Architectural Review Board

HGP, Inc. 401 Charles Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-371-5171 373-4150 (fax) email: hpalmer@hgp.biz March 14, 2023 Re: 400 Princess Anne-public hearing Chair and members of the ARB, I am Hamilton Palmer and adjacent landowner on Frederick Street. I want to thank Mike Adams for the great job he did on the Lofts of Fredericksburg as he set the standard for development in this area. I think he can do better with this project. I have comments to include the following. Parking - (5. Site Elements F.) “the location of parking is considered a component of overall site planning”. This plan shows there will be a net loss of 15 parking spaces and no parking for the apartments and coffee shop. Where is everyone going to park? Safety - cars exiting the site will block the sidewalk for sight distance on Frederick Street. The building should be setback for the safety of pedestrians who use that sidewalk. There are two visually impaired persons who use that sidewalk and blocking has been a problem. You should not sacrifice safety. There is the potential the ARB approval of site planning being used as approval of site plan for a special use permits, exceptions, and variances. Site planning should be done concurrently with these other approvals. 4th Floor – “new buildings should be no greater than one story taller than neighboring historic buildings” HVAC equipment would be less obtrusive without the 'Mechanical Access floor. Sheet A109 drawing in your packet does not depict the two-story coffee shop, the 2-story brick building at 404 Princess Anne, the one-story Purina warehouse, or the one-story brick Railroad Depot building. The building height is measured in part by the number of story's and 4 story is 1 story too many. Townhomes - look at the townhomes on the 300 block of Lafayette Boulevard. I think the developer can do better with something like he did at the Lofts and come up with 4 attached units that are compatible and more closely relate to the industrial character of the neighborhood (the Lofts have that industrial character look). Orientation – 3 of the 4 units are facing my parking lot. By-right uses include restaurants w/indoor/outdoor seating and fast-foot, grocery, retail, repair service. Is the orientation compatible with these by-right uses Trees - I am concerned about the trees I planted 23 years ago on our boundary line - see the photograph on page 9 of your packet. These trees are absent from the plans I have seen. Digging within the dripline of the tree will likely impact the trees, digging a foundation 5 feet from the trees will likely kill them. Yes, the tree roots are growing under the existing asphalt, but they are healthy and doing just fine. According to the design review for a COA, the ARB 72-23.1, shall consider the existence of trees and other landscaping, and the extent of paving. What is the plan for the trees? Thank you for your consideration, Hamilton Palmer