HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP201100012 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2011-05-18k�
County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
Memorandum
To: Eryn Brennan, Senior Planner
From: Rebecca Ragsdale, Senior Planner
Division: Zoning
Date: May 25, 2011
Subject: SP 2011 -12 Locally Grown - Festival of Organic Proportions
I have reviewed this initial submittal, including the narrative and concept plan provided by the
applicant with their April 18, 2011 special use permit. I have a few comments and suggestions based
on that submittal and our site visit of May 13, 2011.
The proposal appears to address the applicable ordinance requirements found in Section 5.1.27 for
Temporary Events Sponsored by a Non - profit organization, which are permitted by Special Use
Permit in the Rural Areas in Section 10.2.2.42. Temporary events sponsored by local nonprofit
organizations which are related to, and supportive of the RA, rural areas, district. The applicant
provided information in their submittal that referenced Section 5.1.43.C(3) for Special Events but it
appears the use meets the requirements for qualifying as a use under 10.2.2.42.
The supplemental regulations in 5.1.27 for the use are listed below along with zoning comments
where needed. Most of these regulations will be addressed by the Planning and other agency review
of this application.
5.1.27 TEMPORARY EVENTS SPONSORED BY LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
This provision is intended to regulate for purposes of public health, safety and welfare, major events such as agricultural
expositions, concerts, craft fairs, and similar activities which generally: attract large numbers of patrons; may be disruptive
of the area; and occasion the need for planning in regard to traffic control, emergency vehicular access, health concerns and
the like. The provision is not intended to regulate such minor events as church bazaars, yard sales, bake sales, car washes,
picnics and the like which generally are not disruptive of the area and require only minimal logistical planning; nor is it
intended to permit permanent amusement facilities. Each such event shall be sponsored by one or more not - for - profit
organizations operating primarily in the county and/or the city of Charlottesville.
No event shall extend for a period longer than that provided by the board of supervisors in the conditions of the
special use permit. A separate special use permit shall be required for each event.
The special use permit approval should address whether this event is approved for one -time
only or if it is approved for future years. Otherwise, if it is not addressed, a separate special
use permit is required each year. A zoning clearance application will be required for each
event along with final ABC, Health Department, VDOT, ACPD, ACFR (for WARS and CVFD)
approvals verified.
Special use permits may be issued by the board of supervisors pursuant to this section, upon finding:
a. That the public roads serving the site are adequate to accommodate the traffic which would be expected to be
generated by such event;
VDOT and the County Engineer will review and comment on adequacy of public roads.
b. That the character of such use will be in harmony with the public health, safety and welfare, and uses permitted
by right in the district and will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property in terms of smoke, dust, noise,
hours of operation, artificial lighting or other specific identifiable conditions which may be deleterious to the
existing uses of such property.
Except as the board of supervisors may expressly add or delete conditions in a particular case, each such permit
shall be subject to the following conditions:
a. A preliminary plan showing access, parking, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, and method of separation of
the same shall be approved by the director of planning;
A preliminary plan meeting ordinance requirements has been provided.
b. Such organization shall have made adequate arrangements with the county sheriff, fire and rescue squads, and
the local office of the Virginia Department of Health for the conduct of such event;
The applicant has indicated that they will be coordinating with VDOT, VDH, ACPD. ACFR will
be a reviewer commenting on this application. Any of requirements of these agencies should
be made a condition of special use permit approval which will then be verified with the zoning
clearance approval prior to the event.
c. Adequate arrangements have been made for the removal of trash and debris, reseeding and general restoration of
the site following the event. The board of supervisors may establish and require the posting of a bond in an amount
deemed by the zoning administrator to be sufficient for such purpose.
This requirement can be addressed with a special use permit condition of approval, similar to
the conditions of approval with SP 2009 -16.
Concept Plan comments -
The layout for the event shown on the concept plan seems to be appropriate for the site but I have
several comments.
Fence line- The barbed wire fence
line is not shown on the concept
plan and I think it is important to
note the location of the fence line
on the concept plan for staff visiting
the site to make zoning inspections.
Also, for safety reasons, during the
event consideration should be given
to marking the . I think it would be
helpful to
Entrance /exit- There is no
information on the plat or deed
provided for the proposed
entrance /exit from Rt. 614 /Sugar
Hollow Road shown on the concept
plan. I think it is important for the
applicant to demonstrate that they
have permission /rights to use this
as the entrance /exit for the festival
so that there are no issues with
neighbors who also use the gravel
drive from Rt. 614.
Parking- Section 4.12.6 of the
ordinance has a parking calculation for special events:
One (1) space per two and one -half (2.5) participants, plus one (1) space per employee (includes staff,
caterers, musicians and vendors).
The applicant has proposed up to 700 attendees for the festival. Using that calculation about, 280
spaces should be provided for that many attendees plus spaces for event /vendor staff. Parking is
shown in a location on the concept plan that can accommodate the required parking; however, it may
exceed the size of the "parking" square shown on the plan. The applicant should plan for using a
larger area than what is shown on the concept plan for parking.
Since it will be temporary field parking, spaces do not have to be defined but a few signs that indicate
where the parking area is provided should be on -site the day of the event. The concept plan should be
revised or described with a condition of approval to clarify that parking may be permitted throughout
the field. (See yellow box to right.) The location of the ticket tables should be adjusted accordingly on
the concept plan to allow for the larger parking area that will likely be needed with up to 700
attendees.
Noise- Section 4.18 of the Zoning Ordinance addresses noise. The music festival is proposed as a
daytime event and "daytime" is defined in the ordinance as a period of a day beginning at 7:OOa.m.
and ending at 10:00p.m. Maximum sound levels for a daytime in the Rural Areas Zoning district is 60
dBA as measured no closer to the sound source than the property lines of the adjoining property lines.
A modification or waiver to this requirement may be requested under Section 4.18.07.