HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP201100011 Review Comments Site Plan Waiver 2011-03-18A7;
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County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
Memorandum
From: Max Greene, Current Development engineering review
Glenn Brooks, County Engineer
Date: 10 Mar 2011
Subject: Blue Ridge Swimming Pool Club (SDP201100011) Site Plan Waiver Request- Design Standards
Design Standards are to be utilized for this site. The designer will research the previously approved requirements of
rural churches to emulate their designs for grass parking areas delineated with wooden posts. Due to the unknown
amount of grading required, a waiver of the Design Standards is not approved.
Typically, parking lots in the rural areas for institutional or commercial -like uses have been granted waivers from
the standards of the Zoning Ordinance (section 32, 4.12, etc.). These waivers, processed through the Planning
Commission and the Board of Supervisors, have been for the use of gravel in the lot, and delineation of spaces using
signs or bumper blocks. The grades and standard entrance improvements have typically not varied from those found
in a standard parking lot which complies with the ordinance. Similarly, stormwater management collection and
settling or treatment is typically provided as with any other site, in particular keeping in mind that gravel lots tend to
washout frequently when placed on a grade.
In this case, the proposed parking area appears to be an open field with gravel paths through it, and timbers placed in
the grass. It is not clear if grading is involved, or how much, but it appears necessary at the edges. This is more
than the typical gravel lot as explained above. It would effectively lower the bar in what the county is willing to
accept in lieu of a parking lot for a rural use. County staff is not comfortable granting this sort of waiver(s)
administratively.
file: EI_psp_MRG_Site plan Waiver.doc