To celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, Abundant Life Ministries wants to construct a 10,370-square-foot community building behind a single-family house it owns at 782 Prospect Ave. The group filed the first set of plans with Charlottesville’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services on February 12.
Such a building would be a by-right use under the city’s zoning code, which means the project needs only staff approval to begin work. However, Abundant Life is asking for permission to remove 26 trees on the 1.286-acre property, and it also wants to be excused from being required to build a 63.5-foot stretch of sidewalk.
“The city is currently working on a sidewalk improvement project along Prospect Avenue, including the Abundant Life project area, to provide a 5-foot sidewalk along the southeast edge of Prospect Avenue,” reads an application request drafted by the firm Line and Grade on ALM’s behalf.
Staff will make both determinations, and City Council would play no role. There is also no requirement to provide parking for the project under the city’s rules.
“This proposed development is not anticipated to generate additional traffic, as one handicap space will be the only parking provided,” reads page four of the site development plan.
Charlottesville’s transportation website lists the sidewalk project as being in the design process, with no timeline for when construction might take place or how much it would cost.
The project falls under the threshold required to hold a meeting soliciting community feedback on transportation impacts. Major developments in excess of 50,000 square feet must come up with a plan to encourage people to use alternatives to driving.
The right of way for Prospect Avenue is 40 feet wide including a sidewalk only on one side. Last year, the Virginia Department of Transportation updated the roadway’s classification to “minor collector” from “local road.” That change was made in part because, according to VDOT’s rules, “bus routes generally do not run on Local Roads.”
Charlottesville Area Transit’s Route 6 runs along Prospect Avenue twice an hour, though CAT’s long-term plans show a different route in the future with no timeline for when it might be implemented.
At a pre-meeting in November, Abundant Life Board Chair Rachel Schnorr told Neighborhood Development Services staff that the expanded facilities would be part of the organization’s 30th anniversary.
At the same meeting, NDS Manager Matt Alfele said the city would work to expedite the review.
A previous ALM plan to build on the back end of the property fizzled out; old zoning rules required a special use permit.
The new space off Prospect Avenue would comprise a 10,370-square-foot facility.
