April 16, 2025: Meetings in Albemarle, Amelia, Charlotte, and Fluvanna
Another reduced-scope edition that nevertheless is in your inbox!
A problem with springtime is I’m much more tired because of the pollen and the sunshine. Today this meant I did not get to work as quickly, and the day is bunching together so this is a reduced version because I need to prep to go cover a court hearing in Charlottesville.
So that’s why this one is short. I’m going to figure out how to make this work and it’s okay that not all editions are as full as I would like. No reading material, even! I need to remember what’s about this court case. Will I once again be the only reporter in the room?
I hope not.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Amelia County Supervisors to welcome new County Administrator
The Amelia County Board of Supervisors has hired a new county administrator and he will be introduced at tonight’s meeting which begins at 7 p.m. in the Amelia County Conference Room. Eric Pollitt was previously town manager of Tappahannock as you can learn in the Rappahannock Times. (agenda packet)
The consent agenda contains a lot of appointments to board and commissions as well as a resolution to the Amelia Emergency Squad for reimbursement for an ambulance that was totaled in an incident on March 3. Insurance paid out $144,350.
After a series of reports, there will first be a public hearing for a community development matter. This is for an application for a special exception request for a kennel.
Then there will be a public hearing for a transfer of property to the School Board and then action on the meals tax and setting due dates for other taxes. Supervisors will meet again on April 21 for a budget work session.
Charlotte Board of Supervisors to meet
The agenda for today’s meeting of the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors is not posted in the usual place. The information that is present indicates there will be a closed session at 3 p.m. followed by a work session with the Virginia Department of Transportation at 4 p.m. followed by a budget work session. There will be a public hearing on the budget on May 1. Look here for the meetings.
Public hearing before Albemarle Supervisors for Berkmar Flats rezoning
The six members of the Albemarle Board of Supervisors will meet at 1 p.m. in Lane Auditorium in the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. There are public comment opportunities soon after the meeting begins and again at 6 p.m. (agenda)
There are two action items to begin the meeting. The first is a special exception for a homestay at 3130 Sugar Hill Lane in the White Hall Magisterial District. The second is for a request for a private central sewer system for Old Dominion Village. This is an 111-unit development in Crozet. There does not appear to be a staff report in the packet. (take a look at the materials)
Next up is another work session on the Comprehensive Plan. This time around Supervisors will take a look at the draft economic development chapter and the draft community facilities chapter. Except, the economic development chapter is called “Thriving Economy” for some reason. (take a look at the materials)
So far this month, I have been able to get out two stories about AC44 with the first being a check-in with Albemarle Supervisors on the Development Area Land Use Chapter. The other was one from the Architectural Review Board and their review of the Cultural Resources chapter. I have so far been unable to get to the Planning Commission’s discussion of the housing chapter but I hope to get to that this week.
There are two public hearings on land use items in the evening session beginning at 6 p.m.
The first is for a rezoning from R-6 to R-15 at 2175 Woodburn Road for a project called Berkmar Flats. Four people spoke out against this at a public hearing before the Planning Commission on June 11, 2024. The project was retooled to address some of their concerns and another public hearing was held on January 28 of this year. The Planning Commission recommended approval. (item materials)
The second is for a special use permit for a new commercial kennel at 3225 Gilbert Station Road that would have capacity for up to 12 dogs. The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval on January 28, 2025. (item materials)
Fluvanna Supervisors to hold public hearing on FY26 budget
The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Fluvanna County Circuit Courtroom at 72 Main Street in Palmyra. (agenda packet)
The first item will be a presentation on the Move Safely Blue Ridge initiative from staff with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Nelson County Supervisors had this briefing last week and that’s on my list of upcoming stories but here’s some background for you.
“The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) has been working with consultant Kimley Horn on a regional safety action plan, Move Safely Blue Ridge, to identify strategies for reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries for all road users within the TJPDC region,” reads the staff report.
The TJPDC was awarded federal funding for this project and I hope to have an update on that aspect this week as well. The full draft report is available for review and would make a great story. It’s quite detailed and the public should have stories that can being the information to them.
There are four action items:
One is an authorization to hold a public hearing on May 21 for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Secondary Six Year Plan. (learn more)
The second is a proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month. (learn more)
There is an authorization to hold a public hearing on May 21 to clarify county codes that property assessments should be done every two years. (learn more)
The fourth is for a waiver request to the Department of Elections for Fluvanna County to be able to administer a split precinct related to the town of Scottsville. The town is within House District 55 whereas the rest of Fluvanna County is in District 56. That’s around 19 voters.
Goodness. There are seven public hearings.
The first is for an amendment to a previous Special Use Permit related to a caretaker’s house. (learn more)
The second is for a request for a property to be removed from the North 640 Agricultural and Forestal District. (learn more)
The third is for a temporary construction easement for Zion 3 North LLC related to the future WaWa. (learn more)
The fourth is for the operations budget for FY2026, the tax rate for 2025, and the capital improvement program. Actual adoption is scheduled for April 23. (learn more)
The fifth is on an amendment to the zoning code to clarify that no more than five lots can be created from one. (learn more)
The sixth one is on the same amendment, just with extra language. (learn more)
The seventh public hearing is on an amendment to the zoning code to define “agritourism activity” and to authorize these as by-right uses in land zoned “Agricultural-1.” (learn more)
The consent agenda includes two temporary pay increases for two officers of the Sheriff’s Department and three requests for additional capital funding.