HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP200900067 Legacy Document 2009-12-15�'
R I 1
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 -4596
Phone (434) 296 -5832 Fax (434) 972 -4126
December 15, 2009
Jack Kelsey, PE
Transportation Engineer
Office of Facilities Development
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902 -4596
RE: SDP 2009 - 67 Crozet Library Sidewalk Waiver Request
Dear Jack,
I apologize for the delay in responding to you. I had met with others in General Services and was of the
opinion that this project was going to be placed on hold which made the waiver request moot. However,
recent conversations indicate that at least a portion of the project may still be moving forward and the
waiver request still needs to be evaluated.
In short, I cannot approve the sidewalk waiver request. The requirements of the ordinance are that the
sidewalks on Crozet Avenue and the street identified in the Crozet master plan as the new Main Street
shall be at least ten (10) feet wide (Reference Chapter 18, Section 20B.7(A) of the Code of Albemarle).
Waivers may be granted for only under . a very limited set of circumstances. The ordinance specifies that
"the agent may waive the requirements for a sidewalk and /or street trees where the developer
demonstrates that: (i) the Virginia Department of Transportation prohibits establishing sidewalks and /or
planting street trees; or (ii) existing utility easements prohibit establishing sidewalks and /or planting street
trees ". Neither of the criteria that allow a waiver to be granted exists in this case.
I would point out that a proposed amendment to the ordinance will be heard by the Board in the near
future. The new language is:
sidewalks and /or:vlantina street trees.. ;ri theie_are_.taiiilsuat pfl�sical c�nd�t�otz5 pry th�.._l.�t rItn
I encourage you to follow this text amendment. If the language is adopted as shown above the waiver
may be granted. Approval of the waiver would be consistent with a public process that has taken place in
the development of the Crozet Avenue and Main Street Design Plans. Further, these plans were
developed and adopted in an effort to forward the goals of the Comprehensive Plan.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
William D. Fritz, AICP
Chief of Current Development