HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP201400032 Correspondence 2014-03-31lM
McKEECARSON
lM
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ■ CONSULTING ENGINEERS • LAND PLANNERS
TRANSMITTAL
PROJECT: Montessori School Site Plan SDP2007 -00044 PROJECT # 1305
TO: Albemarle County Community Development DATE: 03/31/14
PHONE: 296 -5832
ATTN: David Benish, Chief of Planning
FROM: Christopher Mantle, LA
SUBJECT: Montessori School Minor Site Plan Amendment Submittal
IF CHECKED, PLEASE:
Return enclosures to us
Acknowledge receipt of enclosures
DATE
COPIES
DESCRIPTION
WE TRANSMIT:
03/31/14
8
Sheet Sets
X
Here with via Person
Under separate cover
Via
03/31/14
1
Application for Minor Site Plan Amendment Et Fee
03/31/14
1
List of Proposed Changes
As requested
FOR YOUR:
Use
Approval
Review and comment
Distribution
Records/ information
X
REMARKS:
THE
FOLLOWING:
David,
Please find along with this transmittal the required documents for the
Montessori Community School Minor Site Plan Amendment application.
Please let us know if anything else is required or if clarification is needed.
Please contact me with any questions.
Originals
Copies
Reproducible
Correspondence
Shop drawings
Change order
Samples
Disk /CD
Computations
Other(Specify):
X
SIGNED:
Christopher Mantle, LA
CC:
RBM /File
If enclosures are not as stated, please notify us immediately
301 East High Street ■ Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 • TEL: 434 - 979 -7522 • FAX: 434 - 977 -1194 • www.mckeecarson.com
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31 March 2014
David Benish
Chief of Planning
Albemarle County Community Development
RE: Montessori Pantops Mountain Community School (SDP 2007 - 00044)
Minor Site Plan Amendment
Dear Christopher:
Attached please find the following documents in support of a request for a Minor Site Plan Amendment for the
referenced project.
1. Minor Site Plan Amendment application and fee
2. 8 copies of the revised plan sheets showing the proposed changes.
This Minor Site Plan Amendment is being submitted for the following changes to the approved site development
plan:
1. Removal of Cistern and Plan Sheet from set
2. Revision of location of proposed Phase 1 building, parking layout, landscape plan, and accompanying
utilities.
3. Update of ESC plan, based on update of Phase I building location and parking lot layout as well as
location of storm drain inlets.
4. Update of Layout and Dimension Plan
S. Update of grading and utilities necessitated by new building location and layout, parking lot layout,
rain garden locations etc.
6. Update to landscape plan showing removal of vegetation for buffer to Phase I building based on ARB
comments from Review meeting and Staff comments.
7. Addition of Rain Garden planting inset to Landscape Plan necessitated by addition of rain garden areas
to proposed site plan. Inset shows planting plan scheme for rain gardens.
8. Update of Utility Profiles necessitated by revision to layout of utilities.
c® Removal of fence and accompanying details based on discussion with ARB and staff (SUP Amendment
currently in progress).
10. Addition of necessary site details based on updated site plan
11. Addition of construction details for rain garden planters as required for its construction.
12. Addition of ESC Narrative to sheet set.
13. Addition of SWM Narrative to sheet set.
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
n
Christopher L. Mantle, LA
Affiliated with Field Sport Concepts, Ltd.
301 East High Street • Charlottesville, VA 22902
P: 434. 979 .7522 • f: 434. 977. 1 194 ■ mc� = 3 )ckeeccarSO11 .Copy. • www.mckeecarson.com
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vIRGINtP
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, Room 227
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 -4596
Phone (434) 296 -5832 Fax (434) 972 -4012
March 27, 2009
Hunter McCardle
111 3rd Street SE
Charlottesville, VA 22902
RE: SP2009 -00001 Montessori Community School - Expansion
TMP 78 -12A and 12A1
Dear Mr. McCardle:
On March 11, 2009, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors took action on SP #2009 -00001 to
extend approval for an existing special use permit (SP 06 -038) for a private school to allow for
replacement of modular trailers with permanent buildings for 40,700 square feet of total building area on a
6.71 acre site on Tax Map 78, Parcels 12A and 12A1 in the Rivanna District. This special use permit
was approved based on the following conditions:
1. Maximum enrollment shall be three hundred (300) students;
2. Development of the use shall be in conformity with the "Montessori Pantops Mountain
Community School Sheets SP01- SP -03 ", prepared by Neal R. Deputy, Architecture & Master
Planning, last revised January 16, 2007, as determined by the Director of Planning and the
Zoning Administrator. To be in conformity with the plan, development shall reflect the general
size, arrangement, and location of proposed Buildings A, B, C, D, and E, Central Lawn,
Amphitheatre, playgrounds and ball fields, wooded natural area, and parking areas. Minor
modifications to the plan which do not conflict with the elements above may be made to ensure
compliance with the Zoning Ordinance;
3. Fencing shall be provided at a minimum around the perimeter of the Central Lawn, Lower
Elementary Playground, and Children's House Playground, or at other locations as required by
the County to ensure safety of children adjacent to Route 250 and Rolkin Road. Final design of
the fence shall be subject to review and approval by the Architectural Review Board. However, to
address safety concerns, the fence details shall include:
■ At least forty -eight (48) inches tall;
■ No more than a two (2) inch gap under the fence;
■ Openings shall be small enough that a four (4) inch sphere will not pass through;
• No ornamental indentations that can be used as a ladder;
■ Maximum mesh size for chain link fences is two and one - quarter (2 -1/4) inches; and
• Maximum mesh size for diagonal lattice fences is one and three - quarter (1 -3/4) inches.
4. The existing chain link fence shall be replaced with a new fence that satisfies the requirements of
the Architectural Review Board by September 1, 2009. Alternatively, planting shall be installed by
September 1, 2009 that will screen the fence from the Entrance Corridor. That planting shall be in
accord with an approved landscape plan that satisfies the requirements of the Architectural
Review Board; and
5. Construction of proposed buildings as shown on the concept plan shall commence on or before
March 11, 2015 or this special use permit shall expire.
Please be advised that alth !h the Albemarle County Board of Supf 'sors took action on the
project noted above, no uses" on the property as approved above majgd'wfully begin until all
applicable approvals have been received and conditions have been met. This includes:
• compliance with conditions of the SPECIAL USE PERMIT;
• approval of and compliance with a SITE PLAN amendment; and
• approval of a ZONING COMPLIANCE CLEARANCE.
In the event that the use, structure or activity for which this special use permit is issued is not commenced
within seventy-two (72) months from the date of Board approval, it shall be deemed abandoned and the
permit terminated. The term "commenced" means "construction of any structure necessary to the use of
the permit."
If you have questions or comments regarding the above -noted action, please do not hesitate to contact
Sherri Proctor at 296 -5832.
Sincerely,
V. Wayne Cilimberg
Director of Planning
cc: Montessori Community School
305 Rolkin Road
Charlottesville, VA 22911
cm
Rachel Falkenstein
From: Ron Higgins
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 11:32 AM
To: Rachel Falkenstein
Subject: RE: Montessori site plan
Rachel
i
I have checked this out and spoken with others and determined that the proposed plan is in "conformity with the
Montessori Pantops Mountain Community School" Concept Plan by Neal Deputy, dated January 16, 2007. The use of
the term "conformity" means "in harmony with" and the ability to alter in some ways is allowed in the SP condition.
will bring your materials back to your office.
Ron Higgins
From: Rachel Falkenstein
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 11:23 AM
To: Ron Higgins
Subject: Montessori site plan
Ron — I left the site plan in your chair. If I could get that back when you're done that would be great.
Also, I forgot to mention that a site plan was approved in 2009 for this site that shows a cistern instead of a biofilter in a
different location than the concept plan. A fence is also shown, but nothing labeling or showing the front area as a
playground. I have a copy of it in my office if you would like to see it.
Thanks,
Rachel
Rachel Falkenstein
Senior Planner
Albemarle County Community Development
ph: 434.296.5832 ext. 3272
Mr. Patrick Lawrence **MW
30 January 2009
Senior Planner
Page 3 of 7
Response to Comments from John Diez, Civil Engineer Technician:
Plan received date: 11 June 2008
Rev 1:
2 October 2008
Date of comments:
29 July 2008
Rev 1:
24 November 2008
Reviewer:
Jonathan Sharp
Rev 1:
John P. Diez
A. Final Site Plan —
Phase 1
D
4. The following ordinance requirements are not met for the temporary parking area: [18 -4.12,
DM]
a. proposed parking spaces exceed 5% in slope (Amelia)
b. proposed travelways exceed 10% in slope (no) y,i2 i r.
c. proposed parking area does not meet surface material requirements (no) t"
d. curb and gutter is not proposed on all parking /travelway areas (Amelia) I o
e. sidewalks are not concrete, do not maintain 5' in width (Amelia)
I understand that the proposed parking area is temporary. However, waivers must be
approved in order to approve the site plan as shown. I cannot find any previous waivers
addressing these items.
Please provide copies of existing waivers addressing the proposed parking layout, if any.
Otherwise, please submit a waiver request, or meet all ordinance requirements. If
required, the waiver process is administrative (does not require Planning Commission
action.)
(Rev. 1) Comment has not been addressed. The five waiver requests have been
denied. The existing non - conforming parking may remain in its current state. Any
changes to the parking, including additional parking or realignment of the spaces is
required to meet the ordinance requirements.
Response: The request for the waiver has been withdrawn. The parking layout will
remain as existing.
5. A portion of the parking area drains uncontained down the steep hillside as it bypasses the
proposed curbing. Please direct all drainage away from the steep hillside to avoid potential
drainage and erosion problems. [18- 32.6.6d]
4-r- ONTESSORI
COMMUNITY SCHOOL
A cotwinutlty of joyful learners
November 12, 2008
To Whom It May Concern:
According to the County timetable Montessori Community School is required to remove its
perimeter fence in December, 2008. MCS understands and accepts the decision by the County that
the fence must be removed and takes full responsibility for erecting the fence without County
approval. We regret our actions and understand the importance of working with the County and the
Architectural Review Board on all future projects.
The County mandate requires that MCS remove the current fence. However the steep and
treacherous incline from our campus to Route 250 creates a hazard for both our students and
motorists. Removing the fence will unequivocally impair the health, safety and welfare of our
students. Our playground abuts this steep hill. Children will be placed in harm's way if not protected
by fencing. As a school it is our most critical priority to respond to the needs of our families and they
share our concern for the dangers associated with the steep drop along Route 250.
The original deadline for removal of the Montessori Community School fence was directly associated
with the timeline for Phase 1 construction of the school's new elementary building. Construction
plans have been placed on hold due to the School's purchase last February of the adjacent 2.4 acre
site, formerly home of the American Legion. We feel strongly that the acquisition of the rest of the
Pantops hilltop serves to strengthen the long -term viability of our school community and, most
importantly, the greater good of the Charlottesville community by preserving this significant property
as a natural green space in the midst of mostly commercial development.
During the summer and fall of 2008 the administrative staff at MCS has explored every avenue for
complying with the County deadline and has found no way to remove and replace the fence in a
manner that protects the safety of our students and keeps them out of harm's way.
We respectfully submit that we cannot remove the fence that provides safety and security-to our
students and the motorists on Route 250 until we can replace it in a waythat complies with County
standards and does not interfere with our educational program. We welcome a dialog about short
term strategies that would allow MCS to preserve the health, safety and welfare of our students and
protect the safety of motorists on 250 while improving the aesthetics of our current fencing.
Sincerely,
Wendy Fisher
Head of School