Week Ahead for May 18, 2026: Developers have reduced height of proposed student housing building on West Main; Albemarle Supervisors to consider changes to affordable housing process
A relatively busy week before Memorial Day
Charlottesville City Council will adopt a resolution recognizing May as Dementia Awareness month. This particular Sunday I’m very aware as I am on a trip visiting my parents who both have forms of the cognitive condition. Today was the day I helped them speak with people far away and I’ve been a bit distracted. And fairly exhausted!
As a result this edition may be a bit shorter than usual and I’ll spare you the usual boilerplate about the importance of covering meetings of local government. My passion and interest are both likely evident as you go through this week’s entries, but there may be gaps this time around.
In any case, thanks to the Piedmont Environmental Council for their sponsorship of this Sunday edition.
Highlights this week:
Charlottesville City Council on Monday will have work sessions on the future of the Police Civilian Oversight Board and the homestay ordinance, and will consider a power purchase agreement for solar panels on Charlottesville Middle School.
Louisa Supervisors on Monday will hold a public hearing on amending the Comprehensive Plan to add a policy on the siting of electric transmission lines.
The developers of a proposed student housing building in the 800 block of West Main Street have reduced the height from eleven to 8 stories.
The Albemarle Economic Development Authority on Tuesday will discuss “catalyst projects” that might spark more business activity in the future. What are they? Not listed in the meeting materials.
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors on Wednesday will discuss changes to the way the Albemarle Housing Investment Program works each year to move up deadlines to better fit the timing needs of nonprofit developers.
A new version of a proposed 18-unit development in Crozet has prompted a special meeting Wednesday of the Crozet Community Association, not to be confused with the Crozet Community Advisory Council. They’ll be there, too.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Charlottesville City Council to consider agreement for solar panels on Charlottesville Middle School
There are two topics on the agenda for Charlottesville City Council’s 4 p.m. work session.
One is on proposed revisions to the ordinance that governs the Police Civilian Oversight Board.
“The current ordinance, last substantively amended in 2021 (minor amendments made more recently), authorizes the Board to receive and investigate complaints, investigate incidents, hold hearings, recommend discipline in individual cases, and compel testimony through subpoena,” reads the staff report.
However, there have been “structural tensions” that limit the PCOB’s authority including the collective bargaining agreement. The board has a budget of $391,039 in FY2026. There are more details about the proposed revisions in a slide deck.
Next, Council will get a presentation on the city’s homestay ordinance and a recent study of the regulations.
“City Staff recommends maintaining the current Home Stay/[Short-Term Rental] Ordinance at this time, without amendments,” reads the staff report.
The Planning Commission reviewed this work on March 24 and I wrote up an account.
Council will go into closed session to consider appointments to boards and commissions.
When they return they’ll have proclamations for Public Works Week (May 17 through May 23) and May as Dementia Awareness Month.
There are four action items:
The first is to authorize City Manager Sam Sanders to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement to install solar panels on top of Charlottesville Middle School. (staff report)
The second is to refund $33,863.14 in business personal property tax to a business that is actually in Albemarle County. (staff report)
The third is to approve the 2026 Homeowner Assistance Grant Program to help defray real property taxes (staff report)
The fourth is on a request to place three sculptures made from the melted down Robert E. Lee statue in three public parks. (staff report)
Louisa Supervisors holding public hearing to add electric transmission policy to Comprehensive Plan
The seven members of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5 p.m. for a closed session followed by a regular meeting at 6 p.m. (meeting overview)
One of the first items on the agenda is discussion of the financial impact of the special election on local government. There’s no material available in advance.
There are three resolutions under new business.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is seeking a budget transfer of $670,000 to cover overtime costs in FY2026. The suggested source is money budgeted for other departments that not been spent due to vacant positions. (resolution)
Supervisors will be asked to authorize up to $65,000 on new playground equipment at the Betty Queen Center. (resolution)
The third is to purchase up to $174,000 of equipment to improve recycling. (resolution)
There will be a public hearing on amending the Comprehensive Plan to add an Electric Transmission and Corridor Policy.
“The purpose of this addendum is to address the siting and evaluation of electric transmission infrastructure,” reads the resolution. “This policy establishes a clear, consistent framework to guide local decision-making and regional engagement while aligning with the County’s long-term land use, growth management, and rural preservation goals.”
In two other meetings:
The University of Virginia Board of Visitors Executive Compensation Committee will meet Monday, May 18, 2026 from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. (meeting info)
The Board of Trustees of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will meet at 3 p.m. in the Gordon Avenue Library. On the agenda is a FY2027 budget update, a discussion of metrics for the fine free program, and information on the upcoming summer reading program. (agenda)
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
LV Collective reduces height of proposed West Main building to eight stories
The Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review meets at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers for their regular meeting for May.
There are two items for action. One is for window replacements at 110 3rd Street NE and the other is for an individually protected property at 1615 Keith Valley Road.
But there are also two items on the agenda for pre-application conferences with the first being for an apartment building in the 800 block of West Main Street. A previous pre-application conference was held on August 19, 2025 as I reported for C-Ville Weekly.
“Facing West Main, the primary elevation has been reduced from 11 stories to eight stories,” reads the story “At the rear, adjacent to Westhaven, the height has been reduced from 11 stories to six stories.”
The second pre-application conference is for eleven townhomes at 526 Valley Road and 528 Valley Road. The BAR also saw this in February as I reported in this newsletter. There have been some adjustments since that time.
Albemarle Economic Development Authority to discuss “catalyst” projects
One factor in a community’s future is the amount of emphasis placed on economic development. For the past 16 years, Albemarle County has been putting more and more resources toward attracting and retaining businesses in key fields.
Last summer, the Board of Supervisors adopted a new Economic Development Strategic Plan which builds on two previous versions that paved the way for the county’s purchase of land around Rivanna Station for the Rivanna Futures industrial park.
“The plan works in concert with land use, housing, and infrastructure goals, and serves as the County’s blueprint for advancing economic opportunity over the next five years,” reads the executive summary of that plan which sets five goals intended to position Albemarle as a leader in the “innovation economy.”
The work is governed by the Albemarle Economic Development Authority, a group that meets at 4 p.m. in Room 241 of the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. (meeting info) (agenda)
There will be a public hearing on a request from Kappa Sigma to finance bonds through the Appomattox Economic Development Authority.
The EDA Board of Directors will also discuss ideas for catalytic projects to attract even more business to the county. There was a presentation on this topic at the April meeting complete with a list, but this list is not available online either for that event or this one. Why not include the information?
The EDA will go into a closed session to discuss a performance agreement with the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center including legal matters.
EDA meetings are important to review and cover but often the only chance I get is when I read the minutes. Here are some highlights from April.
The EDA voted 6-1 to enter into an agreement with Penny’s Imperfect Pizza for a state grant known from the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development program. Frank Friedman cast the lone no vote.
The EDA got an update on an ongoing grant to study ways to increase revenue for the wine industry.
There was an update on PVCC’s Biotech and Life Sciences Workforce Pathways program. This would have made a good story.
The EDA agreed to spend $15,000 as a local match for a federal grant to attract direct air service to Boston. This is seen as an important way to grow the biotech sector.
Albemarle committee to meet to begin audit of FY26 budget
There are 45 days remaining in the current fiscal year. Albemarle Supervisors adopted a $638,093,637 budget last May. How well has it held up as the year progressed? WIll there be more left over at the end of the year when the budget is audited?
Those questions are likely somewhere in the minds of county staff and members of the Albemarle Audit Committee. The group consists of two Supervisors, one School Board members, a top school official, County Executive Jeffrey Richardson, and Chief Finance Officer Jacob Sumner.
According to the county website, the committee’s “primary function is to assist the Board in carrying out its oversight responsibilities by reviewing financial information provided in the County’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, by reviewing any material weaknesses in the County’s system of internal accounting controls, as reported by the external auditor, and by reviewing the annual audit process and its results.”
If you’re interested in this topic, you can find Albemarle’s financial reports dating back to 2011 at this link.
The group meets virtually at 1 p.m. for their organizational meeting for the year. (agenda) (meeting info)
In one other meeting:
Albemarle County will have an E-Bike demo at the McIntire Road County Office Building beginning at 4:30 p.m. (learn more)
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Albemarle Supervisors to weigh in on changes to process for affordable housing fund
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors begins their second meeting of May at the slightly later time of 2:30 p.m. (meeting info) (agenda)
Should a three-car garage illegally built in a stream buffer be removed or allowed to stay? That’s the main question in a consideration of a special exception request from a landowner who built a three-car garage within a stream protection buffer. (item materials)
“Rather than pursue removal of the structure, the current owners are seeking relief from this ordinance provision to allow the structure and improvements to remain in the stream buffer,” reads the staff report.
The previous owner constructed without a building permit and the new owners bought the property without knowing the structure was not in compliance. That owner had applied for one, got denied, and built the garage anyway.
“We believe the best option for the current owners, the County, and the environment writ large, is to mitigate the stream buffer encroachment by planting various landscaping in the surrounding area per the enclosed landscaping plan,” reads the site plan from Shimp Engineering.
Next up, Supervisors will further discuss the process by which candidate projects for the Albemarle Housing Investment Fund are to be reviewed. The fund was created in 2019 but only received a dedicated funding source with a tax increase that was part of the FY2025 budget.
For some background, here are a few stories I wrote.
Albemarle supes delay vote on $3.5 million in housing funds to get more details on process, March 11, 2026
$4 million in affordable housing projects approved by county supes, March 25, 2026, March 25, 2026
County supes find $2 million for housing fund after declining property tax rate increase, April 22, 2026
After receiving feedback from the board, staff are now proposing changes.
“The updated process would have an application deadline in July 2026, with applications ultimately going to the Board of Supervisors for formal approval in October 2026, well in advance of the Board’s consideration of the Fiscal Year 2028 budget and the spring Low Income Housing Tax Credit application process,” reads the staff report.
After that there will be a discussion of the budget process. There’s no advanced materials for this item.
Then there will be a closed meeting and Supervisors will come back at 6 p.m. for two public hearings.
One is for a utility easement on county-owned property along Townwood Drive to the Albemarle County Service Authority (item materials)
The second is for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Secondary Six-Year Plan for Albemarle. (item materials)
There are many items on the consent agenda worth noting:
Supervisors will adopt the official payscale for FY2027 (item materials)
They’ll also adopt an agreement for a program that reimburses county employees for tuition (item materials)
Supervisors will initiate a public hearing for June 17 on a two percent increase in their compensation. (learn more)
Supervisors will also hold a public hearing that same day for a two percent increase in compensation for other boards and commissions. (learn more)
There will also be a public hearing on June 17 for the county to join the Virginia Municipal Trust Fund. (learn more)
The final public hearing to be scheduled for June 17 relates to the transfer of county-owned land to the Virginia Department of Transportation for a “continuous green-T intersection at Rio Road and Belvedere Boulevard. (learn more)
In what seems to be a trend, Supervisors will vote for funding for a transportation project without discussing it. They’re seeking funds through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All for improvements to the intersection of Hydraulic Road and Lambs Road. The county has committed $2.9 million in transportation leveraging funds. Albemarle has not officially updated its transportation priority list since 2019. (learn more)
The developers of Old Dominion Village in Crozet are seeking six variations to their code of development approved as part of a rezoning in August 2022. One is the relocation of a road that had hoped to be built on top of a natural gas easement. Seems like a big item to be on the consent agenda. (item materials)
Fluvanna Supervisors to get updates on water projects, new EMS districts after Albemarle pulls back
The five members of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Circuit Courtroom in the Fluvanna Courts Building. (agenda packet)
There are five presentations to begin the meeting:
The first is on revised response districts for Emergency Medical Service. Albemarle County Fire Rescue currently provides “first due” services in the Scottsville area and in the Kidds Store section of Fluvanna. Albemarle wants to reduce this service and Supervisors will review the latest version of the map. (learn more)
The second is an update on the Fork Union Water Supply Project. There’s no advanced material.
The third is an update on the fire training building. There’s no advanced material.
The fourth is an update on the Historic Courthouse restoration. There’s no advanced material.
The fifth is an update on the James River Water Authority’s project. There’s no advanced material.
Under action items there are three meetings:
There is a resolution to upgrade a clerk position in the Circuit Court. (learn more)
There is a resolution for a two percent bonus for employees in the general registrar’s office and members of the Electoral Board. (learn more)
There is a resolution to advertise a public hearing to amend the county code related to the county’s ordinance on the sale of water through hydrant meters. This would happen on June 17, 2026. (learn more)
There is a public hearing on VDOT’s Secondary Six-Year Plan. (learn more)
Crozet Community Advisory Committee to attend Crozet Community Association
On May 26, the Albemarle Planning Commission will have a public hearing on a rezoning for a project called Windy Knoll in Crozet. In my reporting, I have lately prioritized covering what’s happening in northern Albemarle where there are hundreds of units in the pipeline.
One item on my list of stories waiting to be written is an update on this project which I have covered.
Rezoning filed for 22 units in Crozet, June 10, 2025
22-unit Windy Knoll project in Crozet deferred, August 11, 2025
Windy Knoll development in Crozet returns with fewer units, October 9, 2025
Albemarle Planning Commission wants to see another design for Windy Knoll, February 26, 2026
The Crozet Community Association will hold a special meeting at the Crozet Library at 7 p.m. to have a discussion on the latest version of the proposal. This group is not a function of Albemarle but a separate organization.
The Crozet Community Advisory Council will hold a meeting at the same time but the county’s website doesn’t offer an agenda.
This project was before the Crozet CAC last June. The minutes from that meeting contain a lot of comments about this project that reflect serious opposition from the community. This is one of the lines at the end:
“Community member was belligerent about the time left for discussion.”
As with the version seen by the Planning Commission in February, the proposal calls for 18 units on a 3.146 in two building envelopes at a density of six units per acre.
More on this before the May 26 work session but you can see the materials in the land use portal here.
In other meetings:
The Albemarle Fire Rescue Committee will meet at 1800 hours in the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road in Room 235. (agenda) (meeting info)
The Greene County Planning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. in the county meeting room at 40 Celt Road. There is a public hearing for a special use permit to allow livestock to be kept on 16 acres zoned Residential-1. (meeting packet)
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Sleepy day? Or maybe I missed some things? This is very possible today. In any case, three meetings that I know of:
The Quality Subcommittee of the Health System Board of the University of Virginia will meet on Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (learn more)
The Charlottesville Human Rights Commission will meet at 6 p.m. There’s no agenda at publication time.
The Fifth and Avon Community Advisory Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in Room A of the county’s office building at 1600 5th Street Extended. There’s no agenda at publication time.
Friday, May 22, 2026
Albemarle County Fire Rescue to offer car seat checks
In March, Albemarle County Executive Jeffrey Richardson told the Board of Supervisors that Albemarle Fire Rescue installed 199 car seats for infants in 2025.
“Many families don’t realize that you can bring a car seat to any one of our ACFR fire stations and have it inspected and properly installed by a firefighter who is also a certified car seat technician,” Richardson said at the time.
Will that number be higher in 2026?
The department will offer more chances to have them installed at a two-hour event beginning at 10 a.m. at the Mission BBQ Parking Lot at 3912 Lenox Avenue.
“Bring your car seat and get it properly installed—no sign-up needed,” reads the meeting info page. “Safety first for your little one.”
