Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Meeting – July 16, 2025
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Meeting – July 16, 2025
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors met on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Lane Auditorium. The meeting included work sessions on the AC44 comprehensive plan implementation chapter and 2026 legislative priorities, a VDOT quarterly report, a closed meeting, and three public hearings. Key actions included approval of a spot blight declaration, a special use permit for a subdivision, and adoption of a zoning text amendment for commercial solar facilities.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the consent agenda unanimously by roll-call vote (6-0). Items included Fiscal Year 2025 and 2026 appropriations (25-329, 25-330), a personnel policy amendment (25-328), a Fire Rescue pay scale amendment (25-322), a change to the outside agency funding process (25-320), and a resolution to participate in the VDOT Economic Development Access Program for Boulders Road Extension Design (25-321). Items for information included transportation and utility quarterly reports and a board-to-board report from the School Board.
Public Comments & Testimony
- First Session (1:40 p.m.): Four speakers addressed matters before the board. Gary Grant (Rio District) questioned the AC44 survey and sales tax proposal, and criticized the county’s data breach response. Peter Krebs (Piedmont Environmental Council) urged the board to again request funding for the Biscuit Run Greenway Trail after a gubernatorial veto. Megan Rapp (White Hall District) shared her son’s positive experience at an outdoor school and asked the board to prioritize land for outdoor learning. Emily Dreyfuss asked the board to support anti-rent-gouging legislation beyond a study, citing 30% rent increases since 2019 and over 5,500 eviction cases.
- Second Session (6:00 p.m.): Five speakers addressed federal immigration and civil rights concerns. Mary Stewart warned about a DOJ memo on denaturalization. Alicia Lenahan discussed birthright citizenship and the state of democracy. Ron Ignaz highlighted potential Medicaid and SNAP cuts affecting 166,000 in the 5th district. Karen Mann (Sojourners UCC) asked the board to condemn the use of unmarked vehicles by ICE and to protect immigrant neighbors. Sage Bradburne (Jack Jouett District) opposed the DOJ’s targeting of DEI programs and sanctuary jurisdictions.
Discussion Items
- AC44 Draft Implementation Chapter: Planning Manager Tonya Swartzendruber presented six “big moves” to prioritize actions over the next five years. Supervisor Pruitt questioned whether the big moves were too broad to provide accountability and suggested they should be ordered. Supervisor Mallek noted that water protection and rural area preservation were missing. Supervisor Galloway and Supervisor McKeel advocated for adding a seventh big move on community health, social fabric, and arts/culture. Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley supported agriculture and forestry preservation. The board discussed the need for clear metrics and accountability. No formal vote was taken; staff will incorporate feedback and return in September.
- 2026 Legislative Priorities: County Attorney Andy Herrick and Economic Development Director Emily Kilroy reviewed the 2025 session (sales tax and Biscuit Run trail funding vetoed, speed camera expansion failed) and proposed a framework focusing local requests on county-specific items while working through VACO on statewide issues. Supervisor Pruitt recommended dropping the property forfeiture priority and elevating landlord-tenant enforcement and a study of rent-gouging protections. Supervisor Mallek expressed concern about personal property tax elimination without replacement funding. Supervisor Galloway and Supervisor McKeel emphasized transportation funding as a critical need. Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley supported demerit points for truck violations and locality enforcement of landlord-tenant laws. The board directed staff to refine the priority list and schedule an October meeting with legislators.
- VDOT Quarterly Report: Residency Administrator Carrie Shepheard provided updates on projects, including the Route 29 shared-use path (bid July 2025), 5th Street Hub and Trails (right-of-way acquisition), and the 240/250 roundabout (detour starting July 23). The board thanked her for her responsiveness.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution Recognizing Colonel Eric Haas (25-336): Unanimously approved (6-0).
- Consent Agenda: Approved (6-0).
- Spot Blight Declaration – 50 Churchill Lane (25-290): After a public hearing, the board adopted the ordinance declaring the property blighted, authorizing demolition. Motion carried (6-0).
- Special Use Permit – Spring Hill Farm Subdivision (SP202400024): Approved unanimously (6-0) with conditions including a 2-acre clearing limit per lot, replanting of stream buffers, and a prohibition on further subdivision.
- Zoning Text Amendment – Commercial Solar (ZTA 2023-01): After extensive debate and public comment (15 speakers), the board adopted the ordinance as revised on July 16, 2025. Amendments included: changing the agricultural activity exemption from 10 years to 5 years; replacing “other relevant and accepted resources” with “county designated resources for this purpose”; and clarifying that by-right ground-mounted solar in rural areas is limited to 21 acres of fenced area per parcel existing at adoption. The motion carried 5-1, with Supervisor Mallek voting no.
- Boards and Commissions Appointments: Approved appointments to the Conservation Easement Authority, CPMT, Pantops Community Advisory Committee, and SPCA Board of Directors (unanimous).
Meeting Transcript
This works for me much better. I was using my computer for my phone. And took it out to my department of the case. Good afternoon. I am pleased to call to order this meeting of the Alpamaro County Board of Supervisors on the 16th of July at 1 p.m. in Lane Auditorium of the MCDAR Office Building. I'd like to note at the dais we have Supervisor Ann Malik of the White Hall District, Supervisor Ned Galloway of the Rio District, Supervisor Diantha McKeel of the Jack Jewett District, Supervisor B. Matheus Kurtley of the Ravana District, Supervisor Mike Crew of the Scottsville District, and myself, Jim Andrews representing the Samuel Miller district. A quorum is present. We're also joined by our deputy, our county attorney, Mr. Andy Herrick, and our clerk, Ms. Claudette Worker and Senior Deputy Clerk, Travis Morris. I believe others will be joining us shortly. Also, let me please welcome Elmoral County police officers present. Master Police Officers Ronald Vander and Dana Reeves. Welcome. Thank you for your service today and every day on behalf of the people of Alpemaro County for our safety and security. If all present could now stand as you are able and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. And if you would now join us in a moment of silence, please. Thank you. Uh board, as always, our first uh action is to adopt the final agenda, and I have not heard of any recommendations for any changes. Uh if not, then if we have a motion to accept the final agenda. Second. We have a motion from Supervisor Mallet, second from Supervisor McKeel without objection if the clerk will call the roll. Mr. Andrews? Yes. Mr. Galloway? Yes. Ms. Lapista Kirtley. Aye. Ms. Malik. Yes. Ms. McKeel? Yes. Mr. Pruitt. Aye. Thank you. Board. We'll go through our order today for brief announcements by board members, starting with Supervisor Pruitt. Yes, just uh one very short thing since the Department of Elections page is not loading on my computer. Someone else could hit that one, but we do, of course, have elections that are always coming up in Virginia, so make sure you're checking to see when that is going to come up, and maybe one of my peers can get the page to load because I can't to give you those exact dates. And as one other thing, uh this board is just coming back from a brief summer vacation. We had our first meeting in July off.
openpublica.com