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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSUB201600075 Approval - County 2017-07-14COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Community Development 401 McIntire Road, North Wing Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596 Phone (434) 296-5832 July 14, 2017 Mrs. Ellie Ray, PLA Milestone Partners RE: SUB201600075 / Dunlora V / Variation Request: Landscaping & Screening Mrs. Ray: Fax (434) 972-4126 A request for a variation has been received pursuant to Albemarle County Code of Development Chapter 14, Section 14-203.1. I have completed my review of the requested variation, and provide the following findings: Sec. 14-203.1 Variations and exceptions. B. Variation or exception from any requirement of section 14-400 et seq. The agent or the commission may vary or except any requirement of section 14-400 through 14-441 expressly authorized to be varied or excepted by the agent or the commission, as the case may be, as provided herein: 1. Request for a variation or exception. The agent finds that this request for a variation has been made via a complete submittal. 2. Findings required for a variation. Based on a review of the application materials (Dunlora V — Exception Request Exhibits 1, 2, and 3 and project narrative dated June 26, 2017, and Revised Exhibit 3 dated July 9, 2017), and based on a site visit conducted Wednesday, July 12th, the agent finds the following: The agent finds that the existing tree canopy adjacent to Lots 5 and 6 — which is protected as "Preserved Woods" on "Open Space" — provides effective landscape screening for a portion of the subject property(s). The agent also finds that the proposal to shift some landscaping from certain approved sites (adjacent to the Preserved Woods within the Open Space) to new sites is acceptable, based on the following findings: 1. Compliance with all applicable requirements contained in the "Minimum Standards for Improvements — Landscaping and Screening" as specified in Zoning Ordinance Section 18- 32.7.9.7, as follows: a. ("When required. — 4. Double frontage residential lots.") The proposed variation would adequately provide landscape screening between the rear of the residences and the public right-of-way. b. ("Types of screening permitted.") The proposed variation would create satisfactory screening consisting of a combination of existing vegetation and a planting strip of new vegetation. c. ("Minimum sizes of plant materials.") On Revised Exhibit 3, the Plant Schedule specifies a Minimum Installed Size of 4-5' (4 to 5 feet) which is an acceptable minimum planting size (height). d. ("Minimum depth and spacing requirements for a planting strip or existing vegetation.') The proposed planting strip meets and in many cases exceeds the minimum spacing requirements, and is otherwise an acceptable alternative vegetative screening which establishes new landscape screening that was not previously required and which does not produce any deficiencies in the proposed landscape screening elsewhere on the site. 2. There would no net loss of new landscape materials (51 total plants on approved planting plan / 51 total plants on proposed planting plan). 3. There would be a greater diversity of plant species (two species on approved planting plan / five species on proposed planting plan. 4. The landscaping screen would be extended to areas which would otherwise remain unscreened (Lot 8). 5. The landscaping screen would fortify and increase the screening effect in other areas (Lot 7). 6. All proposed planting locations would either be within the existing Landscape Easement or within the area designated as Open Space. In summary, the agent finds that the proposed variation (substitute design and planting materials) would result in landscaping and screening which substantially satisfy the overall purposes of this chapter in a manner equal to or exceeding the desired effects of the requirement in the applicable regulation, and which is an improvement relative to the previously approved plan. Findings required for an exception. < not applicable > 4. Action by the agent on a request; conditions. The agent hereby approves this request for a variation, pursuant to Albemarle County Code of Development Chapter 14, Section 14-203.1, and per the findings described above. Please contact Tim Padalino at 434-296-5832, ext. 3088 or tnadalinogalbemarle.org with any questions or requests for assistance regarding this agent approved variation request.