ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Transcription

1 ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of January 23, 2016 DATE: December 30, 2015 SUBJECT: U USE PERMIT REVIEW for secondary parking for off-site users (Virginia Hospital Center) at 1600 N. Glebe Road () (RPC# ). Applicant: Bruce Wiljanen 1500 N. Glebe Road Arlington, Virginia C.M. RECOMMENDATION: Renew the use permit for secondary parking at, subject to all previously approved conditions as revised, with an administrative review in one (1) year (January 2017) and a County Board review in three (3) years (January 2019). ISSUES: This is one year review of a use permit for secondary parking at the Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church site, approved for use by Virginia Hospital Center. No issues have been identified. SUMMARY: Mount Olivet United Methodist Church ( Mt. Olivet ) requests renewal of a use permit for secondary parking, as amended in January 2015, to permit use of 100 parking lot spaces by Virginia Hospital Center (VHC), for parking use of the lot by hospital staff and nursing students Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with transportation provided by a shuttle running on fifteen-minute headways. The applicant and VHC have maintained the parking lot, and the site is in compliance with the conditions of approval as amended in January Shared parking benefits the community by maintaining parking supply that relieves potential parking demand on on-street parking spaces, and is also promoted by Arlington County as a means of Transportation Demand Management. Several traffic calming improvements were implemented by the applicant following the initial use permit County Manager: ##### County Attorney: ***** Staff: Michael Cullen, DCPHD, Planning Division 6.

2 approval to help mitigate the impact of secondary parking on the adjacent community, and the applicant has continued to operate in compliance with the use permit conditions as amended through January Therefore, staff recommends renewal of the secondary parking use permit, subject to the revised conditions of the staff report, with an administrative review in one (1) year (January 2017) and a County Board review in three (3) years (January 2019). BACKGROUND: The subject use permit was originally approved on October 14, 2006 to permit use of the parking lot by Marymount University as a secondary user, and renewed through April 2011 with no significant issues. In January 2015, the use permit was amended to permit a change in user from Marymount University to Virginia Hospital Center for use by hospital staff and nursing students. During this review a number of concerns were raised over the transition to a new tenant, including shuttle bus frequency, shuttle bus route, maintenance of existing improvements required with the original use permit, and potential vehicular access to the parking lot through the neighborhood on North Woodstock Street, and a number of minor condition amendments were approved to reflect these concerns and the change in parking tenant. A six (6) month administrative review was completed without issue in July 2015, during which the applicant repainted a speed bump at the entrance to Woodstock Street (at the request of the Civic Association) and current traffic data indicated a decrease in traffic along 16th Street North. Figure 1: Location U Secondary Parking Use - 2 -

3 DISCUSSION: Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) users, including hospital staff and nursing students, have used the parking lot since January 2015 with no issues raised by the community. VHC uses the lot Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with transportation provided by a shuttle running on fifteen-minute headways. Since the last use permit review (January 2015): Use Permit Conditions: The applicant is in compliance with the use permit conditions. Community Code Enforcement: The Community Code Enforcement office has not reported any issues with the use permit. Police Department: The Police Department has not expressed any concerns regarding the subject use permit. Fire Marshal s Office: The Fire Marshal s Office has not expressed any concerns regarding the subject use permit. Civic Association: The site is located in the Waycroft Woodlawn Civic Association. The Association president initially responded to staff noting that VHC resolved a minor issue with trash in the parking lot with no issues or complaints raised by residents in the last six months. However, some residents later responded with concerns over bus operation and parking lot maintenance that are further discussed below. The applicant has committed to addressing these concerns, and the Association has not objected to renewal of the use permit. Until staff contacted the Waycroft Woodlawn Civic Association as part of this review, no issues with operation of the parking lot were reported to staff since an administrative review was completed in July However, residents have since reported concerns that VHC buses were not adhering to the route established under Condition #15, security vehicle speeding, trash in the parking lot impacting adjacent residents, and use of more spaces than permitted under the use permit. The Civic Association president has worked with both VHC and Mt. Olivet, who have committed to reinforce prior commitments and to remediate these concerns. There are no objections to renewal of the use permit, and to verify that concerns listed above are addressed staff is recommending an additional administrative review of the use permit in one (1) year. CONCLUSION: Continued use of the lot would benefit the community by maintaining parking supply that relieves potential parking demand from the hospital on on-street parking spaces. Shared parking is also promoted by Arlington County as a means of Transportation Demand Management. Several traffic calming improvements were implemented by the applicant following the initial use permit approval to help mitigate the impact of secondary parking on the adjacent community. While some issues have been raised by the community, the applicant and VHC have committed to address these concerns and to operate in compliance with the use permit conditions as amended through January Therefore, staff recommends renewal of the secondary parking use permit, subject to the revised conditions of the staff report, with an U Secondary Parking Use - 3 -

4 administrative review in one (1) year (January 2017) and a County Board review in three (3) years (January 2019). U Secondary Parking Use - 4 -

5 PREVIOUS COUNTY BOARD ACTIONS: May 20, 2006 July 8, 2006 September 16, 2006 October 14, 2006 October 18, 2006 March 17, 2007 April 21, 2007 April 19, 2008 April 16, 2011 January 24, 2015 Deferred the use permit (U ) request for secondary parking to the July 8, 2006 County Board meeting. Deferred the use permit (U ) request for secondary parking to the September 16, 2006 County Board meeting. Deferred the use permit (U ) request for secondary parking to the October 14, 2006 County Board meeting. Deferred the use permit (U ) request for secondary parking to the October 18, 2006 County Board meeting. Approved the use permit (U ) request for secondary parking (Marymount University) subject to conditions and with a County Board review in 5 months (March 2007). Deferred the review of use permit (U ) for secondary parking to the April 21, 2007 County Board meeting. Renewed the use permit (U ) request for secondary parking subject to conditions and with a County Board review in one (1) year (April 2008). Renewed the use permit (U ) request for secondary parking subject to all previous conditions, and with a County Board review in three (3) years (April 2011). Renewed the use permit (U ) request for secondary parking subject to all previous conditions and amended Condition #19, and with a County Board review in five (5) years (April 2016). Approved a use permit amendment (U ) request for secondary parking (Virginia Hospital Center) subject to all previous conditions and amended Conditions #3-9, #11 #15-17, #19, and deleted Conditions #14 and #18, and with an U Secondary Parking Use - 5 -

6 U Secondary Parking Use administrative review in six (6) months (July 2015), and a County Board review in one (1) year (January 2016).

7 Approved Conditions: 1. The applicant agrees that the parking of all vehicles on the site shall be in accordance with a plan that is consistent with the use permit approved by the County Board. The applicant agrees that a maximum of 100 parking spaces for the secondary use shall be provided on the site, and that at no time shall there be more than 152 automobiles parked on the site once the lot has been re-striped. 2. The applicant agrees that the hours of operation of the secondary use shall be limited daily to between 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Monday through Friday. 3. The applicant agrees to restrict parking ingress and egress for secondary use to North Glebe Road only, and shall prominently post restrictions near North Woodstock Street in a manner approved by the County Manager. The posted restrictions shall be updated to reflect use of the parking lot by Virginia Hospital Center prior to any secondary use of the lot. 4. The applicant agrees that shuttle bus pick-ups and drop-offs would be limited to the Mount Olivet Church parking lot and will not occur within the public right-of-way. All access improvements to the parking lot shall be reviewed and approved by the County Manager or his designee before construction. Additionally, the applicant agrees that should improvements to the North Glebe Road entrance to the Mount Olivet Church parking lot require work in the public right-of-way, then the applicant must obtain required permits from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The applicant also agrees to maintain all access improvements required as condition to the use permit approval. 5. The applicant agrees to widen the ramp from the parking to the North Glebe Road entrance from 17-feet wide to 25-feet. The applicant agrees to maintain the ramp as necessary. 6. The applicant agrees to install and maintain a speed hump and two planters on the church s property at the Woodstock Street entrance. The speed hump shall be 12 feet in width, 6 feet in length with a height no less than 3 inches, and shall be painted or striped in yellow paint for identification purposes. The planters on either side of the speed hump shall narrow the driveway width to no more than 14 feet. Each planter shall have one foot of separation from the speed hump to provide for drainage. 7. The applicant agrees that the approved secondary parking plan may only be modified with a use permit amendment as specified in Subsection 15.5 of the Zoning Ordinance. 8. The applicant agrees that all changes to the site required as condition to the use permit approval shall be satisfactorily completed by January 1, Prior to filing a building permit, the applicant shall submit plans of the proposed parking lot modifications to the Transportation Division of the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services U Secondary Parking Use - 7 -

8 for review and approval. The applicant also agrees to maintain all changes to the site required as condition to the use permit approval. 9. The applicant agrees that any expansion of the North Glebe Road driveway shall not cause damage to any existing landscaping. The applicant further agrees that should any damage occur to any existing landscaping, the applicant will be required to consult with County staff to replace the materials damaged with substantially similar materials. The applicant agrees that if additional landscaping is required, all plant materials and landscaping, unless otherwise specified, shall conform to County standards and specifications, shall be maintained as necessary, and shall meet the American Standard for Nursery Stock Z , and the following standards: a. Major deciduous trees (shade or canopy trees such as Oaks, Maples, London Planes, Japanese Zelkovas, etc.) - a height of 12 to 18 feet with a minimum caliper of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. b. Evergreen trees (such as Scotch Pines, White Pines, Hemlocks, etc.) - a minimum height of 8 to 10 feet. c. Ornamental deciduous trees (such as Cherries, Dogwoods, Serviceberries, Hornbeams, etc.) - a height of 10 to 14 feet with a minimum caliper of 1 1/2 to 2 inches. d. Shrubs - a minimum spread of 18 to 24 inches. e. Groundcover - in 2 inch pots. 10. The applicant agrees that no outdoor public address system shall be used on the subject site. 11. The applicant agrees to identify an on-site liaison that shall be available to respond to community concerns. Virginia Hospital Center shall also provide a liaison to respond to community concerns related to the use of the lot. The names, hours of availability, and telephone numbers of the liaisons shall be provided to the Waycroft-Woodlawn Civic Association and the Arlington County Zoning Administrator prior to any secondary use of the lot. 12. The applicant agrees that limitations on the use of the parking lot shall be prominently posted on the site indicating the number of spaces available for secondary parking, the days and hours they are available to the secondary users, restrictions on access and egress, and the general location of spaces available for secondary parking use. 13. The secondary parking use shall not operate during the proposed construction to widen the North Glebe Road entrance. However, should the proposed construction improvements exceed a 3-day period, the applicant agrees to provide access for the primary use via 16 th Road North to alleviate traffic on North Woodstock Street and to U Secondary Parking Use - 8 -

9 provide personnel at the North Glebe Road access to direct motorists to use alternate entrances. 14. Deleted. 15. The applicant agrees that shuttle buses which access the Mount Olivet lot for secondary use shall be limited to 30 feet in length. Such shuttle buses shall access the lot solely for the purposes of picking up and discharging staff and nursing students, which shall occur in the middle portion of the lot. Buses shall not layover or otherwise remain parked in the lot with their engines idling waiting for staff and nursing students or for other purposes at any time. Shuttle bus pick-up and drop-off shall occur no more than once every fifteen minutes, or four stops at the parking lot per hour. The shuttle bus route, between North Glebe Road and North George Mason Drive, shall be limited to 16th Street North or Washington Boulevard and shall not be permitted on any other local street. 16. The applicant agrees that Virginia Hospital Center will inform all shuttle drivers about responsibilities associated with monitoring the use of the Mt. Olivet parking lot. Further, the applicant agrees that Virginia Hospital Center staff and nursing students applying for parking privileges at the Mt. Olivet parking lot will be informed of and agree to comply with the requirements associated with usage of the Mt. Olivet parking lot. 17. The applicant agrees that Virginia Hospital Center will periodically monitor the Mount Olivet parking lot during secondary usage times. 18. Deleted. 19. The use permit shall be reviewed by the County Board should Virginia Hospital Center s lease agreement for secondary use of the lot be discontinued. The use permit shall also be reviewed by the County Board should a secondary user, in addition to Virginia Hospital Center, desire to use the parking lot for secondary parking. 20. Prior to the March 2007 County Board review, the County will perform a study to verify the effectiveness of the proposed site improvements at preventing secondary users from accessing the Mount Olivet lot from Woodstock Street. Should the number of trips by secondary users entering and exiting the parking lot using Woodstock Street entrance during the study exceed 5 vehicles per day, the use permit shall be subject to an earlier review by the Board, including the possibility of non-renewal. U Secondary Parking Use - 9 -

10 TH ST N 1640 N WOODSTOCK ST TH ST N R N GLEBE RD N ABINGDON ST TH ST N S-3A U N. Glebe Rd. RPC # Scale: ICase Location(s) 1:1,200 Note: These maps are for property location assistance only. They may not represent the latest survey and other information. Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development County Use Only Date Placard Posted By Removed

11 Michael Cullen From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Sharon Dorsey Wednesday, January 06, :58 AM Michael Cullen Stanton, Adrian; Sharon Dorsey U-3150 Use Permit Review - Mt. Olivet Secondary Parking Good morning Michael. Thank you for asking Waycroft-Woodlawn Civic Association to provide input on the proposed renewal of U Use Permit for Mt. Olivet secondary parking to be presented to the Arlington County Board at the January 23, 2016 meeting. There has been concern from neighbors with the following: - hospital buses and security vehicles not staying within the contracted route - possible violation of speed laws of security vehicles - trash in the parking lot that also impacts the neighborhood - use of more spaces that the contracted # I have spoken to administration from both Mt. Olivet and Virginia Hospital Center and have been assured that measures currently in place are being reinforced to remediate the concerns listed above. I am also documenting and communicating clearer procedures in our civic association that will standardize notifications of neighborhood concerns to ensure all impacted parties are made aware and held accountable. Thank you, Sharon G. Dorsey sharongdorsey@gmail.com Mobile: