Week Ahead for September 22, 2025: Changes coming to the Rio-29 Form-Based Code; Rivanna River Basin Commission to talk data centers at annual conference
Plus: Greene County Supervisors will learn more about the potential of drilling a new well to augment water supply
This weekly look at what’s coming up in local government is sponsored by the Piedmont Environmental Council
This week and next week will be a bit of a lull as we find ourselves in fall. Seasonal changes that come with a break in the routine can be rewarding and hopefully this will allow me to get caught up with stories from the recent past.
The Board of Commissioners of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority will get an update Monday on current projects and efforts to stave evictions
The search committee for the University of Virginia’s next president meets on Monday
The Greene County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will hear information about the potential for digging new wells for water capacity
Want to know more about water quality in the South Fork Rivanna River? The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has a community meeting on Tuesday.
The Rivanna Solid Waste Authority will get an update on installation of solar panels at the Ivy Solid Waste and Recycling Center
The Places29-Rio Community Advisory Committee on Thursday will be the first public meeting for changes being proposed to the form-based zoning code in place for portions of the Rio Road Small Area Plan
There is only one meeting in Fluvanna County on Tuesday as the Social Services Board will gather.
There are no meetings in Louisa County this week and the Board of Supervisors will come back on October 6, 2025.
Thanks as always to the Piedmont Environmental Council for their continued sponsorship of this newsletter and the work that goes into it.
Monday, September 22, 2025
CRHA Board of Commissioners to meet
The Board of Commissioners for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority will meet at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers. Meeting materials are not on the officials website but I uploaded them all so you can see them. (agenda)
The redevelopment report has updates on the South First Street Phase II project and 6th Street redevelopment projects under construction. The report also notes that CRHA entered into a partnership with the Local Energy Alliance Program to conduct energy efficiency assessments at all of the non-public housing communities which will be used to recommend improvements.
“The improvements include but are not limited to attic insulation, attic air sealant, exhaust fan installation and LED light bulb replacement,” reads the report.
This report also notes opposition organized by the Public Housing Association of Residents against a private development at 843 West Main Street that went before the Board of Architectural Review on August 19.
There is a new look to the property management report which provides a snapshot of rental activity. A total of 138 non-payment notices were sent to tenants and three notices to vacate have been issued. There are 24 pending court dates. A total of $285,034 in unpaid charges is due to CRHA.
“CRHA’s Eviction Diversion Plan (EDP) partnership between property management and resident services staff continues to grow as CRHA sees an increase in families falling behind on rent payments,” reads a section of a report from Deputy CRHA Director Kathleen Glenn-Matthews. “CRHA staff continue to look at increasing local partnerships to assist with eviction assistance funding and support programs.”
UVA Presidential search group to meet
This summer, the Trump administration put pressure on the University of Virginia Board of Visitors that forced the resignation of former President Jim Ryan. Law professor Paul Mahoney is serving as interim president.
A special committee of the UVA Board of Visitors will meet from 10 a.m. to noon in Pavilion 1, 2, and 3 of the Boar’s Head Resort at 860 Boar’s Head Drive. (meeting info)
“It will not be streamed live,” reads an entry on the Commonwealth Calendar. “Members of the public may attend the open sessions of the meetings. Limited seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.”
In other meetings:
The Jefferson Madison Regional Library’s Board of Trustees meets at Northside Library at 3 p.m. One of the items on the agenda is a consideration of a proposal to end fines as of July 1, 2026. (agenda)
Albemarle’s Historic Preservation Committee Meeting is scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. in Room C of the county’s office building at 1600 Fifth Street. There’s no agenda at publication time. Will there be a quorum? This meeting has been canceled.
The Pantops Community Advisory Committee meets at 6:15 p.m. in the Martha Jefferson Hospital Outpatient Center at 595 Martha Jefferson Drive. They will have a review of the CivicAccess program that allows people to track development projects. Take a look here! (meeting info)
The Fluvanna County Social Services Board will meet at 3 p.m. in the 1st Floor Conference Room at 8880 James Madison Highway. There’s no agenda. (meeting info)
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Greene County Board of Supervisors to discuss digging new wells for water supply
The five members of the Greene County Board of Supervisors meet at 4:30 p.m. in the County Administration Building at 40 Celt Road in Stanardsville for a work session followed by a closed session at 5:30 p.m. followed by the open session at 6:30 p.m. (meeting packet)
The work session is on temporary wells to boost water capacity until the White Run Reservoir is completed. (presentation)
According to the presentation from WW Associates, benefits to wells include a diversified water supply and enhanced water security. Disadvantages include a lack of ownership for suitable sites and “insufficient capacity to support growth for the future due to low yields.”
One well was drilled 242 feet deep in Ruckersville in 2007 and constructed in 2009 and can deliver 60 gallons per minute, but the presentation notes that the “flow may reduce over time based on volume of water in the aquifer.”
A second well at the county park was drilled 640 feet deep in 2009 and could deliver 80 gallons per minute. However, construction has not yet taken place and is estimated to cost about $1 million.
There are multiple locations for new wells and any selected must minimize potential to affect other wells as well impacts to streams and wetlands. WW Associates recommends proceeding with constructing that second well and potentially develop a site on public property near the future reservoir.
There will be a recognition of the Greene Care Clinic.
“Greene Care Clinic is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free health care
to residents of Greene County who are uninsured and whose income is below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level,” reads the resolution.
There is a public hearing on an ordinance change to bring Greene County up to state code for erosion and state control regulations.
“This ordinance is intended to facilitate the submission and approval of plans, issuance of permits, payment of fees, and coordination of inspection and enforcement activities for land-disturbing activities into a more convenient and efficient manner for both the county and those responsible for compliance with this ordinance,” reads the staff report.
On the consent agenda are some items of note:
There is an amendment to the county’s Fiscal Management Policy. I’m unclear what’s changed, if anything. Take a look here.
There is a resolution to appropriate a $150,000 grant for emergency communications from the Virginia 9-1-1 Services Board. (read the resolution)
There is a resolution to allow County Administrator Cathy Schafrik to ratify a contract with WW Associates for the “water supply and treatment project, wastewater projects, and other engineering projects as requested on an as-needed basis.” (read the document)
There is a second resolution with WW Associates to design the Stanardsville Wastewater Improvements for a lump sum of $475,000. (staff report)
At the regular meeting, there will be an action item to allow County Administrator Cathy Schafrik to apply for a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Community Flood Preparedness for the development of a county-wide resiliency plan.
“This plan will identify the areas where flooding is a concern,” reads the staff report. “Once the areas have been identified, Greene County can submit applications for grants for studies to find the appropriate mitigations for those area.”
If awarded, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission will conduct the work and their staff time will be considered the local match.
The final item will be a discussion of legislative priorities to be sent out through the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.
DEQ to hold water quality meeting for South Fork of the Rivanna River
One acronym you’ll see a lot in the field of water quality is TMDL. That stands for Total Maximum Daily Load and it describes the outcome of studies to clean up waterways.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will hold a community engagement meeting for the South Fork Rivanna River at the Crozet Library at 3 p.m. (meeting info)
The South Fork Rivanna River and some of its tributaries are considered impaired because parts cannot support aquatic life on their beds.
“TMDLs will be developed for sediment, which has been identified as the most probable contributor to the poor health of both of the impaired stream segments,” reads the meeting description. “A phosphorus TMDL will be developed for the mainstem of the South Fork Rivanna River since it has been identified as an additional stressor in the river.”
For more information on all of the TMDLs in development, visit the DEQ site. Information for the South Fork Rivanna Reservior study is at the top.
Both Rivanna authorities to meet
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority’s Board of Directors meets the fourth Tuesday of every month. But the appointed body that oversees the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority meets quarterly. Both meet on this particular Tuesday with the RSWA going first at 2 p.m. followed by the RWSA. Both are temporarily meeting at the Albemarle County Service Authority’s headquarters at 168 Spotnap Road. Spotnap is Pantops spelled backwards.
The RSWA will get an update on a solar installation on the closed landfill at the Ivy Creek Solid Waste and Recycling Center, as well as a presentation on the year-end results for FY2025. (RSWA packet)
The RWSA will vote to approve construction contracts for an expansion of the Crozet Water Treatment plant as well as the a project to repair manholes. (RWSA packet)
Both bodies will get an update on the Education Center as well as the new websites for both entities.
In other meetings:
The Charlottesville Retirement Commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. in CitySpace. They’ll welcome a new member. (agenda packet)
The Albemarle County Electoral Board will meet at 9 a.m. in Room C of the county’s office building at 1600 5th Street. There’s no agenda but the meeting page lists it as “an additional Electoral Board meeting to prepare for the upcoming general election and to address personnel matters.” (meeting info)
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office will host another Senior Safety Session at 4 p.m. at the Tuckahoe Clubhouse at 37 Stone Orchard Drive in Nellysford. (learn more)
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Rivanna River Basin Commission to hold annual conference
The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission hosts many other regional bodies including the Rivanna River Basin Commission.
“The RRBC promotes activities that foster resources and stewardship for the environmental and economic health of the basin through supplying a forum for communication, coordination, and education and by suggesting appropriate solutions to identified problems for governments and citizens,” reads the website.
One of their regular activities is an annual conference and the next one will be held on September 24 at the Center at Belvedere.
“This year's conference focuses on water supply planning in the context of data center developments and a growing need for drought resilience,” reads the page on EventBrite.
This is a ticketed event.
Albemarle Fire EMS Board to meet
The Albemarle Fire and Emergency Medical Services Board meets at 6 p.m. in the Room 235 county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. (meeting agenda)
One of the items on the agenda will be a session to provide feedback on the hiring of a new fire rescue chief for Albemarle County. Chief Dan Eggleston announced in August that he will be retiring.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Places29-Rio group to get update on form-based code
In September 2021, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors updated the county’s zoning ordinance to provide guidance for a specific section of the county.
“The Rio29 Form-Based Code was adopted into the County zoning ordinance as Section 20C in September 2021 as a method to achieve the vision of the Rio29 Small Area Plan: the creation of a vibrant, connected mixed-use community with enhanced public amenities.
In planning jargon, a form-based code that seeks to regulate size and massing of buildings rather than what happens in them. In April 2024, Supervisors adopted a resolution to find ways to change the ordinance. That work is now underway and the Places29-Rio Community Advisory Committee meeting at 6 p.m. will be the first step in a community engagement effort. (meeting info)
Learn more on the Engage Albemarle website.
Virginia Housing to hold public hearing on bond issuance for affordable housing projects
Nonprofit housing developers have a suite of tools to subsidize the cost for people to rent new construction. One of these is the issuance of low-income housing tax credits through the state entity known as Virginia Housing.
The entity, which used to be called the Virginia Housing Development Authority, then issues bonds on behalf of the projects that receive the credits. Under state law, this requires a public hearing and there will be one for the issuance of $701,420,000 million in bonds at 10 a.m. at Virginia Housing’s office at 601 South Belvidere Street in Richmond. (meeting info)
“Virginia Housing will conduct a hearing to receive comments from the general public on the proposed bonds and multi-family housing developments and will provide for a question and answer period,” reads the public notice. “In addition, persons will have an opportunity to make brief statements on the bonds and the purpose for which they are to be issued.”
One of the funded projects is for Piedmont Housing Alliance’s project to build 40 units at 1025 Park Street under an entity called 1025-B Park Street LLC. In all, the project will receive $12.85 million.
Charlottesville City Council approved a rezoning for the property in January 2022, as I reported at the time.
The Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority meets at 5 p.m. at 407 Water Street. The agenda is not available at publication time but the information should be here when it is ready.
The Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meets at 5:30 p.m. in the Key Recreation Center. There will be a discussion of school playgrounds and other outdoor space as parks when classes are not in session. (agenda)
The Nelson County Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the General District Courtroom at 84 Courthouse Square in Lovingston. The agenda is not posted at publication time. (learn more)
Friday, September 26, 2025
Just one meeting.
The Albemarle County Electoral Board will meet at 9 a.m. in Room C of the county’s office building at 1600 5th Street. There’s no agenda but the meeting page lists it as “an additional Electoral Board meeting to prepare for the upcoming general election and to address personnel matters.” (meeting info)