HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP201600002 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2016-03-03p� 4L
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COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596
Phone (434) 296-5832 Fax (434) 972-4126
March 3, 2016
Justin Shimp
201 E. Main Street
Suite M
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Dustin@shimp-engineering.com
RE: SP 2016-02 Commonwealth Office
Dear Mr. Shimp:
Staff has reviewed your initial submittal for the request for a special use permit for a professional offices
in the R-15 zoning district. We have a few questions and comments which we believe should be resolved
before your proposal goes to public hearing. We would be glad to meet with you to discuss these issues.
Planning Comments (Rachel Falkenstein)
Initial comments on how your proposal generally relates to the plan are provided below. Comments on
conformity with the Comprehensive Plan are provided to the Planning Commission and Board of
Supervisors as part of the staff report.
The Places29 Master Plan designates this property as Urban Density Residential which is described as
residential use at a density range 6.01— 34 units/ acre supporting uses such as religious institutions,
schools, commercial, office and service uses. The property's current zoning is consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan recommendation. It is zoned R - 15- Residential, and professional offices are
permitted with approval of the requested Special Use Permit. Special Use Permit requests are reviewed
for their consistency with the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan and whether the proposed
use is compatible with the site and surrounding area.
Staff has no objection with the proposed use in this location. There are concerns/questions primarily
about how the use is proposed to be developed on the site, impacts to preserved slopes and building
location and whether stormwater and drainage facilities are adequately designed for the extent of the
proposed use.
Please note that the Places29 Master Plan Parks and Green Systems Map identifies the stream and
critical slope areas on site as parks & public open space to recognize the areas public benefit as a stream
and assumed undisturbed preserved slope area.
An initial evaluation of the proposal's consistency with the Neighborhood Model Principles is provided
below:
Pedestrian Orientation
There is an existing sidewalk along the frontage of the site that will remain
or be replaced and an internal sidewalk will be constructed to connect the
building to the Commonwealth Drive sidewalk. This principle is met.
Mixture of Uses
This is a small site that would contain one single use office building.
However, this building will create a greater mix of uses this immediate
area along Commonwealth Drive. This principle is met.
Neighborhood Centers
Neither this site nor the immediate area is designated as a center in the
Places29 MP. This proposal could provide service opportunities to nearby
residential areas. Other center areas are located within walking distance
to this section of Commonwealth Drive. This principle is met
Mixture of Housing
This proposal is for professional offices only. This section of
Types and Affordability
Commonwealth Drive is consists of apartment townhouses /single - family
attached and a nursing home. This principle is met in the larger context of
the area.
Interconnected Streets
No interconnection to adjacent sites is proposed. A waiver was previously
and Transportation
approved with SDP2005-141 Commonwealth Townhouses from the
Networks
interparcel connection requirement, with the condition that the applicant
provide an access easement for a potential future connection to the
adjacent property, Trophy Chase Apartments. Staff recommends the
easement be provided as previously required, to allow for a future
connection. This principle could be met if an easement is provided.
Multi -modal
The site will maintain a sidewalk along Commonwealth Drive and provide
Transportation
for an internal sidewalk to the building. This principle is met.
Opportunities
Parks, Recreational
No park or public space is provided for the office building. The
Amenities, and Open
Comprehensive Plan does not identify this site for a public space /park
Space
use. A portion of the site contains a drainage area /stream, with
preserved slopes. A portion of that area will be used for stormwater
detention for this proposal. The applicant should confirm that additional
slopes are not being disturbed than previously approved with the critical
slopes waiver.
Buildings and Space of
The building is proposed to be 3 stories; however the square footage is
Human Scale
not provided. The height and scale of building is consistent with the
general guidelines in the Places29 MP for commercial and retail secondary
uses in the Urban Density Residential L. U. designation. However, parking
is not relegated and the building is not oriented to the public street. This
principle is not met.
Relegated Parking
Parking is not relegated on this site. The parking area is located between
Commonwealth Drive and the building. This principle is not met.
Redevelopment
The proposed infill development project would be built on a vacant site.
This principle does not apply.
Respecting Terrain and
The total square footage of office space proposed and the parking needed
Careful Grading and Re-
to support this amount of development is resulting in development on
grading of Terrain
preserved slopes. A critical slopes waiver was previously approved for a
townhouse development on this site. The applicant should confirm that
additional slopes are not being disturbed.
Clear Boundaries with
This property is located entirely within the Development Area Boundaries.
the Rural Area
This principle does not apply.
The following are staff's initial comments regarding the proposal:
The proposed building location does not meet maximum setback requirements (see sec 4.20)
and would require a special exception from the Board. Staff recommends that the site layout be
revised to bring the building up to Commonwealth Drive and to relegate parking behind the
building.
Indicate approximate size of proposed building on application plan.
The site contains preserved steep slopes (previously critical slopes) that have not been shown
on the concept plan. Revise application plan to depict areas of preserved slopes. The plan should
also show areas of disturbance to slopes previously approved with the critical slopes waiver
(SDP2005-141). No additional areas of disturbances to slopes will be permitted with this
application without an approved rezoning of the slopes or a special use permit to allow
stormwater facility within preserved slopes.
The SWM access easement cannot be from a neighboring property without property owner
permission. An easement needs to be provided all the way to the public street (see engineering
comments).
Applicant should ensure there is adequate area (outside of sight distance and utility easements)
to provide street trees. Street trees will be required with site plan.
Commercial uses and parking areas are required to be screened from adjacent residential uses.
Applicant should ensure there is ample area on all sides of the site to provide screening outside
of necessary utilities and stormwater area. Screening will be required with site plan.
An access easement will be required to adjacent TMP 60W-3-14 for interparcel connection prior
to final site plan approval (as previously required in the waiver with SDP2005-141).
Zoning Comments (Ron Higgins)
Maximum front setback is 30 feet, minimum is 10 feet.
If building is not to be moved forward then it will require a special exception for maximum in
excess of 30 feet.
Access to stormwater area does not show permission out to a public street. This must be
provided.
Preserved slopes require approval as part of special permit process. Must be noted unless
overlay can be provided that shows previous critical slope disturbance is the same or more than
what is being disturbed in this plan.
Engineering Comments (Max Greene)
SWM access easement will need public road connection. The easement as shown is from
private property and an access easement will be required across the adjacent parcel 061w0 -03-
00-014A0.
SWM detention is required for this site. No reginal basin is planned for this area. Please remove
the statement from the plan.
ACSA Comments (Alex Morrison)
• The ACSA is currently working on a CIP project to eliminate the Oak Forest Wastewater Pump
Station. The project will include the installation of a new 8" gravity sewer line across the
Commonwealth Office site. The applicant, during design, shall coordinate with the ACSA to
provide an easement reservation area for easement acquisition once the final alignment has
been determined.
• The proposed gravity sewer line by the ACSA would provide a sewer connection location for the
applicant outside of Commonwealth Drive.
Virginia Department of Transportation Comments (Troy Austin)
No objection.
Action after Receipt of Comments
After you have read this letter, please take one of the actions identified on "Action after Receipt of
Comment Letter" which is attached.
Resubmittal
If you choose to resubmit, please use the attached form. There is no fee for the first resubmittal. The
resubmittal date schedule is provided for your convenience.
Notification and Advertisement Fees
Prior to scheduling a public hearing with the Planning Commission, payment of the following fees is
needed:
$102.65 Cost for newspaper advertisement
$215.00 Cost for notification of adjoining owners (minimum $200 + actual postage/$1 per owner after
50 adjoining owners)
$317.65 Total amount due prior to Planning Commission public hearing
Prior to the Board of Supervisor's public hearing, payment of the newspaper advertisement for the
Board hearing is needed:
$102.65 Additional amount due prior to Board of Supervisors public hearing
$420.30 Total amount for all notifications Fees may be paid in advance. Payment for both the Planning
Commission and Board of Supervisors public hearings may be paid at the some time.
Additional notification fees will not be required unless a deferral takes place and adjoining owners need
to be notified of a new date.
Feel free to contact me if you wish to meet or need additional information. I can be reached at
rfalkenstein@albemarle.org or 434-296-5832, ext. 3272.
Sincerely,
W W-&�
Rachel Falkenstein
Senior Planner
Planning Division
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
�'It2GIN1�'
ACTION AFTER RECEIPT OF COMMENT LETTER
Within 30 days of the date of this letter, please do one of the following:
(1) Resubmit in response to review comments
(2) Request indefinite deferral
(3) Request that your Planning Commission public hearing date be set
(4) Withdraw your application
(1) Resubmittal in Response to Review Comments
If you plan to resubmit within 30 days, make sure that the resubmittal is on or before a
resubmittal date as published in the project review schedule. The full resubmittal schedule may
be found here. Be sure to include the resubmittal form on the last page of your comment letter
with your submittal.
The application fee which you paid covers staff review of the initial submittal and one
resubmittal. Each subsequent resubmittal requires an additional fee. (See attached Fee
Schedule.)
(2) Request Indefinite Deferral
If you plan to resubmit after 30 days from the date of the comment letter, you need to request
an indefinite deferral. Please provide a written request and state your justification for
requesting the deferral. (Indefinite deferral means that you intend to resubmit/request a
public hearing be set with the Planning Commission after the 30 day period.)
(3) Request Planning Commission Public Hearing Date be Set
At this time, you may schedule a public hearing with the Planning Commission. However, we
do not advise that you go directly to public hearing if staff has identified issues in need of
resolution that can be addressed with a resubmittal.
After outstanding issues have been resolved and/or when you are ready to request a public
hearing, staff will set your public hearing date for the Planning Commission in accordance with
the Planning Commission's published schedule and as mutually agreed by you and the County.
The staff report and recommendation will be based on the latest information provided by you
with your initial submittal or resubmittal. Please remember that all resubmittals must be made
on or before a resubmittal date.
By no later than twenty-one (21) days before the Planning Commission's public hearing, a
newspaper advertisement fee and an adjoining owner notification fee must be paid. (See
attached Fee Schedule) Your comment letter will contain the actual fees you need to pay.
Payment for an additional newspaper advertisement is also required twenty-two (22) days prior
to the Board of Supervisors public hearing. These dates are provided on the attached Legal Ad
Payments for Public Hearings form.
Please be advised that, once a public hearing has been advertised, only one deferral prior to the
Planning Commission's public hearing will be allowed during the life of the application. The
only exception to this rule will be extraordinary circumstances, such as a major change in the
project proposal by the applicant or more issues identified by staff that have not previously
been brought to the applicant's attention. As always, an applicant may request deferral at the
Planning Commission meeting.
(4) Withdraw Your Application
If at any time you wish to withdraw your application, please provide your request in writing.
Failure to Respond
If we have not received a response from you within 30 days, we will contact you again. At that
time, you will be given 10 days to do one of the following: a) request withdrawal of your
application, b) request deferral of your application to a specific Planning Commission date as
mutually agreed to with staff, or c) request indefinite deferral and state your justification for
requesting the deferral. If none of these choices is made within 10 days, staff will schedule
your application for a public hearing based on the information provided with your original
submittal or the latest submittal staff received on a resubmittal date.
Fee Payment
Fees may be paid in cash or by check and must be paid at the Community Development Intake
Counter. Make checks payable to the County of Albemarle. Do not send checks directly to the
Review Coordinator.
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Fee Amaum $ Dare Paid RV MAG? Rweipi N CkN Ry!
Resubmittal of information for
Special Use Permit 01
PROJECT NI-MBER THAT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED, 3DP201 &02 Cornwrtwealth Office
OwnerlApplicani Must Read and Sign
I hereby certify that the information provided %%ith this resubmittal is what has hecn requested from staff
Signfihue of Owner, Contract Purchds r Date
Print Namc Daytime phony number of Signatory
FEES to be naid after anDIkation
For original Special lJse Perrctii tee of $1,075
First resubmission (TO HE PAID WHEN THE RESUBMISSION IS MADE TO 1.14 -TAKE STAFF)
Free
Each additional resubmission (TO HE PAI DWHEN THE RE tit BSIISESION 1S NULDE TO VgTAKE STAFF)
$538
For original Special Use Permit fee of $2,O DO
Id First resubmission (TO HE PAID WHEN THE RESURM11SION JS tii{De TO INTAKE STAFF}
Free
_.._; Each additional resubmission (T4IiE PAIDWHI=N THE RESUBSIIS.SM 15 MADE TO INTAKE STAFFI
I,U73
County ofAlbelnarip Department of Community Develapment
401 Mt lndre Road Charlottesville, VA 32902 Voice: (434) 296-5832 Fax: (434) 972-4126
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