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Home My WebLink AboutSDP200700071 Application 2007-07-16L0 County of A Corr ity Development Department, Zoning & Current Development Division 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 -4596 Planning Application 1 Voice : (434) 296 -5832 Fax : (434) 972 -4126 INER INFORMATION TMP 05500 -00-00 -02800 Owner(s): COUNTY OF AI.BEMARLE C/O FINANCE ADMINISTRATION RM 149 Application # SDP200700071 Legal Description I ACREAGE Magisterial Dist. Whitehall MINT SPRINGS PARK Land Use Primary Parks Current AFD INot in A/F District Current Zoning Primaryl Rural Areas r • r House # Street Name Apt / Suite City State Zip Street Address 6659 MINT SPRIN PARK CROZET 122932- ---- Entered By: Carla Harris on 0711612007 Application Type Site Development Pl Project: MINT SPRINGS PARK - MINOR 5,089.00 Received Date 07/16/2007 Received Date Final Total Fees Submittal Date 07/23/2007 Submittal Date Final _ Total Paid Closing File Date Revision Number Comments: COUNTY PROJECT (PARKS & REC) - N/A FEES Legal Ad Primary Contact Name BOB CRICKE Phone # (434) 296 -5844 Street Address 401 MCINTIRE RD Fax # (434) 293 -0299 City / State CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA Zip Code 22902 -0000 i E -mail BCRICKE @ALBEMARLE. ORG Cellular # Owner /Applicant Name COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE C/O FINANCE ADMINISTRATION RM 149 Phone # Street Address 401 MCI ROAD Fax # ( ) - City / State CHARLO VA Zip Code 22901- E -mail Cellular # Signature of Contractor or Authorized Agent Date Application for Ma - )r & Minor Site Plan A endments and All Reinstatements of Denied or Deferred Site Plans J `I,N, Major Amendment (Subject to Planning Commission Review) _ $270 17 folded copies ofplan are required Minor Amendment (alterations to parking, circulation, building size, location) _ $95 8 olded copies of sketch plan are re uired Reinstate Plan Review After 10 day Denial = $200 Reinstate Plan After Site Review Denial or Suspension = $65 Reinstate Plan Deferred by Applicant To a specific date = $35 Indefinitely = $75 17 olded copies ofp1an are required Was a groundwater review conducted for the existing site plan? YES ENO If YES: What is the average gallons of water used per day for the existing use(s) ? and What is the NEW average gallons of water used per day? If NO: What is the average gallons of water used per day for the all use(s) ? Tier 3 Groundwater Review = $400 plus $25 per dwelling unit Required for all plans showing a use that uses less than 2,000 gallons of water per day average) Tier 4 Groundwater Review = $1,000 Required for all plans showing a use that uses greater than 2,000 gallons of water per day average) Relief from conditions of approval from Planning Commission or landscape waiver by agent = $180 Extension of approval prior to expiration of an approved plan = $45 Rehearing of Site Development Plan by the Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors = $190 Appeal of Site Development Plan to the Board of Supervisors = $240 Project Name: Mint Springs Park Middle Lake Accessibility Protect Tax map and parcel: Tax Map: 55 Parcel: 28 Magisterial District: White Hall Zoning: Rural Area Physical Street Address (if assigned): Location of property (landmarks, intersections, or other): Take Route 250 West: Turn right onto Route 240; Turn left onto Route 788 (Rail Road Avenue)• Turn right onto Route 684 (Mint Springs Road); Turn left into Park. Contact Person (Who should we call /write concerning this project ?): Bob Crickenberver Address: 401 McIntire Rd. City: Charlottesville State: Va. Zip: 22902 Daytime Phone: (434) 296 -5844 Fax 4 (434) 293 -0299 E -mail: bcrickenal hem arle.org Owner of Record: County of Albemarle Address: 401 McIntire Rd. City: Charlottesville State: Va. Zip: 22902 Daytime Phone: (434) 296 -5844 Fax # (434 ) 293 -0299 E -mail: berickenalbemarle.orP Applicant (Who is the Contact person representing ?): County of Albemarle Department of Parks and Recreation Address: 401 McIntire Rd. City: Charlottesville State: Va. Zip: 22902 Daytime Phone: (434) 296 -5844 Fax # (434) 293 -0299 E -mail: bericke(aalbemarle.org FOR OFFICE USE ONLY SDP # Fee Amount $ Date Paid By who Receipt # CO By: County of Albemarle Department of Community Development 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Voice: (434) 296 -5832 Fax: (434) 972 -4126 5/1/06 Page 1 oft Intended use or justification for request: The County of Albemarle's Department of Parks and Recreation request that plans for a new accessible fishing pier, improvements to an existing parking lot, a new restroom and accessible pathways development at and around the second or Middle Lake at Mint Springs Valley Park, be accepted through a Minor Amendment to site plan SDP -234 Mint Springs Valley Park. Below are a summary of existing site conditions and the nature of the proposed work. 1. The proposed improvements occur within and impact a very small portion of the overall site. 2. Existing uses within the area will not change. 3. The attached layout and construction plans for the site provide an "as built" that includes minor changes, in and around the proposed project area, occurring since the original site plan was established. 4. The site is not within a flood plane. 5. Critical slopes are not impacted by the proposed work. 6. The Lake feeds a remote tributary of Licking Hole Creek, within but far above the Beaver Creek Reservoir. 7. Materials determined to be non -toxic will be used to construct the pier. 8. Existing parking surface area will be improved but not expanded. 9. Erosion and heavy wear now seen on the banks surrounding the lake will be relieved through this work. 10. As this site is frequently used by local elderly, safety concerns and lack of accessibility will be addressed through the proposed work. a. Accessible routes will be established between parking and interest areas. b. Permanent accessible restroom facilities will replace existing long term use of portable toilets. c. The Pier will replace an existing dangerous situation for wheelchair use along the bank. d. Mobility impaired visitors will have better access to the existing shelters for easy relief from the sun and sudden storms. 11. The desire for more facilities accessible to fishing and wildlife viewing are addressed through this plan This project is to be funded by a grant awarded by the State through the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Attached is a copy of the project narrative that was submitted wi the grant application. Owner /Applicant Must Read and Sign This site plan as submitted contains all of the information required by Section 32.5 (Preliminary Plan) or Section 32.6 (Final Plan) of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance. I understand that plans which lack information required by said sections shall be deemed incomplete and shall be denied by the agent within ten (10) days of submittal as provided in Section 32.4 2.1 or Section 3.4.3.3 as the case may be. For Final Plans Only: To the best of my knowledge, I have complied with Section 32.4.3.1 and obtained tentative approvals for all applic le conditions from the appropriate agencies. 0 (97 /G o Signature of Owner, Contrac P rchaser, Agent ate fT 1 R / Print Name Daytime phone number of Signatory 5/1/06 Page 2 of 2 JUL 16 2007 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMEN", MINT SPRINGS FISHING ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT Project Narrative Mint Springs Park is a 520 acre park owned and maintained by the County of Albemarle. Many of the recreational activities at the park are centered around two lakes totaling 8 water acres. Facilities at the upper lake include a swimming beach and bathhouse with nearby picnic shelters, a wheel chair accessible playground and restrooms. The lower lake is primarily a fishing lake. The majority of the park acreage is wooded and includes approximately 3.6 miles of nature trails. Currently 455 acres of Mint Springs Park are protected as a Land and Water Conservation Fund site from project number 51 -00061 approved in April of 1971. In 1992, 64.5 acres of adjacent property was added to the park. The County of Albemarle agrees to encumber those additional acres as an outdoor recreation site in perpetuity if the Mint Springs Fishing Accessibility Project receives VOF grant assistance. The lakes at Mint Springs are managed for both warm water and cold water angling opportunities by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Due to its cold water and popularity, Mint Springs is classified as an A category water in the state's catchable trout program and receives regular stockings of trout from October through May. On the first Saturday of May, Mint Springs plays host to the annual "Kids Only Fishing Day" which is jointly sponsored by the County, VDGIF, the Thomas Jefferson Chaver of Trout Unlimited, and the Kingfisher's Senior Citizen Fishing Club.Now in its 12' season, this program introduces the joys of trout fishing to several hundred children ages 12 and under each year. Critical to the understanding of the importance and uniqueness of this project is the fact that trout waters by their very nature are typically extremely difficult to make totally accessible to the disabled. In Appendix C, on page 395, entitled Special Populations, the Virginia Outdoors Plan states that many citizens with disabilities lack opportunities to participate in many outdoor recreation activities in Virginia. This section recognizes that citizens with disabilities have similar leisure interests as the general population and expect the opportunity to participate in integrated leisure activities with families, friends, and other park visitors. Chapter III- B -2 -b, page 126 of the Virginia Outdoors Plan specifically recommends that the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries should develop more handicapped — accessible facilities at trout fishing areas where conditions are suitable. Currently there are no truly accessible trout waters in Albemarle County or surrounding counties. When this project is completed, Mint Springs will be the premier accessible trout fishing facility in the state program. While this project is primarily designed to provide barrier free access for disabled anglers in Albemarle and surrounding localities, the facilities developed will provide improved access to and around the lower lake at Mint Springs for all park users. In addition to fishing, the improvements will benefit other popular recreation needs such as walking, picnicking, wildlife observation and the quiet enjoyment of the outdoors. Attendance figures are recorded for Mint Springs Park during summer months. In the summer of 2005 over 10,000 people visited the park. Due largely to the popularity of the nature trails and the state stocking program, the park experiences stable year round usage. A recent recreation needs assessment found that 22% of the residents of Albemarle County and 20% of the residents of the City of Charlottesville visited Mint Springs Park in the past 12 months. The total population of Charlottesville /Albemarle is 128,400 which means over 25,000 different individuals visited Mint Springs at least once over a 12 month period. Two site features make this project a truly unique opportunity among other attempts to provide accessibility to the state's stocked trout waters. First, the close proximity of the existing parking area to the lower lake shoreline (about 50 feet) complemented by the relatively flat terrain from the parking area to the lake and along the entire northern and western shore will allow the highest level of ADA user accessibility. Secondly, because of the steepness of the terrain of the south shoreline and the barrier created by the emergency spillway on the eastern shore, the area being made totally accessible coincides with the most popular fishing area at Mint Springs Park and nearly the total fishable area of the lower lake in particular. In other venues, all too often disabled anglers are relegated to very limited or lesser fishing areas and are not able to fish in prime locations integrated with family, friends or other anglers. The key features of the project will be the construction of two accessible fishing piers along the north and northwestern shore of the lake. The eastern most piers will have a length of 70 feet and a width of 8 feet. The entrance ramp of the pier will be connected to the parking area by the construction of an asphalt path approximately 15 feet in length. The western most pier will have a length of about 30 feet and a width of 8 feet. An asphalt path of about 200 feet will provide access to this pier from the parking area. Both piers will have alternating handrail heights to allow wheel chair bound anglers to fish side by side with non chair bound anglers. Both piers will be cantilevered over the shoreline to allow improved access to deeper water for anglers with casting difficulties. Supplemental to the construction of the piers and associated paths will be the resurfacing of the parking lot with the addition of handicapped spaces), and the construction of asphalt pathways to three existing shelters lying between the shoreline and the parking area. The County of Albemarle is requesting matching funding from the Virginia Outdoors Fund for the fishing accessibility aspects of this project. The 50% local matching funds for this project are all by appropriation from the general fund of the County of Albemarle and are included in the approved FY 06/07 Parks and Recreation Capital Improvements Program budget. A public hearing on the FY06 /07 budget was held on April 5, 2006 and the budget was adopted on April 12, 2006. Total local funding approved for this project is $196,000 which exceeds the required 50% maximum matching amount of $100,000. If funding assistance is received from the Virginia Outdoors Fund, the County intends to enhance this project with a permanent year round restroom facility also to be located at the lower lake. Without Virginia Outdoors Fund assistance on the fishing accessibility aspects of this project, restroom facilities will be provided by less desirable rental portable toilets which currently serve this location. It should be noted that the recent recreation needs assessment revealed that from a list of 15 possible improvements to Albemarle County parks, respondents ranked restrooms as the most desired improvement. Therefore, Virginia Outdoors Fund assistance is critical to the quality of the overall end result of this project and the resulting user experience. Design work is currently underway and is being performed by David Anhold, Owner and Principal of Anhold Associates a well known local landscape architectural and design firm. County funding for the construction of this project will be available July 1 and final design will be completed by September 2006. The County will not request reimbursement on design work. The project will be ready to go out to bid upon notification of the grant award with construction scheduled for the winter and early spring so as to be completed by the 2007 "Kids Only Fishing Day ". The bid process and award will be overseen by the Purchasing Division of the Albemarle County Department of Finance. The construction project will be managed by project engineers and inspectors from the Albemarle County Department of General Services in close consultation with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Upon completion of the project, the Albemarle County Department of Parks and Recreation will assume full responsibility for operating and maintaining the new facilities to the satisfaction of Land & Water Conservation Fund standards. Mint Springs Park has a dedicated full time year round maintenance staff which is supplemented by seasonal employees during the warmer months. The Department receives appropriations for routine park maintenance and for major repair and replacement projects from the County's general fund through the annual approval of the County Operating and CIP Program budgets respectively. The recreation needs assessment found that 72% of the County's residents visited a County park in the past year. Thirty percent (30 %) of respondent households rated the physical condition of all the Albemarle County parks they visited as excellent, and an additional 59% rated them as good. In addition, 10% rated the physical condition of the parks as fair and only I% rated them as poor. The Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of existing facilities. Mint Springs Park enjoys a strong relationship with other current and future anticipated state and federal assistance projects. The park has been nominated and approved to be included in the revised Mountain Area of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. The Appalachian Trail and the Shenandoah National Park are located on the mountain about Mint Springs. Upcoming revisions of the Albemarle County Greenway Plan will involve a feasibility study for future connections by both trail and bike route development. It should be noted that this site is also very convenient to the coast to coast 76 bike route and of course the Blue Ridge Parkway. A historically valuable and regionally significant "Gateway" project is currently underway that involves the adaptive re -use of a railroad tunnel through Afton Mountain. This project is receiving funding from the State through the Department of Forestry. The County of Albemarle sincerely appreciates this opportunity to make application for VOF grant assistance for this project. We believe this project can serve as a model to demonstrate, at the federal, state and local levels, our sincere commitment to a segment of our population that so often can't enjoy the outdoor recreation experiences many of us take for granted. Thank you very much for your consideration. ANHOLq ASSOCIATES LA " °SCAPE ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING FUTURE TRAIL NEW 8' WIDE GREENWOOD, LVRGINIA ' EXTENSION ASPHALT TRAIL ti m x NEW HANDICAP / 1 ACCESSIBLE FISHING `0 PIER. 10'X 30' 1 NEW MEN & WOMENS VAULT TOILET. HC ACCESSIBL8. EXISTING PICNIC SHELTER r i I EXISTING LAKE jNEW HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE f He FISHING PIER. 10' X 70' — HC I RESURFACE EXISTING PARKING AREA NEW 8' WIDE ASPHALT TRAIL. CONNECT TO ALL p EXISTING PROPOSED FACILITIES 60'' 45' 30' 15' 0' 60' SCALE: I " =60' ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA "MIDDLE LAKE" RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS MINT SPRINGS VALLEY PARK MAY 10, 2006 2d Z Z J a \ , mmGa7AM s vm;J»w ! 2d Z Z JUL 16 2007 COMMUNITY OEVELOPMENT