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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCP201700002 Application 2017-07-16 (2)Application for Comprehensive Plan Compliance PROJECT NAME: (how should we refer to this application?): Charlottesville -Albemarle SPCA Renovation & Expansion PROPOSAL (use separate sheet, if needed): See Attached COMPREHENSIVE COMP PLAN LAND USE/DENSITY: Urban Density Residential & small portion Office/R&D/Flex/Li LOCATION: Between Berkmar Drive & Woodburn Road near the existing CASPCA TAX MAP PARCEL(s): 45-88 & 45-86A1 CASPCA owned) & 45-86A (VDOT owned) MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT: Rio Contact Person (Who should we call/write concerning this project?): Ellie Ray, Milestone Partners Address 300 2nd Street NE Daytime Phone (434) 760-3752 Fax # (� City Charlottesville State VA Zip 22902 E-mail eray@milestonepartners.co Owner of Record TMP 45-86A: Commonwealth of Virginia, Right of Way Division Address 1601 Orange Road City Culpeper State VA Zip 22701 Daytime Phone () Fax # L__) E-mail Applicant (Who is the Contact person representing?): & owner of TMPs 45-88 & 45-86A1: Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA Inc. Address PO Box 7047 Daytime Phone �) Fax # (� City Charlottesville State VA Zip 22906 E-mail Does the owner of this property own (or have any ownership interest in) any abutting property? If yes, please list those tax map and parcel numbers VDOT also owns TMP45-87 OFFICE USE ONLY ❑ Compliance with the Comprehensive Plan (CCP) ❑ Special Use Permits: E, Concurrent review of Site Development Plan? CCP# History: ❑ ZMA's & Proffers: ❑ Letter of Authorization ❑ YES ❑ NO CHARLOTTESVILLE-ALBEMARLE SPCA PRE -APPLICATION WORKSESSION The Charlottesville -Albemarle SPCA (CASPCA), founded in 1914, is a nonprofit, open admissions animal shelter (no animal is turned away regardless of age or health) whose purpose is finding permanent adoptive homes for animals. in addition to functioning as a nonprofit organization, the CASPCA performs another important community function by providing pound services to the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County for seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals. The organization also serves this community by offering lost & found services, low cost sterilization, rabies and other vaccinations, and microchipping, as well as educational opportunities, camps, pet therapy and dog training. The CASPCA provides employment for an average of 60 people, and serves over 2,200 shelter animals a year. More than 4,500 spay/neuter surgeries were performed in 2016, 2,900 of which were for owned pets within our community. CASPCA continues to serve at the forefront of No Kill communities in this country, helping thousands of animals each year receive the care they need to find homes or remain with their families. CASPCA's current facility was designed and built over a decade ago for a population who either was adopted quickly or euthanized. The organization realized a No Kill vision in 2006 and committed to saving all healthy and treatable animals brought to our shelter. With this policy shift, however, the length of stay for animals grew longer, animals with serious health and behavioral problems increased, and the facility consistently was overcrowded. Additionally, veterinary services needed to be substantially expanded to address the comprehensive health care of shelter animals yet functioned from a space originally designed for limited, short-term care. Despite dramatically increased needs and demands, there was little that could be done with the existing shelter design to accommodate these changes. The proposed building expansion and renovation will position the CASPCA to serve our community's animal welfare needs in the years to come. Cage -free, small group housing will be used for most cats while dog enclosures will feature multiple options adjustable to each dog's needs to encourage social contact and companionship. General health outcomes for animals as well as disease transmission will be positively impacted by an enhanced veterinary clinic through the effective and efficient use of space for observation, surgery and recovery, and quarantine, in addition to expanded medical equipment and new efforts in rehabilitation and care. The imminent need of rehabilitating an aging building used by thousands of animals and the community each year also will be addressed, as well as additional pubic parking, community meeting space, and an education and resource media center. TMPs 45-86, 45-86A and 45-86A1 were all one contiguous parcel, owned by CASPCA, until the previously planned Route 29 bypass resulted in a right-of-way take and the subsequent subdivision. The Charlottesville -Albemarle SPCA's entire current facility is located on TMP 45-86, but it also owns TMPs 45-88 & 45-86A1, and is investigating possible buy back of TMP 45-86A from VDOT using its first right of refusal. While TMP 45-86 is zoned C-1 and has a Special Use Permit in place to operate an animal shelter, the VDOT parcel as well as the other parcels owned by CASPCA are zoned R-6, which does not allow an animal shelter use even with a special use permit. The CASPCA would like to investigate a rezoning to C-1 of the other parcels it owns, as well as the VDOT parcel, to provide a better and less impactful design for their current plans and to get the proper zoning in place for their long-range plans. This process would, of course, also involve expanding the current Special Use Permit to those parcels as well. TMPs 45-88, 45-86A1 and 45-86A are all currently designated primarily for Urban Density Residential in the Comprehensive Plan. However, with the Berkmar Extension and the changing nature of the Berkmar corridor, it seems that C-1 zoning is not in conflict with current use patterns in the area. As discussed earlier, 46-86A is the location of the previous CASPCA facility. TMP 45-84A to the north is used for commercial purposes, TMP 45-87 to the south is owned by VDOT, and most of the parcels along Berkmar are zoned either C-1 or HC. TMP 45-88 was sold to the CASPCA by the current owner of TMP 45-90 to the south. Exhibits have been provided that show the current zoning, comprehensive plan designations and use patterns for the area as a reference. The CASPCA has been in this location, either in the previous or current building, since 1955; as it grows to offer improved and additional services it is essential that it has room to adequately address the needs of the animals in its care, and the community at large. The exact layout of the current renovation and expansion has not yet been determined, mostly due to the uncertainty of zoning and purchase of the VDOT parcel. Two exhibits are attached showing conceptual options currently under consideration. It is anticipated that most of the currently planned expansion will be on TMP 45-86, with possible ancillary elements such as parking, travelways, and a stormwater facility being located on the other parcels. If the VDOT parcel can be rezoned, and a purchase can be negotiated, it may be used to provide a bollarded emergency access for Fire Rescue instead of the 96' radius cul-de-sac requested previously. Given the topography, using the adjacent parcels will likely result in a better design with far less need for extensive grading and retaining walls. Additionally, as noted above, it seems prudent to get the proper zoning in place so that the SPCA can create a master plan for their future with less uncertainty. After a pre -application meeting with Staff, and much follow-up correspondence, it was recommended that this application be submitted to obtain guidance from the Planning Commission as to a) whether or not the Commission thinks this use rises to the level of requiring a Comprehensive Plan Amendment application and, b) if a Comprehensive Plan Amendment application is needed, to obtain preliminary thoughts on whether or not this is something the Commission could support. The CASPCA Renovation and Expansion project team would also appreciate any thoughts or guidance on items for consideration during future Zoning Map Amendment and/or Special Use Permit application(s). Thank you for your consideration and guidance in helping the CASPCA plan for the future. The proposed expansion and renovation of the CASPCA shelter is integral to the achievement of our mission: Advance the compassionate treatment of animals by providing sheltering, medical care, and behavioral services for dogs and cats; promoting permanent, caring homes; and furthering education and outreach.