Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – August 20, 2025
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – August 20, 2025
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors met on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 7:15 p.m. in Lane Auditorium. The board adopted proclamations, handled a consent agenda, conducted work sessions on riparian buffer standards and the 2026 legislative program, received the FY25 SPEAR report, held public hearings, and discussed a potential running bamboo ordinance. All six supervisors were present: Chair Jim Andrews (Samuel Miller), Vice Chair Diantha H. McKeel (Jack Jouett), Ned Gallaway (Rio), Bea LaPisto-Kirtley (Rivanna), Ann H. Mallek (White Hall), and Mike Pruitt (Scottsville). County Executive Jeffrey Richardson and County Attorney Andy Herrick also attended.
Proclamations & Recognitions
- The board unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing August 25–29, 2025, as SMART Week, promoting secure gun storage. Mike Fox of Moms Demand Action accepted. Supervisors voiced support, with one noting that 4.6 million children live in homes with unlocked, loaded guns.
- The board unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing August 26, 2025, as Women’s Equality Day. Lisa Hilgartner (League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area) and Charlotte Gibson (NOW) accepted. Several supervisors connected the day to the ongoing Equal Rights Amendment ratification debate.
Consent Calendar
- The board unanimously approved the consent agenda (recorded vote 6-0), including minutes from multiple 2024 meetings, personnel policy amendments, FY27 budget calendar, quarterly tax refunds, a public hearing schedule for a tax ordinance amendment, and an Economic Development Authority fiscal services agreement. The board also received, for information, the LUEPC report and VDOT monthly report.
Public Comments & Testimony (First Session)
- Jim Hingley (Scottsville District) announced a September 5, 2025, commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Gregory Swanson court decision requiring UVA to admit an African American student.
- Kim B. (Piedmont Environmental Council) expressed strong support for the draft riparian buffer protection standards, calling them a culmination of years of community engagement and a model ordinance.
- Neil Williamson (Free Enterprise Forum) expressed concern that moving stream buffers into the zoning ordinance would shrink the development area without compensating land swaps, arguing the county was choosing environment over housing.
Work Session: Riparian Buffer Protection Standards Draft Ordinance (25-340)
- Staff presented a draft ordinance moving riparian buffer protections from the Water Protection Ordinance (WPO) into the Zoning Ordinance, with a performance-standards approach. Current buffers remain the same: 100-foot buffers on perennial streams and reservoirs in development areas, with floodplain-based buffers in rural areas.
- Key changes: protections would apply to all disturbances (no 10,000 sq ft threshold); native vegetation may not be disturbed except for permitted uses; permits require mitigation plans with a 2:1 restoration ratio and native species.
- Board discussion raised questions about defining "native vegetation," agricultural exemptions (only for bona fide agricultural/silvicultural uses, not merely rural zoning), nonconforming uses, and the relationship to the Chesapeake Bay Act. Supervisors generally supported the approach, with requests for clarity on definitions and streamlined processes for single-family homeowners.
- No formal vote was taken; staff will incorporate feedback before a future public hearing.
Work Session: Proposed 2026 Legislative Program (25-365)
- Staff recommended adopting a concise document with legislative principles (8 principles) instead of the previous 49 detailed positions, while retaining three code amendment priorities: enforcement of the Virginia Landlord Tenant Act, expanding photo speed monitoring, and enabling a referendum on a 1-cent sales tax for school capital projects. A budget amendment for Biscuit Run Park was also proposed.
- Emily Kilroy (Economic Development) announced a $9.7 million Virginia Business Ready Sites grant for Rivanna Futures site readiness; staff recommended not submitting a new state budget request for that project.
- Supervisors debated whether to keep detailed legislative positions (Attachment B) alongside the principles. Supervisor Pruitt argued positions are necessary to prevent a principal-agent problem in lobbying; others felt principles provided flexibility. Staff will revise the materials and return September 17 for adoption.
- Supervisor Gallaway emphasized the need for a regional transportation funding strategy, citing that Virginia's transportation funding is inadequate.
Presentation: Strategic Plan Execution Analysis & Reporting (SPEAR) FY25 (25-351)
- COO Kristy Shifflett presented the second annual SPEAR report, highlighting progress across six goals, with 80 refined metrics.
- Achievements: 99.9% broadband coverage, completion of Phase 1 of the courts renovation, opening of Biscuit Run Park (1,190 acres), strengthening the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, groundbreaking of Mountain View Upper Elementary (72,500 sq ft) and ACE Academy (60,000 sq ft), and two new employee health clinics.
- Areas needing attention: police response times (priority-one calls up 29% over three-year average) and fire response times. Supervisors acknowledged externalities in rural response and stated that improving these metrics would require board-level resource decisions.
Closed Meeting & Certification
- The board unanimously voted to enter closed session under four exemptions: prospective business discussions (Seminole Trail), Bonumose Inc. performance agreement, legal advice on police powers, and contract negotiation. After returning, the board unanimously certified that only lawful matters were discussed.
County Executive Report
- Chief Dan Eggleston briefed the board on the previous evening's house explosion in Glenmore: one victim found alive, one deceased, about 12 homes severely damaged, over 80 personnel responded. Investigation ongoing with ATF.
- County Executive Richardson highlighted school resource officers, speed cameras (49% decrease in speeding on Hydraulic), new stop-arm cameras on school buses, a new flood siren at Sugar Hollow, and the HART team's success (officers spent 24% less time on mental health calls).
- The board recognized retiring Emergency Management Director John O'Prandy (26 years of service) and welcomed new ECC Director Heather Hilliard.
Public Comments & Testimony (Second Session)
- Alicia Lenahan (Scottsville District) urged the board to adopt a resolution condemning non-transparent federal immigration enforcement tactics, citing 1,000 signatures on a petition.
- Gary Grant (Rio District) criticized the county for releasing the 2023 community survey results only after budget adoption, citing 65% of residents rating board leadership as fair/poor.
- Dylan Taylor (Energy Right) invited the board to a September 3 solar grazing event.
Public Hearing: CDBG Application for Southwood Sewer (25-359)
- Stacy Pethia presented a proposal to apply for $2 million in federal CDBG funds for Phase 2 sewer infrastructure at Southwood, serving 63 households (approximately 233 individuals). Habitat for Humanity would contribute $1.7 million, totaling $3.735 million. No one spoke in public comment.
- The board unanimously approved the resolution authorizing the application.
Public Hearing: Spot Blight – 2632 Hydraulic Road (25-289)
- Staff reported that property owners had made significant progress on cleanup; they requested deferral to November 5, 2025. The board unanimously voted to defer, after opening and closing the public hearing with no speakers.
Discussion Item: Ordinance to Control Running Bamboo (25-378)
- Supervisor McKeel requested a future work session to explore an ordinance regulating running bamboo, citing a constituent's foundation damage. She noted Virginia enabling law (since 2017) allows civil penalties, and other localities (Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier) have ordinances. The board directed staff to bring back information at a later date.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted SMART Week and Women's Equality Day proclamations (both 6-0).
- Approved consent agenda (6-0).
- Approved CDBG application resolution for Southwood sewer (6-0).
- Deferred spot blight declaration for 2632 Hydraulic Road to November 5, 2025 (6-0).
- Directed staff to refine riparian buffer ordinance and legislative program based on discussion; both return for further action in September.
- Approved closed meeting certification (6-0).
- Scheduled next regular meeting for September 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
With Supervisor Galloway having entered the room. I am pleased to call to order this meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors on the 20th of August at 1 p.m. in Lane Auditorium back to our office building. I'd like to note this we have I'll say this slowly Supervisor Pruitt of the Scottsville District, Supervisor B. Lapisto Kirtley of the Ravana District. And Supervisor Ned Galloway of the Rio District and myself, Jim Andrews representing the Samuel Miller District Quorum is present. We're also joined by our county executive, Mr. Jeff Richardson, our county attorney, Mr. Andy Herrick, our clerk, Ms. Claudette Borkerson and Senior Deputy Clerk, Mr. Travis Morris. Also, let me please welcome Albemarle County Police Officers present. Master Police Officer Dana Reeves, Senior Police Officer David Sprouse, thank you for your service today and every day on behalf of all of the people in Albemarle. Very much appreciated 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 I now ask if you would join us in a moment of silence. Thank you. I would like to make a couple notes, though, before doing so. First, uh with respect to item 17, while it will remain on the agenda, our expectation is that uh the motion will be to defer uh to November 5th, which is uh uh date certain, but we'll still have if there anyone comes to speak a public hearing to discuss it, but uh there's action on that one. Um and then at the uh uh we added to the end of the uh agendas item 19 a discussion regarding an ordinance to control running bamboo at the request of one of the supervisors. And uh with those notes, do we have a motion to adopt the final agenda? So moved. Second. We have a motion from Supervisor Malik, second from Supervisor McKeel without objection if the clerk will call the roll. Mr. Galloway, yes, Ms. Lapista Curly. Aye, Ms. Malik, yes, Ms. McKeel? Yes. Mr. Pruitt? Aye. Mr. Andrews. Yes. Thank you. Uh so board, first item, of course, is announcements from board members, and we will start. Is ready? Uh Supervisor Galloway. Um I have no announcements. I just want to. My thoughts are with the folks of the incident that happened in Glenmore yesterday. That was horrendous news. Um just don't even really have habit put together what to say other than to just say that I mean, for that whole community, that's it's just devastating beyond just the owner. So my my thoughts are with them. Thank you. Supervisor Lapista Kirk.
openpublica.com