ARB approves large storage tanks near Airport Road, forwards special-exception recommendation

The Albemarle County Architecture Review Board on June 8 approved a site-plan amendment to install two large water-storage tanks at the existing RWSA pump station near 4384 Burkear Drive and forwarded a recommendation of no objection on a requested special exception to reduce a required stepback by 12 feet.

Staff presented the proposal and said the tanks would be about 75 feet in diameter and approximately 47 feet tall, with the upper third of each tank visible from Airport Road due to parcel size and topography. Staff recommended approval of the major amendment with conditions and stated it had "no objection to the request to reduce the stepback requirement." The staff presentation described three construction options — welded steel, bolted steel, and concrete — and noted different maintenance and visual characteristics for each: welded steel and concrete provide a more uniform appearance while bolted steel would show seams and joints. Staff also described maintenance cycles (for example, field-applied coatings for welded steel need reapplication approximately every 15–25 years) and recommended a neutral medium-gray finish pending material samples.

Nate Nickerson, a consultant for the applicant (Rebana), told the board and staff that the project team was leaning toward welded steel or concrete because those options provide similar outward appearance and more favorable life-cycle maintenance compared with bolted steel. Board members asked about cost differences and the feasibility of using canopy trees for screening; staff and the applicant said trees capable of screening the tanks would need to be exceptionally tall (near or above 47 feet) and that a nearby cell tower further limits screening effectiveness.

Board members agreed with staff that welded-steel or concrete tanks would be the least visually obtrusive. After discussion about recommended conditions, a motion to approve the site-plan amendment with the revisions outlined in the staff report passed unanimously. The board then moved and unanimously approved forwarding a recommendation of no objection on the special-exception request to the site review committee.

What happens next: The site-review committee will consider the special-exception request with the ARB's recommendation; final construction details (selected tank material and confirmed finish samples) will be determined during permitting and shop-drawing review.

Attribution: Quotes and specific technical descriptions in this article are drawn from the ARB staff presentation and from statements by Nate Nickerson, consultant for the applicant, during the June 8 meeting.