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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP201200010 Legacy Document 2013-02-06 (2)Citizen Opposition for the Sieg SP 1. Joel and Michele Mangham TMP 06300 -00 -00 -02800 901 HAMMOCKS GAP RD 179 acre lot adjacent to the Sieg's property Method of Contact — email (see attached email dated 1 -29 -13 and PDF dated 1- 23 -13) 2. Aaron and Ingrid Zeisler TMP 06300= 00- 00 -030F0 2742 LONESOME MOUNTAIN RD 21 acre lot in the same neighborhood as the Sieg's property Method of Contact — email (see attached email dated 2 -5 -13) 3. Judith Sommer Concerned citizen of Albemarle County. Method of Contact — email (see attached email dated 2 -5 -13) 4. Jonathan and Ann Lyttle TMP 06300 -00 -00 -00300 2737 LONESOME MOUNTAIN RD 2.3 acre lot in the same neighborhood as the Sieg's property Method of Contact — email (see attached email dated 2 -5 -13) 5. Ann Mallik Farmer and rural area resident Method of Contact — email (see attached email dated 1- 30 -13) 6. Len Mailloux, CRS, Associate Broker Better Homes and Gardens.. Real Estate III representing James and Maria Rinaldi TMP 06300- 00- 00 -029A1 2819 Lonesome Mountain Rd 5 acre lot adjacent to the Sieg's property Method of Contact — phone call 2 -5 -13 (Plans to speak at public hearing in opposition of the Sieg SP) 7. Eric and Christine Schrank TMP 06300- 00- 00 -029A2 1345 Hammocks Gap Road 5 acre lot adjacent to the Sieg's property Method of Contact — phone call 2 -5 -13 (Plans to speak at public hearing in opposition of the Sieg SP) Christopher Perez From: Joel Mangham [Joel @manghamassociates.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 1:18 PM To: Christopher Perez Cc: info @wool.us; Joel Mangham . Subject: Our recommendation regarding Attachments: Mang ham responsetoSeig.pdf . Dear Mr. Perez: I just wanted to send this o to you regarding the Seig Special Events Special Use Permit application. In addition to the staffs' view that the permit would create a hazardous traffic situation, we believe it would have adverse impacts on the character of the neighborhood and would have specific adverse impacts on abutting property. Thank you for considering our views on this permit. Best regards, Joel Mangham and Michele Mangham 1 901 Hammocks Gap Road Charlottesville, VA 22911 January 23, 2013 Albemarle Board of Supervisors Department of Community Development County of Albemarle 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, _VA_22902 Dear Sirs and Madams: We would like to express our opposition to the Special Use Permit for Seig Special Events (SP201200010). We believe that the approval of this permit would reduce the value of our property, which adjoins the Seig property, would inhibit our ability to make a farming income, would degrade the rural character of the surrounding countryside and would represent a hazard because of over -use of dangerous roads and inadequate size and buffering of the Seig property. We urge the county Board of Supervisors to vote "No" to the Seig Special Events Special Use Permit. 1. Approving the special use permit would reduce the value of our property because it allows an intrusive commercial venture within feet of our property line. The staff report concludes that: "The nearly 11 acre property provides ample visual buffering through existing and proposed landscape buffers along the Northern and Southern property lines." We strongly disagree. Our property is a 190 acre farm on the east side of the Seig property. Our boundary with the Seig property represents about half of Seig's entire property line. Seig's house and proposed commercial celebrations would be as close as 40 feet from our property line and in clear sight of our house and much of our farm (see Figure 1). The Seig house enjoys a spectacular view eastward of our farm and beyond. Seig has advertised "Superb SW Mountain views" [Fine Properties, Vol 18, issue 1, 2012]. It appears that the view toward our farm is a major attraction for prospective parry- goers. In turn, the Seig house is a prominent part of our view toward the west. Activities at the Seig house are on conspicuous display from our farm — as if on a stage (see Figure 2). The Special use Permit would allow commercial parties and celebrations with up to 180 people at each event to occur every weekend for half the year within feet of our property and in prominent display to much of our farm, degrading our peace and quiet, degrading our view, and degrading the rural qualities we expect in our neighborhood. Seig would be exploiting his property's view of our farm at our expense, and degrading the value of our property to serve his commercial interests. Department of Community Development January 23, 2013 Page 2 of 4 AGRICOLTURALlORCGTAL Mmtcr. t ih f~L 7� J 71f a. PARKNGAISEES,P; PARKING SPACES:e' W. V. f 1' T'i•, M' .• 3v CPOSW TOMATCN EXISTING EVERGREENR 1PWTNGi LIGSNINGINTORMATIDN 51EG PROM 7YCONCEPWAL PLAN ADEMAR1f COUNTY 7itY1JN' 63 ZON7N'G -RURAL Al'E!3 J22, , 2 2012 1 _ COLLINS CHGINEERiNG NO7C4RA55 PARK17:GAR[AS 511ALLOC RCSClMDYURLY -. ORAS DETERMIN[DOYZONA'4 NISTRATO (>) ( Ld GL 2ETTSL434.,SU(lPK AX411- 15,0366 E, VA 22901 TC7_A3i 2'>J 3%19 FAA SSI2i5Wfi0 Figure 1: Shared boundary with Seig (red). Seig's house is prominent from much of our farm (arrows). Note that the boundary is inaccurately mapped in places — the proposed buffer on the SE side is actually located on Mangham property. Figure 2: Our property line (the fence line) is immediately in front of Seig's house and within 40 feet of the proposed special events tent site. The Seig house is prominently visible from our house and much of our farm. Department of Community Development January 23, 2013 Page 3 of 4 2. The Seig Special Use Permit would create a hazard for our farm and would reduce our ability to earn an income. The proximity of our farming endeavors to the Seig commercial party and celebration site would likely present a hazard to our livestock. We farm sheep, goats, horses, donkeys -and -other animals on- our pastures -that adjoin Seig's property. The — celebrations and parties at the proposed site would be numerous (up to 180 people every weekend for 24 weekends). It is likely that alcohol would be served at most of these events, if not all. It seems unlikely that participants in celebrations and parties at the proposed site would all confine themselves to the Seig property. We would expect some participants would be tempted to lean over the fence to pet guard dogs, other animals or feed animals. Others might be tempted to ride a donkey or a horse. Careless or inebriated guests might drop cigarette butts, bottles or broken glass in our pasture; creating hazards for our animals (see Figure 3). A guest might attempt to ride a horse. Another might get kicked. The difficulty of using the pasture in light of these hazards would increase our costs and reduce our farming income. As an "attractive nuisance," we could even see our insurance premiums increase. Figure 3: Our farming activities are adjacent to the Seig property line, within feet of the proposed site for commercial parties and celebrations. 3. Approval of the Seig Special Use Permit would create a hazard for motorists and neighbors. Department of Community Development January 23, 2013 Page 4 of 4 In addition to the hazards described above, we believe that approval of the permit would create a hazard for motorists and nuisance for neighbors. The staff report identifies: "Potential safety issues associated with increased traffic at the intersection of Rte 20 and Rte 612, which lacks adequate sight distance to current VDOT standards." We also believe that the increased traffic on Hammocks Gap Road, which is a single lane, unpaved, county road, would be hazardous and in dry months would create congestion and dust, impinging on the --- peacefiil- tise -of- all- Seig - -s- neighbors'– properties - - -- -- - - -- - -- - — Thank you for your consideration. Please vote "No" to the Seig Special Events Special Use Permit. Sincerely, Joel and Michele Mangham Christooher Perez From: Aaron M. Zeisler [azeisler @gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 11:48 AM To: Christopher Perez Cc: Ingrid Zeisler Subject: Opposition. to Special Use Permit for SP201200010, Sieg Special Events Attachments: Ltr to C Perez 2013- 02- 05.pdf Dear Mr. Perez, Unfortunately, neither my wife nor I will be able to attend the Planning Commission public hearing tonight concerning the Sieg Special Use Permit application, which we oppose. Would you kindly consider the attached letter, and submit it to the Planning Commission for their consideration: Thanks and kind regards, Aaron and Ingrid Zeisler 1 Aaron and Ingrid Zeisler 2740 Lonesome Mountain Road Charlottesville, VA 22911 February 5; 2013 Via E -Mail: cperez @albemarle.org Planning Commission c/o Christopher P. Perez, Senior Planner Department of Community Development County of Albemarle 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Re: Opposition to Special Use Permit -- SP201200010, Sieg Special Events Dear Sirs and Madams: We write to express our opposition to the Sieg Special Events Special Use Permit (SP201200010). Among other things, we believe that approval of the Sieg Special Events venue will: (1) create traffic congestion and hazardous traffic situations, (2) increase noise and create .a nuisance, and (3) degrade the character of the neighborhood. 1. The Sieg's Proposed Use Would Have Adverse Impacts on Roads and Would Create Dangerous Traffic Situations We have grave concerns about the (a) traffic dangers, and (b) traffic congestion on Route 20 (Stony Point Road) and the points of ingress and egress at both Route 612 Hammocks Gap Road (the proposed site entrance) and Route 610 Lonesome Mountain Road, which are only a few hundred feet away from each other. - The Staff Summary Report clearly states on page 4 that: "Currently the onsite entrance (onto Rte 612) lacks the required sight distance to meet VDOT standards for a commercial entrance." Moreover, the Report states: The most significant potential traffic impact of the use is related to the existing intersection of Stony Point Road (Rte 20) and Hammocks Gap Road (Rte 612). This intersection does not have adequate sight distance to meet VDOT standards (limited sight distance looking to the right (North) on Rte 20 due to a horizontal and vertical curve). VDOT, the Police, and the County Engineer have reviewed the intersection with consideration of the use and each find it to be a potential safety hazard to increase traffic at this intersection. (p. 4). We noticed that the Report did not consider or mention the impact on Lonesome Mountain Road (Rte 610), which is on the opposite side of the same curved, hilly blind -spot referenced above. See Map attached hereto (Exhibit B from the Report — our house is located at February 5, 2013 Page 2 Parcel 63 -30F). We can confirm that trying to turn in or out of these roads is already treacherous at times, and we expect that the bottleneck of an additional. 99 cars and /or buses on any given night —along with any added driver any of attempting to make it on time for a 5pm wedding — would only increase the danger and traffic congestion. Hammocks Gap Road is a poor and hazardous choice for any commercial venture, but especially a wedding and wine /beer tasting venue where the guests are, by the nature of the events, likely to be consuming alcohol. We would kindly ask any Planning Commission or Board- of Supervisor member who was considering voting in favor of the Special Permit to drive these intersections at 5pm on a Friday night and attempt to make turns onto and off of Route .612 (Hammocks Gap Road) and Route 610 (Lonesome Mountain Road). One can only imagine 99 cars or more trying to make the same turns at the same time (in addition to the regular traffic flow on Route 20). Even with the Sieg's proposed traffic helpers, we believe that the added congestion and danger to drivers on Route 20 would be significant. 2. The Sieg's Proposed Use Would Create A Nuisance Where None Exists The current neighborhood is quiet with large tracts of open space. We oppose the Sieg's proposed 24 special events with 180 people (150 guests and 30 staff) who will use the house and "two outdoor tent locations" for wedding events and beer /wine tasting. See Staff Summary Report, p. 2. The noise from 180 people in the outdoor tents (which "are planned to run until l 1pm ") will undoubtedly exceed the decibel levels that the neighborhood is zoned for and, given the topography (see attached map), we will be affected because we are in ear -shot of the Sieg site. Moreover, the 24 events will most likely occur in the warmer weather months on weekends. Under the proposal, there is no restriction on outdoor, non - amplified music from acoustic guitars, jazz bands or other entertainment, and the music, talking, cheering and /or partying — whether indoors or out — will easily carry in such a quiet neighborhood. Moreover, the added traffic noise from delivery trucks (which can occur between Sam and IOpm) and the arrival of as many as 99 cars (excluding buses) will only add to the unwanted noise. We both work hard during the week, and we would like to be able to enjoy our property on the weekends. The Sieg events will interfere with our use and enjoyment. 3. There Would Be an Adverse Impact on the Character of the Neighborhood In reading the Staff Summary Report, we also noticed the statement that: "The land uses supported by the Rural Areas chapter of the Comprehensive Plan include agriculture, forestry, and conservation. The proposed special events do not directly contribute to these land uses, but also do not directly negatively impact these land uses." (p. 3, emphasis added). February 5, 2013 Page 3 To the contrary, we believe that a wedding and wine /beer tasting venue with two outdoor tents and 150 guests. (excluding truck deliveries) for 24 weekends per year will have an adverse impact on the Plan and the residential, agricultural and conservation characteristics of the neighborhood. Again, the noise pollution alone from the increased traffic, partying and music will negatively impact the existing land uses and change the calm, rural conditions that exist. There are currently no such commercial venues in the neighborhood, and we respectfully oppose the creation of one through the Sieg Special Events Special Use Permit. Thank you for your consideration of these issues. Very truly yours, Aaron and Ingrid Zeisler v 3 P W N N Christopher Perez From: Wayne Cilimberg Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 10:28 AM To: Christopher Perez; David Benish Subject: FW: DENY Sieg special use permit - FYI: - - - -- Original Message=--- - From: The Sommers .[mailto:wsommerOnexet.net] Sent Tuesday, February 05, 2013 10:26 AM To: Planning Commission Subject: DENY Sieg special use permit Dear Planning Commission members, There is nothing in the Sieg Special Use Permit application that remotely resembles an agricultural use or a connection to support of an an agricultural enterprise. It is purely for commercial non- agricultural gain and they should be looking for site zoned commercial, not rural agricultural. I trust that you will deny the Sieg application because it has: (1) adverse impacts on the character of the neighborhood; (2) adverse impacts on roads; and (3) adverse impacts on abutting property. Sincerely, Judith Sommer Keswick, VA i Christooher Perez From: Jonathan Lyttle Donathan.lyttle @gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 2:20 PM To: Christopher Perez Cc: Ann Lyttle Subject: Special Events Application SP 20120001.0 Attachments: Sieg SP201200010.docx Dear Mr. Perez, Please consider the attached letter pertaining to the Sieg application for Special Event Permit and submit it to the Planning Commission for their consideration. Respectfully, Jonathan and Ann Lyttle 1 Jonathan and Ann Lyttle 2737 Lonesome Mountain Road Charlottesville, VA 22911 February 5, 2013 Planning Commission Attn: Mr. Christopher Perez, Senior Planner Department of Community Development County of Albemarle 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 RE: Special Use Permit SP201200010. Sieg Special Events - LETTER OF OPPOSITION Dear Planning Commission Members We are writing to express our opposition to the Sieg Events Special Use Permit. We have two principal concerns, i.e. (1) traffic safety and (2) noise. 1. Traffic Safety: Our property abuts Route 20 and spans the distance between Route 612 Hammocks Gap Road and Route 610 Lonesome Mountain Road. We are very familiar with both intersections as well as the Route 20 traffic. We strongly support the position of your planning staff and VDOT. They have clearly articulated the traffic safety hazards and they have disagreed with the mitigation proposals offered by the applicants. Turning into or out of both Routes 612 and 610 is hazardous under the best of conditions. The notion that the police would have to provide control and supervision at this intersection merely highlights the hazards. The risks in that location of supervising the departure of a night time post -party crowd should be an overriding concern for everyone. 2. Noise: If I understand the zoning regulations correctly, the maximum sound level at the Seig's property lines would be 55dB. This is the sound level of a face -to -face conversation at about 3 feet distance. The fact that the Siegs are limiting amplified music to the indoor venue is not comforting. It implies that non - amplified music could occur outside in the tents and on the lawn. Unamplified music from a single instrument such as a guitar or flute can range from 70dB — 100dB. The proposal is creating a situation that most likely would not comply with the zoning regulations and is guaranteed to create complaints from the close -by neighbors. To expect the police department to intervene and enforce compliance with noise regulations is neither realistic nor a good use of their time. We are opposed to the issuance of this special use permit. It will create a significant safety hazard and adversely affect our residential / rural agricultural neighborhood. We urge the disapproval of the permit. Respectfully, Jonathan and Ann Lyttle Christopher Perez From: Ann Mallek Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 11:02 AM To: Christopher Perez; Planning Commission Cc: info @wool.us Subject: FW: Seig Special Events (SP201200010) Attachments: Mang ham responsetoSeig.pdf All, I just read about this application on your agenda. I am writing to you as a farmer and rural area resident to 'encourage you to take a hard look at this application. Thank you for your upcoming focus on the Sieg application. As you can see by the forwarded letter, neighbors would take serious argument with the staff report statement that these activities would "support the agricultural ,uses" and "be in character with other, uses in the rural areas." I agree that having a party tent 20 feet from the property line will invite partiers to hop the fence to visit the sheep, they will become a risk to the landowner that if one gets hurt, the landowner will be blamed, as has happened before; that even more dangerous than people is the refuse, plastic can strips, glass, that will migrate over the fence from the outdoor activities. Farm animals are curious and not careful about what they eat. Metal, glass fragments and even worse, plastic string and twine are LETHAL to baby calves or sheep. We must be careful about sawdust from cutting treated wood posts.on the property, since they smell interesting and will kill animals if eaten. Please stand strong in defense of the true uses of the rural areas; so ably defended during the last comp plan review, which are agriculture and forestry. Residential use is accessory only, and commercial uses which have no tie to agriculture are clearly not included. Many thanks. Ann Mallek Currituck Farm CTFBeef Earlysville From: Joel Mangham [ mailto :Joel(&manghamassociates.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 9:21 PM To: Board of Supervisors members Cc: info(cbwool.us; Joel Mangham Subject: Seig Special Events (SP201200010) Dear Board of Supervisors: Please see the attached letter in.which we state our case against approving the Seig Special Events special use permit. Best regards, Joel and Michele Mangham 1