Cville Land Use: Week Ahead for August 11, 2025

Posted on by Sean Tubbs

This time around there’s an economic development theme.

  • Fluvanna County’s Economic Development Authority will get an update Monday on the development of that locality’s next Comprehensive Plan
  • Charlottesville’s Economic Development Authority will hold a public hearing Tuesday on the issuance of up to $50 million for the demolition and replacement of the University of Virginia Alumni Association’s headquarters on Emmet Street
  • The Albemarle Board of Supervisors is slated Wednesday to adopt an economic development strategic plan at a joint meeting with the Albemarle Economic Development Authority
  • Greene County Supervisors will have a public hearing on a rezoning for land near the new Wawa for what developers call a future town center
  • Nelson County Supervisors will adopt a resolution Tuesday reaffirming support for a future roundabout at intersection of Route 6 and Route 151
  • Albemarle’s Places29-North group will have a community meeting Thursday for a proposal to increase the maximum number of dwelling units in a section of the Hollymead Town Center
  • Louisa County’s Planning Commission to hold public hearing on proposed zoning changes to create definition of “humanitarian shelter” at request groups who want to house the unhoused in winter
  • There’s a community meeting in Fluvanna County Thursday for a proposal to build a new power plant fueled by natural gas

Thanks to the Piedmont Environmental Council for their continued support for the work that goes into this research week.

Monday, August 11, 2025

There are just two meetings today and neither has a story I can tell in advance.

  • The Economic Development Authority of Fluvanna County will meet at 5 p.m at the county administration building at 132 Main Street in Palmyra. They’ll hear reports from the Comprehensive Plan committees and will go through the current budget. (meeting agenda)
  • The Places29-Hydraulic Community Advisory Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the media center at Greer Elementary School. That’s at 190 Lambs Lane. In addition to electing anew chair, they’ll get updates from the Virginia Department of Transportation as well as updates from Jack Jouett District Supervisor Diantha McKeel and Planning Commissioner Julian Bivins. For more stories on transportation, check out this section on Information Charlottesville. (meeting info)

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Greene Supervisors to hold public hearing on rezoning of land near new Wawa

The five members of the Greene County Board of Supervisors will meet at 4:30 p.m for a work session on financing water and sewer projects. This information is not available at publication time.

Then they’ll go into closed session before a regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. (meeting overview)

There will also be a public hearing for a rezoning of a portion of 18.55 acres of land on U.S. 33. The request seeks changing 0.29 acres of land from R–2 Residential to B-2 Business General as well as 6.14 acres of land from R-2 to B-3 Business Highway and High Intensity. The Planning Commission recommended approval on a 5-0 vote at its meeting in July.

The developers are Milestone Partners who have been slowly acquiring property in the southeast quadrant of the intersection of U.S. 29 and U.S. 33.

“Stage one of the process is underway with the redevelopment of the 29/33 corner which will include a Wawa and new access roads to serve future development in the area,” reads their narrative.

There is no specific use proposed in the rezoning but Milestone Partners wants the rezoning so they can move forward with the next stage.

“The proposed rezoning from R-2 to B-3 represents sound land use planning that capitalizes on the property’s strategic location, supports economic development goals, and serves community needs while maintaining compatibility with surrounding land uses,” the narrative continues.

The materials for the rezoning indicate broad categories for future land uses at the site (Credit: Milestone Partners)

There will also be a presentation on software from the firm Legislaide which would use so-called Artificial Intelligence to help with drafting of county documents and correspondence.

“The Legislaide AI Paralegal Suite offers Greene County a tool to streamline administrative and legal support tasks by using the County’s own data for search, drafting, and review,” reads the staff report. “The product allows comparison of each county code to other related county codes, to the county Comprehensive Plan and finally the Code of Virginia.”

The consent agenda includes a resolution to transfer $50,000 of funds from the Tourism Occupancy Tax to Greene Commons to cover some of the costs of building restrooms there. The Perry Foundation is picking up $37,000 of the cost. There’s also a new memorandum of understanding to reflect the new arrangement.

One of the two business items is a vote on those financing options.

Nelson Supervisors to reaffirm support for Route 151/Route 6 roundabout

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors will begin their day at 2 p.m. in the General District Courtroom in Lovingston. They’ll have a second session that begins at 7 p.m. (meeting packet)

During the presentation from the Virginia Department of Transportation, Supervisors will consider a resolution of continued support for a project funded by Smart Scale to build a roundabout at Route 6 and Route 151. (learn more)

“The proposed project is a result of two planning studies of Route 151 conducted in 2013 and 2024, with the vision of a Route 151 corridor that serves the needs of all users and stakeholders while maximizing safety; preserving the corridor’s rural character, local sense of place, and high quality of life; and promoting place-based economic vitality,” reads a summary of a design public hearing held in late May.

The project has a cost estimate of $15.3 million and is expected to be advertised for construction bids in the summer of 2027.

A schematic of the proposed roundabout (Credit: VDOT)

Supervisors will also get a presentation on the Nelson County Community Development Foundation’s residential project in Roseland.

“We are using the HUD HOME American Rescue Plan to address the need for homelessness assistance and supportive services,” reads a presentation. “We have access to a total of $347,405.”

The plan is to build three duplexes on about five acres of land owned by the foundation.

The third presentation is on the county’s emergency operations plan. You can read the draft here.

“The purpose of the plan is to establish the legal and organizational basis for operations in Nelson County to effectively respond to and recover from all-hazards disasters and/or emergency situations,” writes John Adkins, Nelson’s director of emergency services.

There are four items under new and unfinished business. The first is an authorization to grant Coleman-Adams a contract to build the new building for the Department of Social Services. The second is a purchase order to buy furniture for the same building. Learn more about the project in this story from July 21.

There will be a vote on water and sewer rates for Piney River. (learn more)

There will also be a vote to consider rescheduling the November meeting due to November 11 being Veterans Day.

The main item in the evening session is a public hearing on a request from a landowner to withdraw 196.4 acres of land from an agricultural-forestal district. Learn more here.

Supervisors will have a work session on August 19 on space needs for county government.

Charlottesville EDA to sign off on $50 million in bonds for UVA Alumni Association

The Charlottesville Economic Development Authority will meet at 4 p.m. in CitySpace for a regular meeting. These meetings are not televised but there are materials in the agenda to review in advance. (take a look)

Members of the public can provide comments at the beginning of the meeting. No one did so at the May 13 meeting according to the minutes.

There are four items under new business.

The first two are related. One is the initial approval of a resolution to authorize the issuance of $50 million in revenue bonds to help the University of Alumni Association finance of the demolition of Alumni Hall and construction of a new version on the same site. A public meeting was held for the project in late April 2024 as I wrote at the time.

“Our vision is to build a wholly new facility on the same parcel of land that can serve the needs of our ever-evolving alumni, UVA, and Charlottesville community,” said Lily West, the association’s president & CEO. “We are calling it ‘A Home for Every Hoo.’”

This involves a public hearing as advertised in the August 5, 2025 Daily Progress.

The second is the final approval of the same issuance. Why are both on the same agenda?

The third item is a review of goal 2 of the city’s relatively new economic development strategic plan (EDSP). Goal 2 is “Intentional and Innovative Growth” and will specially be an update on the Cville Match program.

“The CVille Match program provides additional funding for businesses that receive federal or state grants,” reads more details in the EDSP. “This funding is specifically for businesses in the research, innovation, and technology development space or for businesses in traded-sector industries looking to expand.”

This information is not in the packet but here’s a link to the city’s EDSP. Who decides which projects get funded?

More information on the Cville Match program from the EDSP (Credit: City of Charlottesville)

The fourth is a discussion and a resolution to approve the Charlottesville Affordable Bridge Loan. This is a product of an EDA committee.

“The goal is to create a simple and easy to use program to help non-profit housing developers and investors move quickly to preserve affordable housing in the City,” reads the minutes from the May 13 meeting.

There’s more detail in the EDA’s packet.

“CEDA wishes to deploy a portion its available working cash in the form of short-term loans or limited term lines of credit to not for-profit housing organizations that are active in preserving and/or creating affordable housing for low-to-moderate income individuals or families within the City,” reads an information sheet.

According to materials in the packet, there is a proposal to provide $500,000 to the Piedmont Housing Alliance for a line of credit to purchase property.

How does this fit into the greater backdrop of funding for housing projects in the City of Charlottesville? Who makes the decisions on which nonprofits are selected?

In one other meeting:
  • The Fluvanna County Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. in the county administration building at 132 Main Street in Palmyra. There are three public hearings including one to reflect new state legislation that reduced local control over the site plan process by mandating faster reviews and eliminating a role played by the Planning Commission. (meeting packet)

Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Albemarle Supervisors to meet with authority on economic development strategic plan

Albemarle County is close to completing two major plans intended to guide policy decisions related to how local government staff do their job and what can get built where.

One of them is the Comprehensive Plan which will continue decades of a growth management policy to contain development to a small portion of the county’s 726 square miles. The other is an economic development strategic plan (EDSP) which encourages a continued focus on the defense/national security secretary as well as the biomedical industry.

Some in the community have expressed concern the EDSP will undermine rural area protections in the Comprehensive Plan. Others argue that the plan seeks to help maximize the development area.

Here are a few stories from the past year:

The Albemarle Board of Supervisors will have a joint meeting with the Economic Development Authority in Room 241 of the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road beginning at 4 p.m. (meeting info) (agenda)

“Over the past 12 months, staff have worked with a consultant to conduct data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and solicit community input to develop the draft economic development strategic plan,” reads the staff report.

Before we get into the plan itself, it’s worth documenting the volume of community input.

An image in the engagement summary describes how many people participated in the development of the EDSP. View the summary. (Credit: City of Charlottesville)

The EDSP’s subtitle is “A Blueprint to Lead Virginia’s Innovation Economy” and language in the executive summary explains that the plan is to work “in concert” with other plans but is intended to augment the business sector.

“Anchors like the University of Virginia and Health System, Piedmont Virginia Community College, and Rivanna Station position the County at the intersection of research & development in engineering, digital technology, and life sciences, workforce development, and

Entrepreneurship,” reads the executive summary. “Yet only 11.3% of Albemarle’s tax base comes from commercial and industrial uses — among the lowest in the Commonwealth — and the share of prime working-age residents (25–44) trails peer regions”

The goals are worth a review:

  • Goal 1: Lead in Intelligence and National Security—We will lead Virginia’s intelligence and national security innovation economy
  • Goal 2: Discover In Life Sciences—We will grow into the Mid-Atlanic’s premier destination for biotechnology and life sciences innovation
  • Goal 3: Grow a Modern Agribusiness Economy—We will transform Albemarle’s agricultural legacy into a modern agribusiness economy
  • Goal 4: Empower talent—We will make Albemarle the place where talent and entrepreneurs stay, scale, and succeed
  • Goal 5: Compete for Investment—We will position Albemarle as Virginia’s most investment-ready county—ready to compete, build, and lead

The agenda includes a resolution to approve the EDSP. The Comprehensive Plan is currently set for adoption in mid-October.

In other meetings:
  • The James River Water and Sewer Authority will meet at 9 a.m. in the Fluvanna County administration building in Palmyra. There’s no agenda available. (meeting info)
  • The Crozet Community Advisory Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in the Crozet Library at 2020 Library Avenue in Crozet. The main item on this meeting is a presentation from Albemarle County Parks and Recreation as well as the Crozet Trails Crew. (agenda) (meeting info)

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Places29-North group to review rezoning for portion of Hollymead Town Center

The area known as Hollymead Town Center came about through multiple rezonings including one for an area known as “Area C” that was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors on August 6, 2003. Since then there has been at least one amendment and now another one has been requested.

Shimp Engineering has filed documents to amend the Code of Development to make several changes. The property owner seeks to allow the maximum number of units within Area C from 370 to 410 and make various other adjustments.

“When HTC Area C was first approved, it was imagined as a predominantly commercial development,” reads the narrative. “Over the years, as many of the commercial parcels sat vacant, it became evident that the incorporation of additional residential units within HTC Area C was necessary to support the commercial areas within Area C as well as the large commercial areas that were constructed within Hollymead Town Center Areas A and B”

This amendment seeks to rearrange where residential density is allowed throughout all of Area C. Areas covered by Code of Developments are divided into blocks.

The Places29-North Community Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m. in a virtual meeting for the official community meeting for this project. Feedback will be incorporated into the eventual public hearing before the Albemarle Planning Commission. (meeting info) (agenda)

The block system in Area C of Hollymead Town Center Area (Credit: Shimp Engineering)

Albemarle solid waste panel to discuss ban on stryrofoam food containers

The Albemarle Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 246 of the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. (meeting info) (agenda)

The group was created in 2016 following a report on solid waste issues in the community.

“The creation of this Committee is consistent with the Long Range Solid Waste Solutions Advisory Committee’s 2015 Final Committee Report, the County’s Comprehensive Plan, the organizational vision of Albemarle County, and the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan facilitated by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission,” reads SWAAC’s website.

At this meeting, the group will discuss their charge as well as their end of year report. They’ll also discuss a letter about the ban on styrofoam containers that is now in effect in Virginia.

“The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 2021 that will ban the use of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) by food vendor,” reads a page on the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s website. “Currently the ban is to take effect in two phases: food vendors with 20 or more Virginia locations must stop using EPS containers by July 1, 2025, while all other food vendors must comply by July 1, 2026.”

A copy of SWAAC’s letter is not in the agenda packet.

Charlottesville Police Civilian Review Board to lack quorum once again

Charlottesville’s Police Civilian Review Board does not have enough members to make a quorum.

Appointed and elected bodies cannot take action unless they have more than half of their full make-up.

The group will meet anyway at 6:30 p.m. and will learn about steps to make the body whole.

“City Council interviews of prospective Board candidates tentatively scheduled for August 18 for two at-large seats,” reads the agenda. “Applicant window extended for candidates from public housing or historically disadvantaged communities.”

Natural gas utility plans expansion in Fluvanna County

A company called Tenaska will hold a community meeting at Fluvanna County High School to provide information about a proposed expansion at 6:30 p.m. Both the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission will convene an official meeting in order to allow more than two members to attend.

“Tenaska has been operating an award-winning natural gas power plant in Fluvanna County since 2004,” reads the calendar item. “As energy demand continues to grow in Virginia, we are considering an additional natural gas-fueled power plant that would provide reliable power and economic value for the community.”

The proposal is to build a 1,540 megawatt facility near their existing facility. Learn more at this website.

An overview of Tenaska’s proposed expansion plans. Learn more at this website. (Credit: Tenaska)

Louisa County Planning Commission to hold work session on emergency shelters

The Louisa Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. in the Louisa County Public Meeting Room. They’ll hold a public hearing on the Land Development Regulations on a proposal to allow emergency shelters as a by-right use in certain locations.

“Since 2019, the County has required a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for emergency shelters, which were then defined as ‘a facility providing temporary housing for one or more individuals who are temporarily or permanently homeless,’” reads the staff report.

A coalition of groups wants places of worship to be able to offer emergency shelters, as I reported for C-Ville Weekly in April. Now the Community Development Department has come up with new definition of a “Humanitarian Shelter” that would still need to go through the conditional use permit process.

An overview of the proposed changes in the ordinance (Credit: Louisa County Community Development

In other meetings:

  • The Albemarle Board of Equalization will hold a public hearing at 8:30 a.m. in the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. There is no information about the meeting. (learn more)
  • The Albemarle Conservation Easement Authority meets at 4:45 p.m. in Room 235 of the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. They will take up three utility easement requests and three proposals. (meeting info) (agenda)

Friday, August 15, 2025

Charlottesville City Council to hold two-day retreat

Once a year or so, elected bodies convene for a special meeting where they’ll take a deeper look at what their local government is doing and what changes in direction might be made in the future.

These are often facilitated by an outside group and the City of Charlottesville has hired a company called Spill Teem for this time around.

“We’re a group of Human-Centered strategists, speakers,and workshop designers with an extensive background in service, product, and behavioral design,” reads a description in the materials that are available for review in advance.

Last February, the group presented the Nelson County Board of Supervisors with marketing materials for the Village of Lovingson.

On Friday and Saturday, Council will meet at the Wool Factory for this retreat. Day One will be about “Understanding” and Day Two will be about “Exploring.” (meeting info)

All of the work is in service of creating a new strategic plan to guide the work of local government. That’s a different document than a Comprehensive Plan, which sets an overall vision. The two are related, but developed and approved separately.

For more stories on strategic plans, take a look at this tab on Information Charlottesville.

The agenda for day one of the City Council Retreat (Credit: Spill Team)

This post was contributed by Sean Tubbs. Sean is a journalist working to build a new information and news outlet centered around Charlottesville and Virginia. In 2020, he launched a daily newscast and newsletter and also created a semi-regular podcast on the pandemic.

Support for Sean’s “Week Ahead” update comes from The Piedmont Environmental Council.