HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP201100006 Review Comments Critical Slope Waiver 2011-03-22*-&A
County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
Memorandum
To: Gerald Gatobu, Current Development planning and zoning review
From: Phil Custer, Current Development engineering review
Date: 22 March 2011
Subject: Walton Middle School Cell Tower (SDP-2011-00006) Critical Slope Waiver Request
The critical slope waiver request has been reviewed. The engineering analysis of the request follows:
Description of critical slope area and proposed disturbance:
The critical slope area being disturbed appears to be a man -made "cut" embankment first created with the
construction of Red Hill Road. The disturbance of this slope is for the construction of the proposed
entrance. The slope is approximately 3ft tall at 30 %.
Areas
Acres
Total site
50.0 acres
Critical slopes
5.98 acres
12.0% of site
Critical slopes disturbed
0.007 acres
0.1% of critical slopes
Exemptions to critical slopes waivers for driveways, roads and utilities without reasonable
alternative locations:
This disturbance is not exempt.
Compliance with Zoning Ordinance 18 -4.2:
"movement of soil and rock"
The proposed disturbance is less than 10,000sf and does not require an erosion and sediment control
plan.
"excessive stormwater runoff'
Stormwater runoff will be minimally increased with this development.
"siltation"
The proposed disturbance is less than 10,000sf and does not require an erosion and sediment control
plan.
"loss of aesthetic resource"
Generally, roadside embankments such as this one is not considered an aesthetic resource.
"septic effluent"
The applicant has not identified a septic field within the limits of disturbance. The tower facilities will
not require any septic treatment.
Disturbance to critical slopes could be minimized or eliminated if the entrance was moved approximately
30ft to the northwest. The applicant has stated in the waiver request that VDOT would prefer the current
location of the proposed driveway when asked about an entrance to the tower closer to the existing school
entrance. This claim is correct but it should be noted that a closer entrance to the schools entrance would
likely not be prohibited, just discouraged, by VDOT. An entrance closer to the school's entrance would
result in more disturbance and overall imperviousness being added to the site. The two options are
generally comparable in regard to their environmental impacts.