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Home My WebLink AboutSP199700027 Action Letter COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Dept. of Planning & Community Development 401 Mcintire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596 (804) 296-5823 September] ], 1997 Steven Murray 300 Panorama Road Earlysville, VA 22936 RE: SP-97-27 ARC Natural History Day Camp/E.E.C. Day Camp Tax Map 45, Parcel] Dear Mr. Murray: The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, at its meeting on August 20, ] 997, approved the above-noted request to allow operation of an environmental day camp on approximately 840 acres zoned Rural Area. Please note that this approval is subject to the following conditions: ] . Compliance with Section 5.].5 of the Zoning Ordinance: a. Provisions for outdoor cooking, campfires, cooking pits, etc., shall be subject to Albemarle County fire official approval whethcr or not a site development plan is required; and b. All such uses shall conform to the requiremcnts of the Virginia Department of Health Bureau of Tourist Establishment Sanitation and other applicable requirements. 2. A.R.C. and E.E.C. camps are to be operated in accord with the project description datcd May ] 9, ] 997 (copy attached) and representations made to staff as described herein. Maximum enrollment of the E.E.C. Camp shall not exceed thirty (30) campers per session, for two two-week sessions during the months of June, July, and/or August. Maximum enrollment of the A.R.C. Camp shall not exceed thirty-five (35) campers per session, for one one-week session and one two-week session during the months of June, July and/or August. Structures on Panorama Farms to be used under this special use permit are to be limited to the existing structures on the property; and Page 2 September 11, 1997 3. A sign ("Road Narrows") shall be posted on Reas Ford Lane in accordance with the Virginia Department of Transportation letter of July 3,1997 (copy attached), unless the road is improved under SP 97-11. In the event that the use, structure or activity for which this special use permit is issued shall not be commenced within eighteen (18) months after the issuance of such permit, the same shall be decmed abandoned and the authority granted thereunder shall thereupon terminate. For purposes of this section, the term "commenced" shall be construed to include the commencement of construction of any structure necessary to the use of such permit within two (2) years from the date of the issuance thereof which is thereafter completed within one (I) year. Before beginning this use, you must obtain a zoning c1earancc from the Zoning Department. Bcfore the Zoning Department will issue a clearance, you must comply with the conditions in this letter. For further information, please call Jan Sprinkle at 296-5875. I f you should have any questions or comments regarding the above-noted action, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, U0~r(iiks Director of Planning ~ty Development VWC/jcf cc: Amelia McCulley Jack Kelsey PANORAMA FARMS ~TTAC""MENT ~ May 19, 1997 To: Albemarle County From: Panorama Farms Re: SP - ARC Natural History Day Camp Description of Request The ARC Natural History Day Camp was the brainchild of the Albemarle, Rivanna and Charlottesville garden clubs ~ thus the name ARC. The garden clubs approached the Murray family to request the use of Panorama Farms due to its pristine environment. This was the spring of 1982 and the ARC camp was born. ARC, a non profit organization, is a three week environmental education camp. The first weeks enrollment involves rising first and second graders, with an enrollment of approximately thirty campers. The next two weeks enrollment is also approximately thirty campers of rising forth and fifth graders. The ARC camp has access to the entire eight hundred plus acres of Panorama Farms for their programming. This programming includes stream and pond studies, educational games in the woods, wildlife and aquatic studies on the Rivanna Reservoir, grassland insect studies, arts and crafts, and other related activities. With a total enrollment of around sixty campers including both sessions, this allows for numerous hours of personalized attention from camp personnel. ARC uses as its headquarters, an existing barn on Panorama Farms. In 1989 we did some structural renovations on this building in order to make it safer and more weather resistant. No further renovations are planned. Bathroom facilities are provided by a porta-john and campers carry their own drinking water and lunches. Access to the ARC camp is off SR661, a northern border of Panorama Farms. Entering vehicles pass through one gate and exit through another as to have one way traffic over the narrowest portion of SR66 I. Although this traffic pattern has worked well over the years, Panorama Farms proposes to upgrade SR661 through another SP for Panorama Trails, a mountain bike trails business. If Panorama Trails is approved, ARC and Panorama Trails would use a common commercial entrance. ì()(Ì 1):111' )1';1111:1 1(,,;1\1 . I:.,¡\\'~\'ill(·. Vil\lilli.1 .J?l) jh · (~()'1) l)7 ì ,'-)'),17 I AT1ACHMt:N r C J PANORAMA FARMS May 19,1997 Justification of the Request Panorama Farms is one of the most pristine natural habitats in Albemarle County. With its abundance of unpolluted streams, mature hardwoods, open meadows, and Rivanna reservoir access, it has become over the years, an ideal environment to teach local children the value of habitat protection. In the fifteen years of operation, ARC has taught literally hundreds of children to respect this dwindling resource. At every oppertunity, the Murray family has given of their resourse, allowing ARC to become a model for environmental education camps. j()(Ì P:llllll:IIII.I li"I,1 . ¡::III\~\'illt- Vill·illi;¡nqj!ì · (I-',(Ì·l) \)7'\K'í'17 ¡ Kl jJ-\L.. 'u:N' CJ To: Albemarle County t:3oard ot Supórvlsors 1[õJ_Œ @ Œ n w ~ fn) IJù I MAY 21 1997 J ~ From: Kevin P. Murptw 1)¡:Ü8: May 18, 1097 BUilDING CODE & ZONING SERVICES ---.. Re:A.H,C. Summer Nature CEtrnp This summar marks the 15th year for A.R.C. camp. Initiated In '982 oy lhe Piedmont Environmental Council's Wildlife Education Committee, It Is one of seven Natural History Day Camps In Virginia. The camp is locally sponsored by the Garden Clubs of Albemarle, Rivanna, and Charlot'tesville. thus the name A.11.C. The purpose of the camp is to tead, young people how to be observant, inquisitive, and resourceful. Natural History Is studied through ot)~ervatìon field experiments, tracking. und gtune::i. A.R.C. Camp Is a non-profit organization that catørs to all levels of learners. All children are welcome and tuition is priced to be atfordabl6 by a broad spectrum of people. Scholarships are offered every year. The camp Is 10catAd on the back acres of Panorama Forms. Its Many fields, diverse forests. and abundant creeks and ponds provide an Idaal setting for exploring the natural history of the area. The Murrays have always welcomed the campers to their farm and provide muoh needed asslstanco with mowing, moving of livestock and maintenance of buildings and roads. All of this heir and hospitality has been provided free of ctìHrg<J.1 HGytHd3. Ke.,,::1 MII~¡)ìY .'"\ ~ _ it i' ~" t~;r-"-:D-¡-or I· L'C, If -'\ 1 · I '\, '--' I · .... ;.- & ., . I J '",lf2"t--'>t')" ~-!i,,~,'~1I; i' ,a ',j .~ ill~n{i , 1',,'1 , I It :,,',,i ", '" ~! "~0-'1! CJ . '¡~j\;'. '" ,~'A~:' '';.;..'c¡:..if" J~ ~'!';1.:,;.:.;!f,W' DAVID R. GEHR COMMISSIONER COMMONWEALTfI of VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 701 VDOT WAY CHARLOTTESVILLE. 22911 A.G. TUCKER RESIDENT ENGINEEIl July 3, 1997 ARC Natural History Day Camp SP-97-27 Ms. Susan Thomas Dept. of Planning & Community Development 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA. 22902 Dear Ms. Thomas: My previous comments were related to the use of the Murray Tract of land that was also interested in a dirt bike trail. In a somewhat stand alone use, the three week Environmental Camp would not be a major impact to Route 661. Route 661 is a very narrow gravel road and we would perhaps recommend a sign of "Road Narrows" at a point where the road narrows, since it will be used by others that are not familiar with the road. This land usage along with the bike trail usage leads us back to our comments of May 16, 1997, We recommend that Route 661 be improved from Route 660 to the commercial entrance with a minimum of the current 3-R standard. If you have any questions, please advise before discussing with the developer. Yours truly, i ·)Â J()) 'V ý.{., //llL/\ / I. W. MJ.lls Assistant Resident Engineer HWM/ldw cc: J. H. Kesterson TRANSPORTATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY