Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - March 5, 2025

The Board of Supervisors met on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 1:00 PM in Lane Auditorium, with a second session starting at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, a consent agenda, an action item, a work session on the AC44 Parks chapter, public comments, and public hearings on the FY2026 budget and the Chestnut Grove Manufactured Home Park rezoning. Key votes included approval of a special exception for a country store expansion, denial of the Chestnut Grove rezoning (3-3 tie), and receipt of the FY2026 budget proposal.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations (25-176).
• Approved Memorandum of Agreement between the County and the Albemarle Fire Rescue Foundation (25-181).
• Approved Resolution to Accept Roads in Brookhill Subdivision Phase 1 into the State Secondary System of Highways (25-186).
• Approved Special Exceptions for Woodbrook Apartments perimeter landscape buffer (25-160) and use buffer (25-161).
• Received for information: Cost of Community Services Study (25-117) and Albemarle Broadband Authority Quarterly Report (25-167).

Public Comments & Testimony

First Session (1:00 PM) – Matters Previously Considered or Pending

• Lynn Gebhard (Scottsville District), equine business owner, requested the addition of equestrian trails to Biscuit Run Park, citing economic benefits from tourism and suggesting a meeting with Parks and Recreation Director Mr. Krikenberger.
• Mark Gebhard (Scottsville District), equine business owner, expressed concern about whether the county operates as a democracy or bureaucracy, and criticized the AC44 parks plan as a "plan to create a plan," urging quantified objectives.

Second Session (6:00 PM) – Matters Previously Considered or Pending

• Victoria Veliki (Scottsville District) urged reinstatement of equine business wording in AC44 and inclusion of equestrian trails at Biscuit Run, requesting certified mail notification if these are not included.
• Ann Wicks (Samuel Miller District) supported new horse trails per Action 6.1, asked the board to revisit Biscuit Run equine access, and requested AC44 language recognizing the equine industry.
• Shawnee Baker (White Hall District) spoke on behalf of the equine industry, emphasizing its economic impact and urging development of horse trails at Biscuit Run as originally planned.
• Liz King (White Hall District), owner of Millington Stables, noted her farm's 55 years of operation and 80+ weekly lessons, and encouraged the board to include equestrian trails at Biscuit Run.

Discussion Items

Proclamations & Recognitions

• Proclamation celebrating CAAR’s 100th anniversary (25-183) adopted unanimously. Josh White, CAAR President, accepted and highlighted the association's century of service.
• Proclamation celebrating Women’s History Month (25-185) adopted unanimously. Kathleen Baines and other members of the Women in Government Affinity Group accepted, emphasizing the power of vulnerability and mentorship.

Action Item – 25-178 Rockfish Gap Turnpike Country Store

• Senior Planner Lea Brumfield presented a request for a special exception to expand the Greenwood Grocery country store from 4,000 to 5,600 square feet. The store has historical nonconforming status. Staff recommended approval with a condition to combine two parcels into one. The board approved unanimously.

Work Session – AC44: Parks, Recreation and Open Space

• Ben Holt and Tim Padalino presented the draft chapter, highlighting themes: expanding parks and greenways in development areas, improving walkable access (15-minute walk to park or greenway trail), sustainable management, and multimodal connections to the Rivanna Greenway and Blueway. The Rivanna River vision includes 17 river miles from Brookhill River Park to Buck Island River Park, with priority projects: Brookhill upgrades, Old Mills Trail extension (must begin construction by August 2027), and Milton Landing River Park. Staff noted a 40%+ increase in park visits since 2019 (over 600,000 more visitors in 2023 vs 2019).
• Board discussion focused on objectives 3, 5, and 6:
  • Objective 3 (Accelerate urban parks/pocket parks): Supervisor Malik supported simple pocket parks with shade and benches. Supervisor Pruitt emphasized the need for a "forcing function" to commit public money, and noted that equestrian trails may be a regressive use of funds. Supervisor McKeel highlighted the 5% of development area parkland and connectivity needs at Ivy Creek Natural Area and Charlotte Humphreys Park. Supervisor Galloway called for amenities for teenagers (e.g., basketball courts, futsal) and for the plan to incorporate commitments from the Rio 29 Small Area Plan. Chair Andrews agreed on the importance of connectivity and urged examining park usage data.
  • Objective 5 (Environmental sustainability): Supervisor Malik requested strengthening the safer chemical policy. Supervisor Pruitt noted that action 5.6 (volunteer coordination) is already being done and should include metrics. Supervisor McKeel raised concerns about harmful algae blooms and the need to address upstream land uses. Supervisor Galloway linked algae blooms to lack of enforcement of stormwater ordinances.
  • Objective 6 (Expanded greenways network): Supervisor Malik valued gravel roads for recreation. Supervisor Pruitt described the Rivanna Greenway as a potential economic engine. Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley emphasized tourism benefits. Supervisor McKeel supported maintaining existing parks over new purchases, and called for safety improvements. Supervisor Galloway asked about alternative funding for the bike-ped bridge over the Rivanna and noted the three-notch trail study.
• General comments: Supervisor McKeel suggested combining objectives 2 and 3. Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley proposed rewording action 2.3 to include the County Parks Foundation and public-private partnerships. Supervisor Galloway noted the lack of a county community center in the urban ring. Supervisor Pruitt raised the need for a land acquisition policy and for aligning economic development with equity.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamations adopted unanimously for CAAR 100th anniversary and Women’s History Month.
• Consent agenda approved (recorded vote).
• Rockfish Gap Country Store special exception approved (6-0).
• AC44 Parks chapter to be refined based on board feedback; subsequent work sessions on other chapters scheduled for March 11, April 2, and April 16.
• Closed meeting held pursuant to state code sections 2.2-3711(A)(1), (3), (8), and (29); certifications of closed meeting and appointments approved.
• FY 2026 Recommended Budget public hearing held; budget proposes a 4-cent real property tax increase (3.2¢ for public safety, 0.4¢ for schools, 0.4¢ for affordable housing) and personal property tax restoration to $4.28/$100. Additional one-time $3M for affordable housing. County Executive Jeff Richardson presented. Public speakers advocated for a $10M housing trust fund, increased school capital funding, climate action implementation fund, and funding for organizations like Loaves & Fishes and Lighthouse Studio.
• Chestnut Grove Manufactured Home Park rezoning (ZMA202300017) denied on a 3-3 vote (Andrews, Mallek, LaPisto-Kirtley voted to deny; Pruitt, McKeel, Galloway voted to approve). The corresponding special use permit (SP202300020) and special exceptions (SE202300041) were also denied subsequently. The applicant, Justin Shimp, argued the project could not be built in the development area due to land costs.