Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - April 3, 2024
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - April 3, 2024
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors met on April 3, 2024, at 1:00 PM in Lane Auditorium for a regular first meeting of the month. The meeting included proclamations, consent agenda approval, a claim denial, work sessions on the VDOT Secondary Six-Year Plan and AC44 community facilities goals, a closed meeting, public hearings, and a board discussion on permitted recreational activities at Ragged Mountain Natural Area. Key outcomes included unanimous approvals of two special use permits for Service Dogs of Virginia and a landscaping buffer amendment, and a 4-2 vote to direct staff to provide a presentation on the legal and policy options regarding Ragged Mountain.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously adopted the consent agenda, which included: approval of minutes, FY2024 appropriations, scheduling a public hearing for Transient Occupancy Tax amendment, Albemarle County Office of Housing Administrative Plan, resolution of intent to amend the Rio29 Form Based Code, resolution ending the local emergency for March 2024 wildfires, proclamation recognizing Arab American Heritage Month, and a resolution canceling the April 10 budget work session.
- Noted items for information: quarterly building activity and certificate of occupancy reports, transportation planning and VDOT quarterly reports, and the Board to Board school board report.
Public Comments & Testimony
First Session (1:00 PM) – Matters from the Public:
- Carlos Armengol (Samuel Miller district) urged the board to allow running and mountain biking at Ragged Mountain Reservoir, citing health benefits for youth and his experience as a pediatrician.
- Mark Lorenzoni (Jack Jouett district) supported shared use, proposing a committee of stakeholders to manage the area.
- Gracie Agnew (Samuel Miller district) spoke on behalf of the mountain bike community, emphasizing accessibility and tourism potential.
- Sue Friedman (Charlottesville Area Alliance) supported maintaining the current ordinance, urging age-friendly considerations.
- Neil Williamson (Free Enterprise Forum) suggested adding 15 words to the AC44 community facilities chapter to direct infrastructure studies for potential development area expansion.
- Rob McGuinness (Piedmont Environmental Council) raised contradictions in solar siting objectives, recommending mitigation for forest loss and prime soils.
Second Session (6:00 PM) – Matters from the Public (10 speakers allowed):
- Several speakers supported allowing biking and running at Ragged Mountain: Aaron and Demory Bernard (city residents), Jack Holbrook (Scottsville district, mountain bike team captain), Colleen Little (Scottsville district, youth coach), Dave Stackhouse (Cambic board), Bobby Castine (White Hall district, Cambic board), John Lewis (Jack Jouett district, Cambic), Kim O'Brien (Samuel Miller district), and Tom Olivier (Samuel Miller district) opposed, citing biodiversity and the precautionary principle.
- Rick Randolph (Scottsville district) opposed, noting the county's commitment to Biscuit Run for biking and citing past threats.
- Len Wallowick argued that Ragged Mountain is one of only two hiking-only natural areas, and biking would eliminate that.
Public Hearings:
- Service Dogs of VA: Speakers included Megan Weeks (PTSD veteran, supported), Marty Silverman (volunteer, supported), and Danny Graham (opposed, citing zoning changes and tax impacts). No speakers opposed the private school permit.
- Kenridge Landscaping Amendment: Paul Sullivan (Kenridge HOA president) supported the amendment, noting the need for a flexible buffer.
Discussion Items
9. S.L. Williamson Claim (Action Item)
- County Attorney Steve Rosenberg presented the claim for $238,207.29 related to the Ivy Road Sidewalk Improvements Project. The board unanimously voted to deny the claim.
10. VDOT/Albemarle County FY25-30 Draft Secondary Six-Year Plan
- Planner Alberic Karina-Plun presented the draft plan, including a list of seven roads prioritized for paving under the Rural Rustic program. Three roads have enough signatures; Blair Park Road and Starlight Road need one more; Burton Road and Burton Lane need more. Stony Point Pass has a request for a 0.2-mile extension, which could be funded if other projects lack signatures. Discussion included concerns about Decca Lane (not qualifying), the two-thirds signature rule, and the need to consider non-vehicular users (runners, bikers) in paving decisions. The board will hold a public hearing on May 15.
11. AC44 Work Session: Draft Goals and Objectives for Community Facilities
- Principal Planner Ben Holt reviewed the four primary goals (public facilities, renewable energy, communications/utilities, community resilience) and proposed expansion criteria for future development area expansion. Two key questions were posed: (1) Should the plan recommend public water and sewer for legacy zoning areas adjacent to development areas? (2) Should the plan include policy to guide potential future development area expansion? Board members expressed varied opinions. Supervisor Galloway and Pruitt supported having the conversation and developing criteria; Supervisors Mallek and LaPisto-Kirtley opposed expansion at this time, favoring higher density infill. Supervisor McKeel raised concerns about failing septic systems and affordable housing preservation. The discussion also covered stormwater management, solar siting, data centers, and police facilities. Staff will return with detailed action steps in spring/summer.
19.2. Permitted Recreational Activities at Ragged Mountain Natural Area
- After extensive public comment, Chair Jim Andrews moved to direct staff to present on the litigation results, settlement terms, the county's authority, and possible options for allowing additional activities. The motion passed 4-2 with Supervisors Andrews, Galloway, Pruitt, and LaPisto-Kirtley in favor; Supervisors Mallek and McKeel opposed. Staff will prepare a presentation for a future meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Claim Denial: Unanimously denied S.L. Williamson's claim for $238,207.29.
- Special Use Permits for Service Dogs of VA: Unanimously approved SP202300011 (private school) and SP202300013 (commercial kennel) with conditions including soundproofing, height limits, and development consistent with the concept plan.
- Kenridge Landscaping Amendment: Unanimously approved SP202300012, allowing flexible landscaping buffers using native species instead of the original monoculture hedge.
- Ragged Mountain Natural Area: Approved (4-2) a motion for staff to provide a future presentation on legal authority and potential policy options; no immediate change to current restrictions.
- Public Comment Limit: The board maintained the 10-speaker limit for the evening session but allowed written comments to be entered into the record; a broader policy review was discussed for later.
- Meeting Schedule: The next regular meeting is April 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM in Lane Auditorium.
Meeting Transcript
This is a mic. Ah, now it's working. Okay. Good. Sorry. I'm pleased to call to order this regular meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors on this 3rd of April, 1 p.m. in Lane Auditorium. I'd like to note at the diasp we have Supervisor Mike Pruitt of the Scottsville District, Supervisor B. Lapisto Kirtley of the Ravanna District, Supervisor Diantha McKeel of the Jack Jewett District, Supervisor Ned Galloway of the Rio District, Supervisor Ann Malik of the White Hall District, and myself, Jim Andrews, representing the Samuel Miller District Aquorum is present. We're also joined here by our county executive, Mr. Jeff Richardson, our county attorney, Mr. Steve Rosenberg, and our clerk, Miss Claudette Borgerson and our senior deputy clerk, Mr. Travis Morris. Also, let me please welcome Albano County Police Officers present, Officers Andy Muncie and Matthew Middleton. We thank you for your service here today and every day and the work you do and your colleagues on behalf of the citizens of this county for our safety and security. If all present now will stand as you are able to join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. And if you could please join us now in a moment of silence. Thank you. Board, um, our first uh item of businesses to adopt the final agenda. And uh I want to make note that um we have since it was first published added to the consent agenda item 8.7.1, which would cancel the April 10th budget work session, meaning that if uh the consent agenda is adopted on that part, uh our next meeting would be April 17th. Um so with that noted, and any others anybody might bring to attention, I would look for a motion to adopt the final agenda as amended. So moved. Second. So we have a motion from Supervisor Lapisto Kirtley, second from Supervisor McKeel. Without objection, if the clerk will call the roll. Ms. Mallet, yes, Ms. McKeel. Aye. Mr. Pruitt. Aye. Mr. Andrews. Yes. Mr. Galloway. Yes. Ms. Lapista Kirtley. I'm sorry, I was looking at speaking order. I apologize. Okay. Uh board will now move to brief announcements by board members, and we'll do this in the order for today's meeting, uh, starting with Supervisor Malik. Thank you very much. Let me get to my right page here. So just two announcements. Uh Leap, the local energy alliance project, presents Solarize Virginia. Is now time for people interested to sign up for information about solar panels, free home assessments, and discounted rates for transitioning your home to more use of solar energy.
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