WHY THIS LOCATION?
The proposed development is proposed for Block 19 of Old Trail Village, as it is identified in the Old Trail Code of Development. Block 19 is a mostly wooded parcel that has undulating terrain and is , approximately 9.76 acres. These unique site characteristics provide the opportunity to literally hide a large part of this building into the wooded terrain. Based on input from design professionals and development consultants, we have sited the building back from Old Trail Drive and closer to the Henley Middle School property to better conceal its massing and provide opportunities for sharing of uses (parking, trails, lighting, access) that optimize the opportunity while preserving the landscape buffers along Route 250, Old Trail Drive, and along the eastern parcel border (Henley side) to aid in minimizing any visual impact of the facility from all directions.
This parcel is the optimal location to achieve our goals of serving as an extension of the ACPS campus and providing athletic and educational services to ACPS students, private school students, and home school students and residents in Old Trail and surrounding communities. The proposed facility on this parcel will offer a wide array of programs and services to meet the growing athletic, recreational, and health needs of our community. The facility will also offer many academic program opportunities to not just student-athletes, but to all youth in our community. Community health education seminars, classes, and programs will be offered as part of our adult education academy as we continue to offer educational opportunities for our entire community.
The proposed development will provide an unprecedented positive impact on the Western Albemarle community. With its strategic location adjacent to Route 250, and less than a mile from the Interstate, impacts on neighborhood streets are expected to be minimal. It is also notable that many of the program participants are expected to live within the existing Crozet community. The facility will serve as an amenity that is being developed in the center of residents that will be utilizing the much-needed services in a community where they already reside. Connecting neighborhood sidewalks and trails will also allow for an option of facility access without the need for vehicular transportation. The location is very convenient for both adult and youth walkers, bikers, and runners.
As detailed in the enclosed Trip Generation Memorandum prepared by EPR, PC, compared to the current residential zoning for Block 19 the Crozet Sports Facility is expected to have a similar traffic impact on a daily and peak hour basis. No significant traffic increases are expected during times where high traffic counts already exist. The times of peak facility usage will be after school dismissals occur with facility usage gradually increasing later in the day with students attending after school and adults after work.
There is the possibility of a controlled vehicular connector road between Old Trail Drive through this Block 19 Parcel to Henley Middle School parcel (to the East). This possible controlled connector, in addition to establishing a vehicular access agreement with ACPS, could potentially ease some of the traffic congestion at the 250/Old Trail Drive intersection as well as the on-site campus congestion caused by School drop-off and dismissal. By allowing bus traffic and pedestrian access through this new development parcel, it would help to meet the County’s goal of urban connectivity to the school system, while reducing congestion at the Old Trail Drive/Route 250 intersection that occurs during the morning peak hour.
This proposed added land use (and suggested operation plan) would be a safer and more compatible use with higher school traffic demand, then what is currently planned as single family residential development. We are open to a partnership that would allow ACPS to use a portion of Block 19 for overflow parking during school events such as Open Houses, Back to School nights, and Graduations. This would reduce the already existing parking issues during these school events where school parking lots are overflowing, vehicles often block or crowd drive aisles, and vehicles are parked along 250 which is a major safety issue for the community.