Public invited to zoning open house in Albemarle; Charlottesville to hold budget forum
The first of at least two newsletters in an oddly configured week
Two stories today, and both were originally published over on Charlottesville Community Engagement. This is an odd week. I’ll have at least one more installment tomorrow which may or may not contain an election update. For now, on to the two stories!
Albemarle to kick off public phase of zoning ordinance
Charlottesville is in the middle of the third leg of the Cville Plans Together initiative which has so far seen the adoption of an Affordable Housing Plan and a Comprehensive Plan. This week we can expect the first details of the zoning rewrite in the city. This process has been underway for three years and the public engagement has been maintained by the consultant Rhodeside & Harwell.
Albemarle County has been reviewing the same documents for the past couple of years, but the public face is being handled by the Office of Community and Public Engagement. Before we get to the meeting scheduled for today, some background.
An affordable housing plan called Housing Albemarle was adopted in July 2021, but incentives to encourage the development of below-market units had not yet been completed. Supervisors discussed that issue in February 2022 and again last May. They’ll also discuss that matter on Wednesday.
Supervisors were briefed in February 2021 on one approach for the Comprehensive Plan rewrite. A month later, they asked for a faster review and wanted work to also begin on updating the zoning code. In October 2021, they got an update from staff on how both were proceeding. The formal kickoff of the Comprehensive Plan review got underway on November 3, 2021 with the passage of a resolution. The firm EPR is working with the county and Phase 2 is now underway.
As for zoning, the county hired the Berkley Group to work on modernizing the zoning code. The same firm is helping Pittsylvania County with its zoning rewrite and is also helping Nelson County with their Comprehensive Plan. Albemarle Planning Commission had a briefing last August on the need to “reset” the process. In the fall there were a series of interviews with developers, staff, and Planning Commissioners. A review of those activities took place in December.
If these issues interest you, you might want to attend an open house the county is hosting to begin the public part of the zoning update that is already underway. This will take place in Room 235 of the Albemarle County office building at 401 McIntire Road.
“The Zoning Ordinance regulates how land is used, designed, and developed,” reads the meeting page. “This multi-year project will create modern, user-friendly regulations that align with the ongoing Comprehensive Plan update.
The county does have a dedicated website for the zoning modernization project. This includes a diagnostic report similar to the one that’s informing the rewrite of Charlottesville’s code.
“This report identifies actions Albemarle County should consider to strengthen the Zoning Ordinance and ensure compliance with the Code of Virginia requirements,” reads the meeting page. (view the zoning evaluation report)
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Rogers to hold City Manager Budget Forum
We’re about a month away from the release of the Charlottesville CIty Manager’s budget for FY2024. City Council does not draft the revenue and spending plan, but provides guidance at periodic work sessions. That includes one from December 5 in which they discussed the Vibrant Communities Fund. (read my story)
This is the second budget to be developed under interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers. It’s also the first time that there is a public forum for people to appeal to staff a month before the recommended budget is published.
This will take place at 6 p.m. at the Carver Recreation Center. The event will also be live-streamed. The meeting info page doesn’t have any information on the budget but there are lots of resources.
First, take a look at the draft Capital Improvement Program for FY24-FY28 in spreadsheet form. Or take a look at a more interactive version. The Planning Commission had a public hearing on December 13, but I only wrote about the first half. I did write a summary when the draft became available if you want to take a look at that as well.
Council has also recently gotten an update on revenue projections which currently show a potential $5 million surplus in FY23. (read that story)
Reading material:
Planning Commission to hear rezoning for apartments, Amelia Bulletin Monitor, January 19, 2023
Bedford County officials ponder creating tourism zone, Shannon Kelly, Lynchburg News & Advance, January 27, 2023