Albemarle County ARB approves Dutch Pantry addition at Seminole Trail

The Albemarle County Architecture Review Board on May 11 approved an addition and small patio for the Dutch Pantry store at 5548 Seminole Trail, voting to accept staff-recommended conditions. The motion to approve ARB 20 26 0004 passed unanimously.

Margaret, a county staff member presenting the proposal, described the addition as set back from the store’s front elevation and noted the entrance-facing elevation will be painted brick with a pedestrian door, overhead rolling door and two windows. She said side and rear elevations will be concrete block and recommended coordinating drawings and adding screening for mechanical equipment that may otherwise be visible from the street.

"I think that the proposed addition is nicely in keeping with the existing building," said Tara Mitsuno, an ARB member, who moved approval with the staff conditions. Several members said the new openings and materials are compatible with the building’s scale and that the applicant should follow the staff notes on lighting, pergola details and coordination among sheets.

During the presentation the applicant said the patio will reuse an existing concrete pad formerly used for a dumpster and that HVAC equipment will be located behind the building; the applicant had no additional materials to present. Staff recommended that if a mechanical unit remains visible from the street, it be relocated or screened and that pergola details be provided on coordinated drawings.

The board’s motion to approve included the conditions noted in the staff report. The motion was seconded and carried on a unanimous vote of the members present. The board did not amend the staff conditions and recorded no abstentions.

The ARB also scheduled future items and adjourned; staff will include the approved conditions in the project record and the applicant must reflect the recommended drawing coordination and screening in permit submissions.