Planning Commission Meeting   2/8/2022

I see 530 I believe we are ready to start our regular meeting.

I'm sorry I'm having some document document problems.

Chair, while you were working on that, I was going to go ahead and introduce Robertson Hubbard, Rob from our attorney's office.

As we noted last month, we're going to have a rotation.

So Javi will come one month and Rob will come one month and they will be supporting us every other month.

every other month alternately, which allows for more folks in their department to be exposed to our activities.

Thank you.

Feeling strong.

Thank you.

Just got a diaper changed.

So all is well.

The Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee met on January 19th and we discussed the Rivanna River Bicycle Pedestrian Crossing and had an update on the VDOT project pipeline studies.

The Rivanna River Bicycle Pedestrian Crossing Stakeholder Advisory Committee, it's a mouthful, met on site to look at the two options on January 14th.

and we had a meeting on January 20th.

The following one, which will be our fourth meeting, will be on February 17th.

Sandy Shackelford from the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is putting together or has put together an online survey to get public feedback on the crossing project.

And that survey will be open from February 14th through March 4th.

The committee that I sit on should wrap up sometime in March so that the Charlottesville Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization, the MPO, has time to coordinate and put together a smart scale application this year for the bridge crossing.

And I hope, but I'm not too sure, that the advisory committee will be able to choose a final location for the bridge, but perhaps will offer a series of considerations for the MPO.

The options are still between a connection at Riverview Park and the wool factory.

That's it for me.

Thank you.

Ms.

Thank you.

So I attended two meetings since our last commission meeting.

The

Board of Architectural Review met on January 19th.

It was really a very quick, thin meeting.

We had no certificate of appropriateness applications to review.

We did have three new board members join us.

So we spent a great deal of time introducing ourselves and talking and getting to know each other.

And then we discussed some of the objectives we have for the upcoming year.

For the tree commission, we met February 1st.

The Parks and Rec staff reported that the city lost over 100 trees recently because of the ice and snowstorms that we've had.

So we really didn't need to

That hit us hard, too, on top of everything else we were losing in trees.

We reviewed the 2022 objectives for our subcommittees, and then we reviewed the findings of the final canopy study

such items as the amount of canopy loss, which I reported on last time, identification of possible planting areas for both private and city property, and excuse my dog, an amount of impervious area.

Anyway, a lot of this information is information that we realize we need to share with Seville plans together to inform

the master plan recommendations and update the information that they have.

And that's it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's been a nice quiet month for me.

Looking forward... I don't have any updates either.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Did I miss you?

Ms.

I probably could, but we'll keep it on topic.

How about that?

Perfect.

We are...

We are preparing for the March agenda already.

We've got two hearings that we know of for that agenda.

So we are moving forward with that.

and I will only need a very few number of minutes this evening.

I don't have much to report, but I do want to kind of have a placeholder for each of our meetings that we provide at least some kind of update at each meeting as to where things stand on the zoning project.

So as all of you know, we formally kicked off in the last week of January.

I think January 24th, we put out the announcement that the work had begun.

We've begun having some internal meetings, and we have our first staff technical committee meeting tomorrow.

No, today's Tuesday.

Thursday.

Sorry, Thursday.

Thank you, Missy.

So we're kind of slowly building up.

Again, as you guys know, the first product is that diagnostic and approach report.

Things will really ramp up once that draft report is released.

We are targeting a kind of a mid-April date for the release of that report.

So that's where we stand right now.

As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Great.

Thank you.

I believe we could hear from the public at this time matters to be presented by the public, not on the formal agenda.

If you'd like to speak to the commission at this time, please click the raise hand icon in your zoom webinar.

If you are joining us via telephone, please press star nine.

Very well, thank you.

I believe this would be a good time to consider a motion.

Ms.

Do I hear a second?

I see a second.

Second.

All in favor, can I get the thumbs up?

I see thumbs.

So approved.

I see no further matters for us to work on until the joint meeting with council at 6pm.

Any issues with taking a pause until then?

Enjoy your pause.

Thank you very much.

I see 6 p.m.

I believe we are ready for our joint council and planning commission meeting to consider requested permit.

I don't believe we are yet.

Yes, we are.

Okay.

Michael Payne just joined us and Brian Pinkston just rejoined us.

So we are in order.

Okay.

Good evening.

This request is from Patrick McDermott of Dermot LLC, the applicant and property owner, who is requesting a special use permit pursuant to city code to allow for increased residential density on the subject property.

The subject property is currently developed with two separate structures, a 21-unit apartment building, which is 2118 Angus Road, and a 3,200 square foot office building, that is 2116 Angus Road.

The applicant wishes to renovate the commercial building to accommodate up to six additional residential dwelling units.

Subject property, which is parcel number 40C080000 is currently zoned B1 business.

Under the B1 zoning classification, 17 dwelling units could be developed by right on this site for the max of 21 dwelling units per acre.

Higher residential density of up to 87 DUA

is permitted with a special use permit.

Commercial office space is also permitted by right.

The current apartment use is a legal non-conforming use with a DUA of 25, and the additional six dwelling units would increase the DUA to 33.

The recently adopted 2021 future land use map designates 2116 and 2118 Angus Road as a neighborhood mixed use node.

Neighborhood mixed use nodes are described as compact neighborhood centers containing a mix of residential and commercial uses arranged in smaller scale buildings.

No density is specified, but up to five stories in height is permitted and mixed use buildings are encouraged.

The neighborhood mixed use node designation applies to most parcels to the south and east of the subject property, encompassing the area surrounding Route 29 or Seminole Trail.

Areas to the west of the subject property are designated as higher intensity residential.

The proposed redevelopment does meet some of the 2021 comprehensive plan's goals regarding sustainable reuse of existing buildings, protecting the existing identity of city neighborhoods, and supporting additional housing choice within the city.

The proposed new residential density does fit within the future land use category of neighborhood mixed use node, which allows for multi-family residential development within proximity of commercial space and within the existing neighborhood context.

The proposed change of use would result in a reduction of available commercial space within the city.

However, the applicant indicates that the current commercial offices are underutilized and the small size of the building in question, which is 3,200 square feet, would not be a significant decrease in the context of the larger commercial complexes located nearby along the Rock 29 Seminole Trail corridor.

Staff believes that the increased residential density would be appropriate for the transitional district, which is BL1 business, and would eliminate an existing nonconformity for the established apartment use.

Overall, staff recommends that a request for higher density could be approved with the following conditions.

Number one, that up to 33 dwelling units per acre are permitted on subject property, and a maximum of 18 bedrooms shall be allowed within the structure to be renovated, that is 2116 Angus Road.

And number two, automatic fire sprinklers and alarms shall be installed within the structure to be renovated, as required by the Virginia Building Code.

at the end of my presentation.

I'd like to consider questions from the Planning Commission and Council for staff.

later this week.

We've had some staffing issues pandemic related and so we've been working through many other things or else we would have had that addressed prior to follow up with that individual to see if concerns continue to exist.

We did receive a photo from the individual concerning a pillar that had fallen on the site.

There was a stop work order issued for that activity because the work started without a permit and then the owner got the proper permit and continued the work in adherence with building code.

I just had one question of those and maybe it's a staff question, maybe it's an applicant question.

I was curious if there is a known mix of one bedroom, two bedroom.

Sure, can you hear me?

Patrick McDermott, Okay, this is Patrick McDermott.

I'm the applicant.

Yeah, so the proposal was for six one-bedroom units.

That would be the maximum that would fit really comfortably within that building.

As we went through, I think most likely we're going to do a three-bedroom on the top floor, three-bedroom on the second floor, and then probably just office space or storage in the basement.

So we'd go with three bedrooms, which would actually work out well because

Quick question for staff.

Yes, we did send this request out to some of our engineering and NDS staff for review.

And one of the building officials comments was, and the fire marshal as well commented on the need for a fire sprinkler system.

Mr. McDermott, please tell us your story.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Ms.

All right, just a follow-up.

I had that same question.

It didn't appear to.

That's correct.

Thank you.

Additional questions?

Sure.

I didn't have a whole lot to add to Dana's presentation.

I thought he did a great job on that.

Between that and the written report, it fairly laid out what I plan to do.

I mean, it's pretty straightforward.

There's

The building already exists.

There's no changes to the site plan or to the exterior.

I'm just looking at interior renovations.

Changing this to residential tenants would be consistent with the rest of the parcel, which has the 21-unit building next to it.

I think it would go well for the whole parcel.

I mean, it is a great office building, but from what I understand from the prior owner, it has been underutilized since it was built in 2008.

So I built, I purchased this property in August of 2019.

And since that time, I've been renovating it, you know, from the get go.

Now, I'm not sure, you know, what the maintenance issues were that you guys received.

So I'm kind of shooting in the dark.

But, you know, to date, I've spent several hundred thousand dollars upgrading this apartment complex, you know, put a new roof on, I've spent

Philip d'Oronzio, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg, Rory Stolzenberg

for the repairs, which was adding structural I-beams.

That wasn't necessarily a permit requiring function, but while doing that work, the column did fall, and that then obviously caused a problem.

So we went and, you know, the stop use happened at the same time, and so we got the permit and got it all cleared up.

But like I said, this has been a large undertaking trying to renovate a building that's 63 years old and

I have every intention of making it as great as I can.

And, you know, I do have, if, you know, I'm guessing who has spoken up and I have tried to work with the tenant every which way I can.

And she's been there for a long time and I've appreciated that.

And I've done my best to alleviate her concerns.

And I have, you know, changed people's schedules to work around her.

I've offered to move her unit to a different one to make her

more comfortable and avoid some of the work.

And I, you know, at some point I threw the towel in and I let her know if she would like to break the lease and move, I'd have no problem and wouldn't penalize that.

And I wish her best of luck.

So I, you know, like I said, I'm kind of shooting in the dark, but I've done what I can to upgrade this property.

And I hope to make it better and better for the city and for the tenants.

And, you know, I'm in this for the long haul and doing the best that I can and

That's kind of part of what this project is, is I would like to make the building, which has been vacant for quite a while, make it, utilize it again, make it functional, which will help the city, you know, it's going to add additional housing stock, and that will help me as well, have revenue to continue to improve the overall parcel.

I'd like to open up for questions.

I just have one quick question.

Is it McDermott?

Excuse me if I mispronounce your name.

So I'm just wondering, in your future, do you still see your units remaining as an affordable unit or an affordable property?

Well, I was mistaken in my application.

I do have three Section 8 units who have been wonderful.

So

Thank you.

Sure.

Additional questions for the applicant?

The conditions, do they seem reasonable?

Any issue with the conditions as you see them printed?

Mr. Pinterman?

Oh, yeah.

No, I think that's reasonable.

I believe we can move to public comment on this unless the last chance, no questions.

If you'd like to speak at this time, please click the raise hand icon in your zoom webinar.

If you're joining us via telephone, you can press star nine.

Thank you very much.

Moving to discussion of this item.

Who would like to start?

Well, overall, I think that the project looks like a good project, definitely feasible for the neighborhood and consistent with the current neighborhood.

Just knowing a little bit about the history, I'm just hoping that he does still continue to provide affordable units, as we know that that is a huge fight for our city, regardless of whether it's a requirement or not.

Some things you just have to, you know, do not because you're told to, just because you want to.

I'll just say I agree and also think it is in accordance with our future land use map.

I appreciate the staff report pointing out that it's reuse of existing building, therefore furthering sustainability goals.

And I'd be happy to present a motion to recommend approval of this application for a special use permit.

I hear a motion and a second.

A discussion on this item?

Seeing none, Ms.

Sure.

Ms.

Dow?

Aye.

Ms.

Russell?

Aye.

Aye.

I believe that passes unanimously.

I believe we are in a good position to close this public hearing.

Council, thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Commissioners, our time is ours.

Do we have matters to discuss?

I'd like to make a motion that we adjourn to the second Tuesday in March.

Do we?

Thumbs up, please.

I see thumbs.

Have a great month, everyone.

Have a good night.