Coran Chapshaw’s plan for a mixed-used development around downtown Charlottesville’s trademark coal tower is one step closer to reality. At an August 14 meeting, the city Planning Commission unanimously approved an application for a preliminary site plan for the project.
 The coal tower, a longtime landmark, is now becoming a focus of residents’ worries about connectivity, traffic and an altered skyline as it moves closer to redevelopment at the hand of Coran Capshaw. |
Some Belmont residents neighboring the site, however, are less enthusiastic about the complex’s proposed maximum of 287 residential units and 98,246 square feet of commercial space. With the development’s tallest building at 101′, the project will alter the area’s skyline.
Peter Engelmann, retired civil engineer and resident of neighboring Belmont Lofts, expressed his concern about the development at the Planning Commission meeting. As the approval of this by-right site plan did not have a public hearing, Engelmann spoke before the Commission during time set aside for matters not on the formal agenda. Planning Commission Chair Jon Fink, however, cut off Englemann’s comments when he exceeded the three-minute time limit.
"We have, basically, a concern of the visual impact, the traffic that would be on Water Street Extended, the pedestrian circulation and the connectivity of this coal tower with the Belmont neighborhood, which we’d of course like to have across the tracks," says Engelmann, adding that there’s been very little recent discussion of the layout with the public. "It needs more work. In order to be worthy of the City of Charlottesville, they should spend more time on design."
The site plan has been under regular review since early 2006, according to the application penned by Planning Manager Missy Creasy. It was deferred once in April 2006 and later found to comply with all of the applicable zoning district regulations.
Developers at the meeting called the coal tower a "dramatic structure" and a "logo for the entire development." Surrounding the structure will be a landscaped open space with a public pathway linking the end of Water Street through to Carlton Road.
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