HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP201000053 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2011-02-04ALB���
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COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, Room 227
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 -4596
Phone (434) 296 -5832 Fax (434) 972 -4126
February 4, 2010
Bill Atwood
250 West Main Street, #100
Charlottesville, VA 22902
RE: SP201000053, South Plains Presbyterian Church
Dear Mr. Atwood:
Thank you for your recent application to amend an existing special use permit for the church to allow removal
of the existing 19th - century manse. The members of the County's Site Review Committee have reviewed the
development proposal referenced above and preliminary comments are included below.
Planning Division
Staff has no objection to the removal of the manse. However, staff would recommend that planting the screening
trees along the rear property line as shown on the current approved site plan be a condition of approval before the
demolition permit for manse could be approved.
Division of Zoning and Current Development
1. There should be a new tree protection plan provided for the demolition activity if the demolition is
approved.
2. Given that the historic manse is visible from adjacent properties and was expected to remain in the
original approval, the screening trees (58) shown on the approved site plan along the rear property line
and the nine (9) evergreens that have been removed since construction started should be planted prior to
the demolition of the manse. This would be a total of sixty -seven (67) evergreen trees.
3. The site plan will need to be amended to reflect this Special Use Permit request if it is approved. The
amendment would be processed as a minor.
Historic Preservation Planner
The 1870s rectory is a contributing resource to the Southwest Mountains Rural Historic District and,
therefore, it should not be demolished. However, the large Fellowship Hall addition approved on May 24,
2009 obscures the view of the rectory from important locations on the site, and it changes the relationship of
the rectory to the historic church and the site. Consequently, the value of the building as a contributing
resource has been diminished.
SP 2010 -53, South Plains Presbyterian Church 2
The Historic Preservation Committee has provided the following comments: "The manse should be
documented before it is demolished. Documentation should include digital photographs and drawings of the
floor plans and elevations with measurements."
Given the proximity of mature trees to the manse, it also should be clarified as to whether demolition of the
manse would require removal of any additional trees on the site. With this additional information, more
comments may be provided.
Alternatives are as follows, in order of preference.
1. Relocate the rectory to an alternate location on the site.
2. Relocate the rectory to an off -site location.
3. Document the building and offer any available materials for salvage prior to demolition.
The applicant has indicated that there is no alternate location available on site for the manse and that the
building was made available for moving, but the offer was not accepted.
Recommendations are as follows:
1. Provide documentation detailing the efforts made to offer the manse for moving.
2. Document the manse. Documentation should be undertaken by a qualified architectural historian.
Documentation should include, at a minimum, detailed digital photographs of both the interior and exterior,
and drawings of the floor plans and elevations with measurements. Copies of the documentation should be
provided to the County. Following receipt of the documentation by the County, a demolition permit may be
approved.
3. If trees are damaged or destroyed by the demolition of the manse, replacement trees shall be required.
County Engineer
No objection.
Architectural Review Board
The Fellowship Hall obscures a majority of the manse as viewed from the EC. Given the limited visibility,
removal of the manse is not expected to have an adverse impact on the EC and it would not constitute a
substantial change in design. Consequently, additional ARB review is not required.
Building Inspection
No objection.
Virginia Department of Transportation
1. No objection to the removal of the manse.
2. Prior VDOT comments addressed the existing entrance. It is expected that the church is still planning
phase H to replace the parking lot and upgrade the entrances to the current standard. If no additional work
is planned for the parking lot, the entrances need to be upgraded to the current standard.
Fire and Rescue Division
Must comply with the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. Final approval is subject to field inspection and
verification.
SP 2010 -53, South Plains Presbyterian Church
3
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.
If you need additional information or need to discuss any of these comments, please give me a call at
434/296 -5832 x 3029. A copy of the schedule for resubmittal of plans /information/materials is enclosed for
your convenience. All applications can be found at the following link -
http: / /www.albemarle.or /g deptforms .asp ?department= cdapps. Please include a letter indicating how all the
Site Review Committee comments have been addressed.
Sincerely,
Eryn Brennan
Senior Planner
Cc: File
Ron Higgins (via email)
Bill Fritz (via email)
Glenn Brooks (via email)
Margaret Maliszewski (via email)