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Planning commission recommends IP designation for 801 West Street after owner testimony, community support
Summary
The Charlottesville Planning Commission recommended that city council approve zoning map amendment PL-26-0042 and zoning text amendment PL-26-0043 to add 801 West Street to the Individually Protected (IP) list after staff said the house retains high architectural integrity and the owner expressed strong family and community ties.
Kate Richardson, preservation and design planner for Neighborhood Development Services, presented staff’s recommendation that the commission recommend two companion applications—ZMA PL-26-0042 and ZTA PL-26-0043—to designate 801 West Street in the Tenth and Page neighborhood as an Individually Protected property. Staff told commissioners the designation would not change the parcel’s underlying RNA zoning but would add a design-control overlay and provide targeted protections for a house built in 1905 that retains much of its exterior and interior character.
"Staff believes this designation is well supported, appropriately justified, and protects something irreplaceable in our community," Richardson said, summarizing the preservation criteria and noting the property’s long family ownership and support from the Board of Architectural Review.
Property owner Mr. Hunt told the commission the nomination grew from family history and community ties: "This will honor my grandparents who bought the place. This will honor the community," he said, and described recent structural work taken to stabilize the house.
Online commenter Brian Shot and one other speaker expressed support during the public-hearing portion, noting the building’s condition and its links to neighborhood history. Commissioners asked staff to clarify the difference between eligibility and formal listing on the Virginia Landmarks Register or National Register of Historic Places, and how the IP overlay interacts with subdivision, demolition, or new construction. Staff explained that the IP overlay makes the parcel subject to BAR review for demolition or substantial alteration, and that any change to the ordinance listing (for example to remove or alter the parcel number) would require a separate zoning text/map amendment and public process.
After public comment, a commissioner moved that the Planning Commission recommend council approve both applications. The motion passed on roll-call with six votes in favor and one abstention (Commissioner Karp abstained); recorded votes were entered by roll-call.
The commission’s action is a recommendation to city council; final approval requires council action. The applicant and staff said they will bring materials to council as scheduled by the city’s public-notice and hearing process.
