preceding paragraph should measure 21/2 inches caliper, exist in the vicinity. Small trees or large shrubs might be should be evenly spaced; and should be of a species common to the area. Such added between the existing trees along Display Area D. trees should be planted in planters or medians sufficiently large to maintain the health of the tree and shall be protected by curbing. There are ornamental grasses between the patio and Rio c. Shrubs should be provided as necessary to minimize the parking area's Road; otherwise, no shrubs exist on site. Shrubs could be impact on Entrance Corridor streets. Shrubs should measure 24 inches in height. added in the planting strips along Putt Putt Place to help mitigate the impacts of the proposed display. 31 b. Shrubs should be used to integrate the site, buildings, and other structures; dumpsters, accessory buildings and structures; "drive thru" windows; service areas; and signs. Shrubs should measure at least 24 inches in height. Details of Proposed Display with Comments on Visibility Area Items for Display Location and Anticipated Visibility Issues Recommendations Display Area A Lawn mowers 1329 sf This area is located on the depressed The landscaping and location below the n/a patio that exists on the EC side of the grade of the road are expected to sufficiently building. Plants in the landscaped area limit the impacts of the small lawnmowers to between the patio and Rio Road screen be displayed in this area. the area from view fairly well. Small lawn mowers in this area are not expected to be noticed from the EC. B Golf carts, 602 sf Area B is located closest to the EC. It is Display this close to the EC is not Reserve these areas for large mowers 5'from the property line and 12 -15' appropriate. Area B does sit slightly lower parking. Compensate from the paved road. The area is than the elevation of the EC, but this for the loss of this slightly depressed as viewed from the depression is not sufficient to mitigate its display area by EC. Golf carts in this area will be visual impacts. Planting beyond the increasing the display in visible from the EC. Large mowers, minimum standards is one method for the vicinity of area E, to depending on their size, will also likely helping to mitigate the visual impacts of this the north (back) end of be visible. type of use, but this site does not provide the minimum trees and shrubs required along the the parking row along the building and along C Golf carts 1268 sf Area C occupies the row of parking spaces that runs parallel to Putt Putt corridor and on -site planting area along Area the fenced storage area. Place, between the EC and the first B is limited by overhead electric lines, the Add shrubs and trees in entrance into the site. Golf carts in this location of the existing rail fence, and the grass area at the area will be clearly visible. minimal available distance between the Rio/Putt Putt corner and parking lot and the property line. Planting in the planting strip area at Area C is limited by an overhead along the parking row electric line. labeled Area C. D Golf carts, 3255 sf This area occupies the 180' long This display area will be visible from the EC, Add two small trees or truck trailers, parking row that runs parallel to Putt but its distance from the EC helps reduce large shrubs between miscellaneous Putt Place, between the two entrances impacts. Bringing the perimeter planting at the existing trees in the power into the site. It will be visible from the least up to minimum standards would help planting strip along Putt equipment EC. minimize impacts and would help integrate Putt Place between the the display with the site and corridor. entrances into the site. However, the 50' spacing of the four trees Plant shrubs to form a that already exist in the planting area makes hedge the length of the it difficult to achieve the standard planting planting strip. Plant pattern (40' on center). shrubs at 30" high. E Miscellaneous 137 sf Located along the side of the building addition, the size of this area and the distance n/a equipment between it and the EC are expected to help limit impacts. Summary of Recommendations: To mitigate the visual impacts of the proposed sales /storage /display areas, staff recommends the following changes to the plan: 1. Eliminate display Areas B and C. 2. Additional display area may be shown extending from Area E along the building addition and the east side of the fenced loading dock/storage area. 3. Add one tree in the planting strip between Putt Putt Place and the parking row labeled "Area C" and one tree in the planting area between the rows labeled "Area B" and "Area C ". These trees should be a species whose mature height is coordinated with the overhead electric lines and should be planted at a minimum of 31/2" caliper (if reasonable for the species). Provide the height of the overhead lines. 4. Add three small trees or large shrubs between the existing trees in the planting strip along Display Area D. 5. Add shrubs in the planting strips between the parking lot and Putt Putt Place, including the corner at the intersection with Rio Road. The shrubs should be a mix of species and should include evergreen shrubs, but may also include deciduous species. The shrubs should be a minimum of 30" high at planting and should be spaced to form a hedge at maturity. 6. Add this note to the plan: All site plantings of trees and shrubs shall be allowed to reach, and be maintained at, mature height; the topping of trees is prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall be pruned minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant. When a revised plan satisfactorily illustrating these changes is received, staff can recommend approval of the Special Use Permit, with the following conditions: 1. Equipment shall be displayed only in Areas A, D and E shown on the plan entitled "Proposed Conditions Tax Map 61 Parcel 12417" prepared by Roudabush, Gale & Associates, Inc., revised date XXXX. 2. The site shall be landscaped as illustrated on the same plan. 3. Display items shall not be elevated anywhere on site. 4. Balloons, banners, signs and/or other similar items shall not be placed on, around or near equipment on display. 5. Items stored in the fenced storage area shall not rise above the height of the fence.