Architectural Review Board approves Stonefield veterinary clinic with conditions on landscaping and tree trimming

The Albemarle County Architectural Review Board voted July 6 to approve a certificate of appropriateness for ARB 2026-8, a proposed veterinary clinic at the intersection of Hydraulic Road and Swanson Drive in the Stonefield Town Center, with the conditions listed in the staff report.

Staff had reviewed prior feedback from May 26 and a June 15 work session and reported the applicant had moved the design "in the right direction," but several details remained outstanding. Staff asked the applicant to update site and landscape plans to show planting areas for proposed green-screen plantings, clarify tree-trimming measures for existing arborvitae near the Regal Cinema, and confirm lighting and signage details.

Architect Wanita Lee of Design Develop told the board the team would mark English ivy locations for the green screens on the site plan, update the lighting photometric plan to show full-cutoff fixtures set at 3000K, and add a note that wall signs cannot be approved until the Stonefield comprehensive sign package is revised to include the new building. On tree trimming, Lee said the contractor "just need[s] four feet of clearance beyond the line of the sitewall and they would trim vertically up about 10 ft," and that construction drawings will demarcate trimming limits and the area of any tree work.

Staff and board members discussed materials and elevations: the revised entrance-facing elevation increases the proportion of Hardy siding and redistributes materials for more symmetrical appearance; the east elevation includes green screens consistent with other Stonefield buildings; and the site wall details show double-sided block with a fence on top and added shrub planting along the entrance-quarter side. Board members welcomed the additional landscape and lighting details and said the trimming clarification made their concerns about impacts to the screening trees manageable.

Board member comments noted the landscape and planting-size clarifications still needed to be added to the landscape schedule. The applicant said the schedule will include a column noting minimum planting sizes; the team proposed 24 (in transcript: "24 ft") for cherry laurel and said serviceberry would be closer to 6 ft, a point staff and the board flagged as needing clearer units and confirmation. The board’s approval was contingent on the list of revisions in the staff report.

The motion passed by roll call among members present: Mr. Vanderworth (yes), Mr. Mitsuno (yes) and Mr. Henningson (yes). Mr. Stoner and Mr. Hancock were recorded absent. The applicant will submit updated site and landscape plans and lighting documentation for staff review as required by the conditions; staff will verify the tree-trimming notes and planting sizes before final clearance.