Week Ahead for March 10, 2025: Public hearing in Charlottesville for parks and recreation master plan; Albemarle County PC to review economic development, Darden-Towe committee to review survey result
Another look at what's coming up in local and regional government
I’ve been too busy to watch the film Everything Happening Everywhere All at Once but I may borrow the phrase to be the new subtitle for this newsletter. This is an unprecedented time in American history when the head of the executive branch is making across the board cuts to the federal government.
That will have an effect on both state and local government which continue on. For six years now, this newsletter is published to let readers know what’s happening in the governments of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. It’s up to you to decide if you want to pay attention, but I do each and every week.
And here are some of the highlights for this week.
A joint Albemarle-Charlottesville committee that oversees Darden-Towe Park will get the results Tuesday of a community survey about converting two remaining tennis courts to pickleball.
Albemarle’s Places29-Hydraulic Committee will learn more Monday about changes to the road pattern in the Lambs Lane schools complex.
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing Tuesday on the issuance of $25 million in bonds for renovations at Nelson High School.
The Albemarle County Planning Commission will have a work session Tuesday on the “thriving economy” chapter of the Comprehensive Plan update.
The Fluvanna County Planning Commission will review a site development plan Tuesday for a large warehouse on U.S. 15.
The Charlottesville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on adding the new parks and recreation department to the Comprehensive Plan
Albemarle Supervisors will hold two budget work sessions and Charlottesville will hold one
Thanks as always to the Piedmont Environmental Council for their sponsorship of this weekly look at what’s coming up in local and regional government.
Monday, March 10, 2025
Places29-Hydraulic group to review study for road changes at Lambs Lane campus
Over the past several years, Albemarle County has taken on more responsibility for public works and building infrastructure. The Places29-Hydraulic Community Advisory Committee will hear about one project at their meeting at the Greer Elementary School Media Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. (meeting info)
The first item on the agenda is a review of proposed alternatives to the way vehicular traffic circulates around the school complex that includes Greer, Journey Middle School, and Albemarle High School. While the Timmons Group conducted a study, the CAC will hear from transportation planner Jessica Hersh-Ballering as well as the deputy chief of transportation projects in the Facilities and Environmental Services department. That person, Michael Stumbaugh, is the project manager.
“The proposed alignment of the Loop Road will connect to Lambs Lane east of Journey Middle School and continue to the southeast between the Albemarle High School (AHS) football stadium and baseball field,” reads page 9 of the study. “The road will then follow the property line of the school parcel as it approaches Hydraulic Road. The existing Building Services complex is expected to be demolished and relocated to allow construction of the proposed Loop Road.”
There will also be construction updates on the “High School Center II” which will now be known as the Albemarle Career Exploration Academy Lambs Lane. The work will be conducted by Jamerson-Lewis Construction.
“To begin work Jamerson-Lewis will begin to bring equipment on-site, set-up safety fencing, and erosion and sediment control measures in preparation of construction activity,” reads an update on the Albemarle County Public Schools’ website. “Along with more activity on-site there will be construction related noise.”
Construction is expected to be complete by August 2026.
Fluvanna County EDA to consider mission statement
The Fluvanna Economic Development Authority meets at 5 p.m. in the Morris Room of the County Administration Building at 132 Main Street in Palmyra. Under unfinished business is a further discussion of a proposed mission statement and an item with the title “Bludot Open Rewards Program.” (meeting packet)
The proposed mission statement reads as follows: “To diversify revenue sources for Fluvanna County in order to relieve the tax burden on our residents.”
The discussion will also include “pillars” of the EDA’s charter. The suggest pillars are:
Shovel-ready
Small business support and development
Lending
Advocacy
According to the minutes of the last meeting, Bludot is a local shopping program for small businesses. Fluvanna County would provide seed money for a rewards program. Take a look at the program here.
Under new business, there is a development agreement with Zion 3 Notch, the LLC under which a new WaWa is being developed on Route 250. In all, the EDA is offering up $179,000 for construction of a sewer line for the project.
The Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Council meets immediately afterward in the same location. (meeting packet)
In other meetings:
Albemarle County’s Board of Supervisors will have their first budget work session at 3 p.m. in Room 241 of the Albemarle office building at 401 McIntire Road. One of the stories I would have liked to have written already is a summary of the public hearing from March 5, 2025. A lot happened last week and I’m still trying to get through it all! At this meeting, the six Supervisors will preview the FY2026 operation and capital budget. (agenda)
The Albemarle Fire EMS Executive Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m at the headquarters of Albemarle County Fire Rescue at 460 Stagecoach Road. The agenda is not available at publication time. (meeting info)
The Charlottesville Human Rights Commission will have a special meeting in CitySpace at 6 p.m. for an orientation for new members. (agenda packet)
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Greene Supervisors to vote on property tax rate for FY26 budget
The five member Greene County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the County Meeting Room in the Administration Building at 40 Celt Road in Stanardsville. They immediately go into closed session and return at 6:30 p.m. (meeting overview)
The open meeting begins with matters from the public, followed by presentations from four groups seeking funds in the FY26 budget. Of the four, only the school system provided information in advance. The other three are JABA, the Jefferson Madison Regional Library, and the Greene Water and Sewer Department.
There are three items up for action.
In the first, Greene County will once again seek funding this year through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Rescue Squad Assistance Fund. The locality has been slowly creating its own department since the University of Virginia terminated a contract in April 2020. They’ve received $548,860.22 in funding from the fund since then. This time around, Greene will seek funding to replace two Lifepak monitor defibrillators. A 50 percent match is required.
The second is to advertise the tax rates for calendar year 2025. The real property tax is proposed at $0.69 per $100 of assessed value and the personal property tax rate is proposed at $4 per $100 of assessed value. I’ll have more on the budget in either Monday or Tuesday’s newsletter. (read the resolution)
The third is a resolution to appropriate $200,000 from the FY2025 budget for renovations at the new Social Services building at 8767 Seminole Trail.
Public hearing in Nelson County on issuance of $25 million in bonds
The five-member Nelson County Board of Supervisors meets at 2 p.m. in the General District Courtroom at the Courthouse in Lovingston. I should say at the outset that the recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026 will not be introduced at this meeting but at a special meeting on March 18 at 10 a.m.
After the public comment period is the approval of the consent agenda with three items. They are the minutes from the September 19, 2024 retreat, an amendment to the current year’s budget, and a grant application for $4,5000 from Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Creative Communities program. This is for the Wintergreen Music Festival.
Next up is a proclamation for American Red Cross Month.
There are two presentations, both from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The first is a general update but the second is a work session on the Secondary Six Year Plan. That usually is funding to pave roads. There will be a public hearing on April 8, 2025. (learn more)
There are four items under the new business category.
A new Fire Marshal will be appointed for Wintergreen allowing investigations to be done at the resort. This will be Joshua Bean and the idea is to prevent insurance premiums from increasing after a recent audit by the Insurance Safety Office. (learn more)
There will be a renewal authorization for the county’s health insurance for FY2026. (learn more)
There will be a resolution to authorize an April 8 public hearing on a proposed amendment to Chapter 2, Article IV, Section 2 related to elections, terms, and vacancies. This is related to recent legislation in Virginia that moved party primaries to the third week of June. (learn more)
There will be an update on the rewrite of the zoning that is currently underway under the stewardship of the Berkley Group. I’ll have a more detailed write-up on this in the next regular newsletter. (learn more)
Then there will be reports, appointments, correspondence, and directives.
Then the Board will go into closed session related to litigation with the Region 2000 Services Authority related to the landfill.
The Board will reconvene at 7 p.m. for a public hearing on a $25 million general obligation bond to finance the renovation of the Nelson County High School. These will be sold by the Virginia Public School Authority. There’s a lot of paperwork in this one.
Albemarle PC to review economic development chapter of AC44
What is a Comprehensive Plan, and does anyone care? People in Nelson County and Fluvanna County, where recently adopted plans point those localities in the direction of more protection for the rural area.
Many people in Albemarle County care about the Comprehensive Plan, but I have the sense that not many people are paying attention to the discussions. As a reporter and publisher, I am struggling to write up the chapter-by-chapter, drip by drip approach that Albemarle has taken to a process they’ve been calling AC44.
I feel a responsibility to bring people information, but as a one-person shop, I have to do triage. As I type this, I have other items from Albemarle County to cover that are more pressing such as what people had to say last week at the March 5 public hearing for County Executive Jeffrey Richardson’s recommended budget for FY26. So far, I’ve only been able to write up the introduction.
I will likely never get to the two-hour work session the Board of Supervisors had that same day on the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space chapter. I do know, however, there is funding in the FY26 budget for an urban pocket park. Did that come up in the discussion? Given that the minutes for that meeting will likely not be available until 2027, is anyone listening to what the elected officials have to say?
In any case, the Albemarle Planning Commission will take up the Thriving Economy chapter at a work session that begins at 4 p.m.
“A thriving economy in Albemarle County is essential for residents' well-being, offering job opportunities, career growth, and economic stability,” reads the staff report. “Equitable job access, business support, and workforce training are crucial, alongside essential community services like housing, childcare, and infrastructure.”
Albemarle County Supervisors last updated the Comprehensive Plan in the summer of 2015. Since then, they’ve also adopted an economic development strategic plan called Project Enable. An update is underway now concurrent with the AC44 process which had originally been expected to be wrapped up by the end of 2024.
“Once completed, the plan will guide the County’s decision-making around economic development-related work and priorities over the next five years,” the staff report continues.
The first objective of the draft “thriving economy” chapter is to state that the Economic Development Strategic Plan is the primary document for business recruitment and retention. Objective two states that the county will ensure that there will be additional land in the Development Area for target industries. (read the document)
The draft chapter mentions the defense industry first and states that there are 4,790 jobs in the sector and that the largest development opportunity is the county’s own Rivanna Futures project.
“Since acquiring the land in 2023, the County has rezoned 172 acres for light industrial and commercial office use,” reads page 5.
Not mentioned is a shifting federal government where the Trump administration is seeking to cut all aspects of the federal government including the Department of Defense.
Does the public want all of this economic development? Is the public paying attention? While I do not have audience figures for a recent “lunch and learn” on the Thriving Economy chapter, the video on YouTube has five views as of publication time. See below for the link.
The Planning Commission’s regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. and will feature two public hearings.
The first is a special use permit for the Crozet Independence Day Celebration to be held at King Family Vineyards. I wrote a story about this last May for C-Ville Weekly as the celebration used to be held closer to downtown but homes now exist where a debris field used to be. (staff report)
The second is for a special use permit for the Living Earth School to operate a boarding camp for up to 250 attendees on land next to Walnut Creek Park. (staff report)
Charlottesville PC to hold public hearing on parks master plan
There was once a time when there were many public hearings before the Charlottesville Planning Commission. Since the Development Code took effect last February, not so many because the Planning Commission plays a much lesser role in individual projects.
At this meeting, there will be a public hearing on whether the $78 million Parks and Recreation Master Plan should be added to the Comprehensive Plan. You can review the document here. Or read a story I wrote a couple of months ago. (meeting packet)
“The goal of the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan is to provide a concise and user-friendly roadmap that will incorporate the community’s values to assist the City with decision-making regarding key issues,” reads the staff report.
The Planning Commission will also take up two special exceptions, a process that does not require a public hearing. In this case there are two applications for waivers from the “build-to requirements” for two projects. One is for the Bodo’s at 1418 Emmet Street and the other is for 1114 East High Street.
Fluvanna County Planning Commission to review site plan for Project Hoops
The Fluvanna County Planning Commission has a busy meeting this time around with five public hearings and a review of a site development plan. They meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Morris Room of the Fluvanna County Administration Building at 132 Main Street. (meeting packet)
The Site Development Plan is for a warehouse distribution facility on U.S. 15 on 39 acres rezoning from agricultural to industrial in January 2023.
“The facility would consist of a warehouse distribution building of approximately 108,102 square feet and a 21,029-square-foot canopy,” reads the staff report. The materials do not appear to identify the company, but there is a note that commercials goods brought to the warehouse will be redistributed within 24 hours of arrival.
Some of the public hearings were scheduled for February but postponed due to weather.
The first public hearing is for a request to withdraw a 6.78 acre parcel from the North 640 Agricultural and Forestal District. (learn more)
The second public hearing is for an amendment to the zoning ordinance to clarify that only five lots can be created during a minor subdivision. (learn more)
The third public hearing is to add the definition of “agritourism activity” in Fluvanna and to authorize such activity as a by-right use in agricultural zoning. (learn more)
The fourth public hearing is to remove the word “municipal” from two definitions in the zoning code related to solid waste. (learn more)
The fifth public hearing would make a clerical correction to the zoning ordinance related to outdoor lighting. (learn more)
The meeting ends with three items under unfinished business. One is the adoption of bylaws and rules of procedure which can be reviewed here. There’s also continued discussion on potential regulation of food trucks. Materials begin on page 54 of the packet. The third is an update on how the Comprehensive Plan community meetings are going.
Charlottesville EDA to consider agreement for 501 Cherry Avenue
One purpose for economic development authorities in Virginia is to serve as a conduit for various performance agreements. That’s the case in Charlottesville where the city’s EDA will enter into an agreement with the Piedmont Housing Alliance for the redevelopment of 501 Cherry Avenue into 71 low-income apartment units.
The EDA will meet in CitySpace at 4 p.m. for an in-person meeting that will include a resolution to approve the agreement. (meeting info)
Here’s what the language looks like:
“The Authority is proposing to provide a certain financial incentive grant (the “Grant”) to the Developer in order to encourage and induce the Developer to invest a significant amount of money into real estate improvements, described as the 501-A Cherry Avenue planned development consisting of 71 units (the “Investment”) located in the City and such 71 units are described and depicted on Exhibit A of the Agreement (the “Property”) along with the other requirements included in such Investment as set forth in Exhibit B to the Agreement,” reads one paragraph.
Under the deal, Piedmont Housing Alliance would get a rebate on the real property tax they pay for the project for a period of 30 years. The details are in the resolution, as are the requirements that Piedmont Housing Alliance has to provide. Of the 71 units, eight must be rented to households below 30 percent of the area median income (AMI). Ten units must be below households below 40 percent of the AMI, 18 units must be below 50 percent of AMI, and the rest must be below 60 percent.
Darden Towe group to review survey results on tennis court conversion
Darden Towe Park is jointly owned by Albemarle and Charlottesville and a special committee exists to make decisions about its programming. This group rarely meets but does so at 5:30 p.m. in Room 235 of the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. (meeting info)
“Albemarle County staff will share the results from the community engagement survey regarding converting the two remaining tennis courts to dedicated pickleball courts at Darden Towe Park,” reads the agenda. “The decision to engage the community was discussed and agreed by all committee members during [the] October 22, 2024, meeting.”
There were a total of 730 responses, but the results are not on the county’s Engage Albemarle page.
For more background, take a look at a story I wrote in mid-January.
In other meetings:
The Albemarle Police Citizens Advisory Committee meets at 8:30 a.m. in Room B of the county’s office building at 1600 5th Street. There’s no agenda on the county’s calendar item or the committee’s website.
The James River Water Authority will meet at 9 a.m. in the Fluvanna County Administration Building at 132 Main Street. There’s no information available in advance.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
No meetings today require long summaries. But there are four of them:
Albemarle County’s Board of Supervisors will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 241 in the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road for a second budget work session. (meeting info)
Charlottesville’s Sister Cities Commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. in the small conference room in the back of CitySpace. (agenda packet)
The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors will hold a budget work session at 5:30 p.m. in the Morris Room. (agenda)
The Crozet Community Advisory Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in the Crozet Library. They’ll get a presentation on economic development. (agenda)
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Louisa County Planning Commission to review next round of zoning amendments
The Louisa County Planning Commission will hold a work session in the Louisa County Public Meeting at 5 p.m.
There are three items under old business. These are a discussion of retail sales of controlled substances. There’s a discussion of proffers and another on focus area plans but the materials included seem to be on the agenda of every meeting.
Under new business there is a discussion of a third phase of amendments to the county’s land development regulations. These include amendments to various definitions such as a deletion of “buffering and screening yard.” These include deleting a provision that allows for subdivisions of land zoned Agricultural-2 to create up to three lots for affordable housing.
“The current regulations do not include any specific criteria requirements or mechanisms on current and future enforcement,” reads the staff report.
In other meetings:
Albemarle County’s Places29-North Community Advisory Committee will meet at the North Fork Discovery Park at 6 p.m. for their March meeting. On the agenda is a presentation on economic development as well as a follow-up on Brookhill. What was the first discussion? (agenda)
The Charlottesville City Council will hold their second budget work session at 6 p.m. in CitySpace. This one will be on outside and non-profit agencies. (agenda)
Charlottesville’s Police Civilian Oversight Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Department of Neighborhood Services in City Hall. There are four new members. (agenda) (February 13, 2025 minutes)
Friday, March 14, 2025
Charlottesville’s Historic Resources Committee meets at 10 a.m. Now that a historic marker has been installed in Court Square to mark its role in auctions of enslaved people, there are other items for the group to review.
These include:
The 50th anniversary of Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall is next year
The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is also next year
There’s a new marker going up at Johnson Elementary
There will be a market going up to commemorate the Carver Inn
There will be a discussion of how the Historic Resources Committee uses social media
There will be an update on walks that the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is taking.
What’s a lexicon infographic?
Hi Sean, Historic Resources Committee member here. "Lexicon Infographic" isn't as mysterious as the name implies. Preservation staff have been running into issues with misunderstandings about the difference between a monument, marker, memorial, interpretive sign, etc. So staff and HRC will be considering the idea of an infographic (or some type of document) to help folks understand the differences, particularly when they make requests for these items. Hope that helps!