CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE

DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

                               

                                  MEMO

 

To: Fry’s Spring Neighbors

From:  Brian Haluska, AICP, Neighborhood Planner

Date: 7/31/09

RE:  Neighborhood Issues/Development Update

 

Fry’s Spring

 

  1. Fontaine Research Park Rezoning – The University of Virginia Real Estate Foundation has submitted an application to the County Board of Supervisors to rezone the Fontaine Research Park to allow an approximate doubling of the density of the Research Park.  This action is consistent with discussions that occurred during the preparation of the Area B Study.  The concept plan submitted with the rezoning does not show the proposed Fontaine/Sunset Connector going all the way through University property.  However, Mr. Sandridge has written the Mayor and indicated that the University is committed to building the connector from Fontaine to their property line that adjoins the Granger Property.  At this point they only show the road as necessary to service the development, but he is committed to build an additional road to extend to the property line when the project moves forward.  They have not proffered to assist with the bridge over the railroad or Moore’s Creek at this time.  At the PACC Tech meeting on 1/30, the proposed intersection with Interstate 64 was rejected.  At the PACC mtg on May 21, 09, the county's head planner, David Benish, presented further information on the subject.  City staff will acquire the latest minutes and update the neighborhood with its findings.

 

  1. Old Lynchburg Road – The meeting held on September 19th to again meet the team and begin discussing the needs and concerns about Old Lynchburg Road was well attended.  This was the first opportunity for adjacent property owners and neighborhood residents to talk about specific issues with the design team.  Two concepts have been developed for the area and they are currently under City review.  The City held another citizen informational meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at the Cherry Avenue Christian Church to present the two concepts for additional input.  Staff compiled the information gathered from all citizen/stakeholder surveys and interviews to be incorporated into a single design.  The design for the improvements is tentatively scheduled to be presented to City Council for public hearing in the fall.  Staff resolved a conflict with the Fry’s Spring Beach Club property by moving a proposed sidewalk from one side of OLR to the other.  Staff held a public meeting on the proposed design on October 14th at the Cherry Avenue Christian Church.  The design team addressed the comments from the public, and presented an update to the City Council in December.  Citizens of the OLR area will notice some survey markings in the near future.  This is so the design team can get more accurate utility information to incorporate in the final plan.  The project is moving to final design, and staff anticipates seeking public input on the first draft of the final design in the second quarter of 2009.  This project is still proceeding, with final design documents due to be delivered to the City in 2010.  No change.

 

  1. JPA Bridge – There was a rescoping meeting held last month with all of the VDOT design team and City staff and a subsequent meeting with the neighborhood.  At this meeting, details were emphasized to VDOT to achieve the neighborhood concerns.  VDOT is currently working on the redesign.  Staff presented an update on the bridge design for the City Council Meeting on 9/2/08 and City Council passed a resolution supporting the redesigned bridge width of 67 feet (reduced from the originally proposed 78 feet).  Staff met with neighborhood representatives on September 17th to discuss details of the new bridge design.  VDOT will continue work on the supplemental design details suggested by FSNA and the City will continue to communicate with the neighborhood as the design progresses.  Advertisement date remains Nov 2009 with construction scheduled to begin early 2010. Staff brought design drawings to the Fry’s Spring Neighborhood Association on February 11th and the neighborhood approved the design drawings at their March meeting.  VDOT presented design drawings at the June 10th meeting of the Fry’s Spring Neighborhood Association.  VDOT has also requested to return in the early part of 2010, prior to the construction starting on the replacement.  The City is currently resolving some issues on the periphery of the project regarding on street parking between the bridge and Stribling and the proper signage.

 

  1. Huntley PUD – Jim Tolbert met with the Beyers about the application for amendment to the Huntley Planned Unit Development, along with two members of the Planning Commission.  At this meeting, staff was advised by the Beyers that they no longer desire to pursue a rezoning, but instead intend to develop according to the already approved plan on this section of the site.  Because they already have an approved site plan, that is their prerogative.  We have emphasized to the developer that he needs to quickly submit his reforestation plan so that it can be approved and trees planted during this planting season.  We have also suggested to them that the undersized street trees can be replaced without waiting on approval of the reforestation plan.  The owners went to the Planning Commission on November 13th to ask approval to plant fifty 2-inch caliper trees rather than the forty 4-inch caliper trees previously agreed to.  The Planning Commission approved a substitution of 60 2-inch caliper trees for the 40 4-inch caliper trees. Staff has received an amended planting plan for the Huntley property, and has provided the owners with comments regarding the plan.  City staff has recently received a BAR application for renovations to Huntley Hall.

 

  1. Old Lynchburg Road Apartment Complex – The County of Albemarle has received an application for development of a 24 acre parcel of land on the City/County line.  The application calls for 308 dwelling units with parking, and swimming pool and other recreational facilities.  Based on the County staff report for the discussion on January 15th, the applicant and county staff disagree on several issues, including whether the scheme proposed is by-right.  The discussion at the work session indicated that the County would only be supportive of the units built on non-critical slope areas, which would reduce the number of units to around 100.  The County also raised questions on the location of the entrance to the property.  At this time, the only proposal to have been submitted was requesting preliminary comments.  No formal application has been submitted to the County.  Oxford Properties requested the support of the County Board of Supervisors for a tax credit application in May for this property.  While City staff is unaware how the Board dealt with this request, county staff did recommend the request be rejected. No change.

 

  1. Zoning Changes:  I will be presented information regarding the proposed zoning changes at the neighborhood meeting on December 12th.  Staff is waiting on a statement from the association regarding which possible zoning changes they support before moving the item forward.  The Planning Commission at their January work session, made looking at issues with residentially zoned property a priority over the next year.  Some of the issues raised by the neighborhood in the past may be examined as part of this process.  Currently, staff is focused on revising the rules governing the size of external accessory apartments.  No change.

 

  1. Avon Center:  This is a 43 acre commercial development in the County of Albemarle, just south of the Ridge Street neighborhood.  The development would connect Fifth Street Extended to Avon Street.  City staff has met with the developers to talk over the concerns the City has regarding the project, specifically regarding the traffic impact on 5th Street.  This development would have an outlet to 5th street Extended via Bent Creek Road. City staff has reviewed the traffic dispersal pattern for the project and agrees with the conclusion that the peak hour traffic figures on Harris Road will not be impacted by Avon Center.  Staff has discussed the requirements for improvement at the intersection of Bent Creek and Fifth Street with the developers of the property.  The developer is working to acquire additional right-of-way for Bent Creek Road.  No change.

 

  1. Longwood Drive Planned Unit Development: An application has been submitted for a Planned Unit Development on Longwood Drive.  The proposal covers 34 existing units.  The plan development shows the removal of 16 of the existing units, to be replaced with 43 townhouse units, and the renovation of the remaining 18 units covered by the PUD.  The proposed density would be 13.32 dwelling units per acre.  The application was discussed before the Planning Commission at their November regular meeting, and was scheduled for a joint public hearing on January 13 at 6:30 pm in City Council Chambers.  The Planning Commission has recommended to City Council that the application be denied.  The City Council considered the application at their meeting on May 18th, and scheduled the application for another public hearing on their July 6th agenda.  City Council approved the PUD zoning on their July 20th agenda.

 

  1. Fry’s Spring Service Station:  This property was rezoned to NCC several months ago.  At the public hearing, the applicant mentioned that the intent was to use the property as a restaurant.  The Board of Architectural Review has reviewed a proposal to replace several of the windows and garage doors in the structure.  Planning staff has received an application for a site plan amendment to install patio space in front of the building.  Included in the plan is a sidewalk around the property along the frontage with JPA.

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