Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCP201400002 Review Comments Comprehensive Plan Consistency 2014-08-01County of Albemarle Department of Community Development 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22902 Phone 434 - 296 -5832 Fax 434 - 972 -4126 Initial comments on how the proposal generally relates to the Comprehensive Plan are provided below. Comments on conformity with the Comprehensive Plan are provided to the Planning Commission as part of the staff report. The proposal to locate a regional firearms training facility on the Milton Airport site is supported by the Milton Airport Area "B" Study that was completed in 1994. The recommendations of the study were to continue to maintain current uses on site including the outdoor firing range. The study recognized the noise generated by this use, but felt that continuing the use was acceptable. The proposal to construct an indoor facility and discontinue the outdoor range improves upon the existing use by decreasing the noise impacts. The study also recommends maintaining the existing vegetative buffer along Milton Road to lessen the impacts on adjacent residences. The concept plan for the proposed use shows a significant vegetative buffer to be maintained along Milton Road. Locating this public facility within the Rural Areas is supported by the Comprehensive Plan's general principles for community facilities. The principles state that a public facility may be allowed in the Rural Area in cases where it is not reasonably possible to locate such facilities in the Development Area due to physical constraints, the nature of the facility or services to be provided. Locating a firing range in the Development Area may not be appropriate due to the nature of the facility and impacts and perceptions associated with firing ranges. Though the proposed facility will be indoors, it could be problematic to locate this facility in within the Development Area due to concerns of noise and safety. The Comprehensive Plan further states that when analyzing sites to locate new service facilities, priority should be given to expansion or reuse of existing facilities. Utilizing the site of UVA's existing outdoor firing range will provide an improved indoor firing range and will ultimately have less noise impacts to neighboring properties than the existing outdoor facility. The Comprehensive Plan also provides for service objectives of the Police Department. It recommends that the Police Department provide or insure availability of firing range training facilities. The draft plan recommends a centrally located training facility to provide access for all regional members. The proposed firing range is convenient to County, City and University partners. One of staff's main concerns with the proposal is the facility's visual impact on the Rural Area. The site sits along the Rivanna River which is a state designated scenic river. The Comprehensive Plan calls for the river corridor to be developed into a greenway trail that will provide opportunities for recreational uses along the river. The proposed 20,000 square foot building is uphill from the river and would likely be visible from spots along the river and could degrade the scenic quality of the area. The facility will Memorandum To: Neale Craft From: Rachel Falkenstein, Senior Planner Division: Planning Date: August 1, 2014 Subject: CCP201400002 Regional Firearms Training Center Fax 434 - 972 -4126 Initial comments on how the proposal generally relates to the Comprehensive Plan are provided below. Comments on conformity with the Comprehensive Plan are provided to the Planning Commission as part of the staff report. The proposal to locate a regional firearms training facility on the Milton Airport site is supported by the Milton Airport Area "B" Study that was completed in 1994. The recommendations of the study were to continue to maintain current uses on site including the outdoor firing range. The study recognized the noise generated by this use, but felt that continuing the use was acceptable. The proposal to construct an indoor facility and discontinue the outdoor range improves upon the existing use by decreasing the noise impacts. The study also recommends maintaining the existing vegetative buffer along Milton Road to lessen the impacts on adjacent residences. The concept plan for the proposed use shows a significant vegetative buffer to be maintained along Milton Road. Locating this public facility within the Rural Areas is supported by the Comprehensive Plan's general principles for community facilities. The principles state that a public facility may be allowed in the Rural Area in cases where it is not reasonably possible to locate such facilities in the Development Area due to physical constraints, the nature of the facility or services to be provided. Locating a firing range in the Development Area may not be appropriate due to the nature of the facility and impacts and perceptions associated with firing ranges. Though the proposed facility will be indoors, it could be problematic to locate this facility in within the Development Area due to concerns of noise and safety. The Comprehensive Plan further states that when analyzing sites to locate new service facilities, priority should be given to expansion or reuse of existing facilities. Utilizing the site of UVA's existing outdoor firing range will provide an improved indoor firing range and will ultimately have less noise impacts to neighboring properties than the existing outdoor facility. The Comprehensive Plan also provides for service objectives of the Police Department. It recommends that the Police Department provide or insure availability of firing range training facilities. The draft plan recommends a centrally located training facility to provide access for all regional members. The proposed firing range is convenient to County, City and University partners. One of staff's main concerns with the proposal is the facility's visual impact on the Rural Area. The site sits along the Rivanna River which is a state designated scenic river. The Comprehensive Plan calls for the river corridor to be developed into a greenway trail that will provide opportunities for recreational uses along the river. The proposed 20,000 square foot building is uphill from the river and would likely be visible from spots along the river and could degrade the scenic quality of the area. The facility will also be visible from some lots across the river in the Glenmore neighborhood. Efforts to screen the property year round will help mitigate the negative visual impacts. The Rural Area plan calls for promotion and protection of farms, forests and natural and scenic resources. The proposed indoor facility does not directly support these Rural Area uses; however it is an improvement on the current outdoor range and will have fewer negative impacts on the surrounding area, as long as visual impacts can be properly mitigated. Staff does not expect noise to be an issue with the indoor firing range based on the applicant's goals to meet or exceed the County's noise ordinance. The sound study should help determine the noise impacts with more specificity. There may also be impacts to historic resources in the area. See attached comments from Margaret Maliszewski. Please contact Rachel Falkenstein in the Planning Division by using rfalkenstein @albemarle.org or 434 -296- 5832 ext. 3272 for further information.