Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Meeting – May 21, 2025

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, starting at 1:00 PM in Lane Auditorium. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and adoption of the final agenda (amended to include authorizing the chair to sign letters of support for a Congressional Directed Spending Program dam repair application). Key topics included a proclamation for Older Americans Month, a presentation on the Cost of Community Services Study, a work session on the Economic Development Strategic Plan, and a presentation on the proposed Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Board members made announcements regarding election deadlines, public safety, and community events. Public comments were heard on several topics, including a biophilic cities initiative, affordable housing, and the Scottsville volunteer fire department. The board also held public hearings on the VDOT/Albemarle County FY 26-31 Secondary Six-Year Plan and a special use permit for outdoor storage at 400 Rio Road West. The meeting included two closed sessions for personnel and real estate matters and adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM to May 28, 2025.

Proclamation

• Proclamation Recognizing May as Older Americans Month (Item 6.1): The board unanimously adopted a proclamation declaring May 2025 as Older Americans Month, urging residents to "flip the script on aging" and celebrate older adults' contributions. The proclamation was presented by Vice Chair Diantha H. McKeel. Christina Evans (Interim CEO of Jefferson Area Board for Aging) was recognized.

Consent Calendar

• Items Approved (Items 8.1–8.5): The board approved by recorded vote the minutes from several dates in 2023–2024, authorized public hearings for compensation increases for the Board of Supervisors and other appointed boards, approved the Sugar Hollow Reservoir Trailhead Project Administration Agreement, and approved the Flow Hyundai Screening of Vehicles Awaiting Repair special use permit.
• Items Received for Information (Items 8.6–8.8): The FY 25 Third Quarter Financial Report, Facilities & Environmental Services Quarterly Report (Spring 2025), and VDOT Monthly Report (May 2025) were received as information.

Public Comments & Testimony (First Session: Matters Previously Considered or Currently Pending)

• Mona El Khafif (Samuel Miller District): Requested the board consider a resolution for Albemarle County to join the Biophilic Cities Network, highlighting ongoing efforts with UVA and the City of Charlottesville. She emphasized the initiative would strengthen regional identity, resilience, and biodiversity without adding constraints.
• Kim Biassioli (Piedmont Environmental Council): Spoke in support of the Cost of Community Services Study, noting that residential land uses generate a deficit while commercial/industrial and agriculture/open space generate surpluses. She urged smart growth within development areas to protect the rural area.
• James Walker (Scottsville Community Chamber of Commerce): Thanked the board for visiting Scottsville but requested future meetings include public comment opportunities. He raised concerns about a perceived lack of collaboration regarding the placement of a county fire engine near the Scottsville volunteer fire station, urging better communication.
• Keisha Washington (Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville): Recommended changes to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund guidelines, specifically asking for more flexible affordability terms (opposing 90-year affordability preference that restricts to land trusts) and a 40-year right of first refusal for builders instead of a 40-year low-income occupancy requirement.
• Richard Trimble (Samuel Miller District, Habitat volunteer): Echoed concerns about the draft guidelines, stating they unfairly favor land trust models and that Habitat’s model with 40-year affordability and right of first refusal should be eligible. He also asked for flexibility on unit distribution and compliance periods.
• Neil Williamson (Free Enterprise Forum): Criticized the draft Affordable Housing Investment Fund for reserving 40% of grant funding for nonprofits and offering 0% loans to nonprofits while charging for-profits 2%, arguing this creates an uneven playing field and discourages mixed-income development.
• Christine Robertson (Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville): Opposed the proposed maximum sale price for affordable homes set at 65% of HUD home limit (approx. $247,000), noting that only 4% of listings in Albemarle County meet that price, which could concentrate affordable units in low-value areas. She suggested per-unit subsidy limits instead.
• Christine Putnam (Scottsville District, Natural Heritage Committee): Supported joining the Biophilic Cities Network, highlighting how it could promote health, resilience, economic opportunities (tourism), and cross-jurisdictional collaboration with Charlottesville and UVA.
• JD Brown (Program Director, Biophilic Cities, UVA): Offered to serve as a contact for staff, explaining that the network is not a certification but a resource for sharing best practices; applications require documenting natural assets. Noted that 50% of member cities are international and that the city of Charlottesville is already preparing an application.
• Peggy Gilgas (Jack Jouett District, Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee): Thanked the board for supporting climate action funding and recommended the county support extended producer responsibility policies and a beverage container deposit system to reduce waste. She also urged implementation of permitting and reporting guidelines for waste haulers to measure waste generation.

Presentation: Cost of Community Services Study (Item 9)

• Presenters: Ann Wall (Deputy County Executive) and Terance Rephann, Ph.D. (Regional Economist, Weldon Cooper Center).
• Purpose: Provide background for the comprehensive plan update, comparing revenues vs. expenditures for three land use categories (residential, commercial/industrial, agriculture/open space).
• Key Findings (FY22): Residential land uses generated a deficit of $82 million (ratio 1.32, meaning for every $1 in tax revenue, $1.32 in services is required). Commercial/industrial generated a surplus (ratio 0.32, i.e., $0.32 in services per $1 revenue). Agriculture/open space generated a surplus (ratio 0.537). The ratios balance when adjusted for budget surplus/deficit.
• Limitations: The study is static, not marginal; averages may differ from new development costs. K-12 education is the largest residential cost driver (~50% of county budget). Public safety data allocation may inflate rural costs due to geocoding issues; a sensitivity analysis showed adjusting to other Virginia study norms brings agriculture ratio to 0.359.
• Discussion: Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley summarized that residential costs more to serve; commercial provides best "bang for buck." Supervisor Pruitt noted that compared to peers, the county spends more on rural public safety per dollar of revenue. County Executive Richardson emphasized the need to diversify the tax base (commercial is only 11.3% of tax base vs. 72% residential) and highlighted that the county's commitment to high per-pupil school funding drives the residential ratio. Supervisor Mallek noted that population growth (4% per year) makes rebalancing difficult.

Work Session: Economic Development Strategic Plan (Item 10)

• Presenter: Emily Kilroy (Director, Economic Development) and Stephen Pedigo (Resonance Consulting).
• Draft Vision: "Albemarle County: rooted in innovation, open for investment – a destination for entrepreneurs, makers, growers, and thinkers, leading Virginia's next innovation economy."
• Five Goals:
  1. Lead Virginia's intelligence and national security innovation economy (focus on Rivanna Futures).
  2. Grow into the Mid-Atlantic's premier destination for biotechnology/life sciences (leveraging existing VC, scaling lab space).
  3. Transfer agricultural legacy into a modern agribusiness economy (modernize land use, infrastructure, broadband, co-packing).
  4. Make the county a place where talented entrepreneurs (ages 25–44) stay, scale, and succeed (talent retention, child care, housing).
  5. Position the county as Virginia's most investment-ready (modernize permitting, maintain site pipeline, marketing).
• Discussion: Supervisors supported the framework but raised points about community engagement, need for clearer return on investment, balancing tourism with other sectors, ensuring workforce development alignment, and addressing child care affordability as a barrier. Supervisor Pruitt emphasized that the plan must ensure benefits flow to local residents and not just external capital. Supervisor Mallek cautioned that scaling agriculture must be appropriate to the community (e.g., not large-scale CAFOs but supporting micro-scale businesses like Darby's Turkeys). Chair Andrews noted the plan lacks explicit focus on tax base diversification, though staff said it is referenced in the full document.

Presentation: Affordable Housing Trust Fund (Item 11)

• Presenters: Stacy Pethia (Assistant Director of Housing), Kaki Dimock (Chief Human Services Officer), and Andy Bowman (Assistant CFO).
• Proposed Structure: The fund would transition into a trust fund with dedicated sources (real property tax revenue, developer contributions, loan repayments, general fund transfers). Funding priorities include households at 80% AMI (homeownership) and 60% AMI (rental), with extra consideration for permanent affordability (90-year terms), shovel-ready projects, and projects that leverage other funds. Target populations (seniors, families with children under 5, persons experiencing homelessness) to be set annually by staff and board.
• Distribution of Funds: 40% for nonprofit grants, 40% for loans, 20% for emerging housing needs (e.g., acquiring at-risk properties, disaster relocation).
• Eligible Activities: Pre-development costs, land acquisition, construction loan interest buy-downs, water/sewer connection fees, new construction/rehabilitation, homeownership projects. Exclusions: property tax penalties, community meeting costs, administrative staff.
• Oversight: Proposed Affordable Housing Review Committee (7 voting members: real estate professional, lender with construction loan experience, builder (nonprofit or for-profit), nonprofit housing organization, two county residents, one county representative). Committee would review applications, score them (75% threshold), and make recommendations to the board.
• Discussion: Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley questioned the 90-year affordability preference and the committee composition; she preferred two nonprofit representatives over two county residents. Supervisor Pruitt supported the staff recommendation on affordability terms, argued that race-neutral tools cannot solve race-coded problems, and expressed concern about ensuring oversight is not captured by industry. Supervisor Mallek wanted to prioritize bricks-and-mortar projects over soft services and expressed concerns about the distribution of affordable units requirement. Supervisors debated the 40-year occupancy requirement vs. right of first refusal, with staff noting the county lacks capacity for right of first refusal. The session concluded with staff seeking board direction on the proposed structure and committee composition; the board did not vote but provided feedback.

County Executive Report (Item 14)

• Presenter: Jeffrey B. Richardson
• Highlights: Biscuit Run Park surpassed 50,000 visitors; mountain bike area construction underway with volunteer support. Greg Davis Memorial Track Meet held for 300 middle school athletes. Bluebird Project foster care/adoption awareness. Three county employees received Batten School Peacekeeper of the Year awards. Eight new 911 dispatchers began training. Cross-departmental incident management team training and active threat exercise were completed. Safe worship event with 80 attendees from faith communities. Site visit for Virginia Business Ready Sites Program grant application for Rivanna Futures (decision expected June).

Public Comments & Testimony (Second Session: Matters Previously Considered or Currently Pending)

• Owen Saili (County resident, Community Lab School): Urged action on invasive species (chestnut blight, kudzu, red imported fire ants), suggesting creation of native plant parks and funding for eradication programs.
• Alicia Lenahan (Scottsville District): Expressed concern about police cooperation with ICE, specifically regarding a joint training exercise at Albemarle High School and the purchase of data acquisition systems (Peregrine and I2 Analyst Notebook) that could enable pervasive surveillance. She called for transparency and community control.
• Karen Mann (Fluvanna resident, pastor of Sojourners UCC): Criticized Albemarle County Police for conducting a training exercise with DHS near a school and newcomer center, calling it intimidating for vulnerable families. She asked the board to provide oversight and resist ICE cooperation.

Public Hearing: VDOT/Albemarle County FY 26-31 Secondary Six-Year Plan (Item 16)

• Presenter: Alberic Karina-Plun (Planner I - Transportation)
• Proposal: Adoption of the draft plan, updated rural rustic paving process (including a resident toolkit), and approval of the priority list of roads for paving and retained unpaved roads.
• Details for Rural Rustic Paving: Roads that receive two-thirds approval from eligible property owners (owners of occupied parcels receiving primary access from the unpaved road) proceed. Roads not meeting threshold are placed on a retained unpaved road list for 6 years. This year, Sutherland Road (partial) is recommended for continuation; Bleak House Road and P Ridge Road did not receive support and staff recommended adding them to the retained list.
• Public Speakers:
  • George Stevens (Samuel Miller, Starlight Road): Supported paving of Starlight Road, citing dust and a hazardous transition from paved to unpaved.
  • Derek Luck (Hammond's Gap Road): Requested addition to the six-year plan for the unpaved portion, citing dust and safety issues; presented a petition.
  • Gary Grant (Rio District, Bleak House Road): Opposed paving, arguing only 16 of 33 eligible voters have driveways touching the gravel segment; 14 opposed (42%) vs. 9 in favor (27%), far short of two-thirds; urged board to protect the road from paving for at least six years.
  • Scott Gentry (Rivanna District, Hammond's Gap Road): Supported paving the remaining two-thirds, noting that since partial paving, maintenance of the unpaved portion has declined.
• Board Discussion: Clarified that one vote per owner (even if owner owns multiple parcels) and that owners do not need to be residents. Supervisor Mallek expressed concern that non-resident owners could outvote residents. Other supervisors supported the policy as written. The board approved all three motions (adoption of the plan, updated rural rustic process, and priority list including retaining Bleak House and P Ridge Roads) unanimously.

Public Hearing: Special Use Permit – 400 Rio Road West Outdoor Storage (Item 17)

• Presenter: Khristopher Taggart (Senior Planner I)
• Proposal: Special use permit for outdoor storage, display, and sales of plumbing materials (wholesale waterworks) visible from the Entrance Corridor Overlay District. Applicant: BD Holdings, tenant: Ferguson Enterprises.
• Staff Recommendation: Approval with conditions from the Architectural Review Board, including landscaping, berm, and black picket fence to screen materials from view.
• Applicant’s Representative: Valerie Long (Williams Mullin) noted the property was previously owned by the phone company and generated no tax revenue; the new use will contribute to the tax base. The site would be an improvement over existing conditions.
• Board Action: No questions from supervisors; the motion to approve with conditions passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamation Recognized: Older Americans Month proclaimed for May 2025.
• Consent Agenda Approved: All consent items passed unanimously.
• Cost of Community Services Study: Received as information; board discussed implications for tax base diversification.
• Economic Development Strategic Plan: Board provided feedback on draft; next step is joint meeting with EDA in August for potential adoption.
• Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Board did not vote but gave direction; staff will refine proposed structure and bring back for further consideration.
• Secondary Six-Year Plan: Adopted unanimously with all three motions (attachments F, C, and E). Bleak House and P Ridge Roads added to retained unpaved roads list.
• Special Use Permit (400 Rio Road West): Approved unanimously with ARB conditions.
• Closed Sessions: Board convened closed meetings to discuss annual performance of the County Attorney and disposition of publicly held real property; sessions were certified.
• Other: Chair authorized to sign letters of support for Congressional Directed Spending Program dam repair application.

Next Meeting

• The board adjourned to May 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM, Room 241.