Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on January 21, 2026, starting at 1:00 PM in Lane Auditorium. The agenda covered a reassessment presentation, a work session on land use buildout analysis and a new AC44 analysis tool, closed session for a director appointment, multiple public hearings, and board-initiated policy discussions. Supervisors unanimously approved consent items, a sewer jurisdictional amendment, an eminent domain action, a road abandonment and conveyance, and a preschool special use permit. They also certified the closed meeting and appointed Amy Smith as Parks and Recreation Director. Public comment sessions included concerns about ICE enforcement, a proposed gas plant in Fluvanna, and earlier comments on reassessment and land use assumptions.

Consent Calendar

• 26-136 Approval of minutes from multiple dates in 2025.
• 26-130 Scheduling a public hearing for utility easements on Colonnade Drive.
• Quarterly reports from Broadband Authority, RWSA, and ACSA were received for information.
• The consent agenda was adopted by a unanimous recorded vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

First Session (2:00 PM - Matters Previously Considered):

• Gary Grant (Rio District) questioned Supervisor Pruitt's use of profanity at a joint meeting and why other supervisors did not call for an apology. He also noted Supervisor Missel's omission of a profanity in a quote.
• Stuart Overby (Samuel Miller District, Don't Spread on Me) urged the board to adopt a biosolids ordinance, citing a recommendation from the Natural Heritage Committee.
• Neil Williamson (Free Enterprise Forum) critiqued the 2025 capacity analysis, noting it was based on a flawed 2022 analysis. He highlighted that about 2,000 homes are not being built due to missing sewer infrastructure and that approved density often falls short of theoretical maximums.

Second Session (6:00 PM - Prior to Public Hearings):

• Ten speakers addressed the board, primarily on two topics:
  • ICE Enforcement: Multiple speakers (Alicia Lanahan, Susan McCullough, Hannah Strauss, and others) urged the board to adopt a resolution to unmask ICE or limit cooperation, citing civil rights abuses and community fear. They referenced a Miller Center study and noted Charlottesville City Council is drafting a resolution.
  • Tenasca Gas Plant Expansion (Fluvanna County): Speakers (Gray McLean, Olivia Hadley, Michael Crenshaw, Sandrina de Cruz, Faith Schweitzer, Gwyneth West, Saiva Flynn) opposed the proposed 1.5 GW gas plant just over the county line, citing health impacts (PM2.5, premature deaths), water use, and conflict with climate goals. They asked the board to formally oppose the plant and engage with Fluvanna County. Saiva Flynn (C3) submitted a draft joint resolution for consideration.

Discussion Items

26-131 Calendar Year 2026 Real Estate Reassessment Update

• County Assessor Peter Lynch presented the annual reassessment results. The overall tax base change is 6.17%, with a median home value increase of 5.5% (~$241 additional tax). Notices go out January 23, 2026. He explained the mass appraisal methodology, ratio studies, and the review/appeal process. Land use program statistics: 3,569 parcels enrolled (down from 4,500 in 2019), with deferred taxes of ~$16 million. Rollback taxes have increased due to improved enforcement. The board asked about multifamily assessments, basement valuation, and the impact on renters. Chairman Galloway requested a future work session on how tax increases affect renters.

26-108 2025 Buildout Analysis Update and AC44 Analysis Tool

• Senior Planner JT Newberry and Jeremy Goldstein (Line and Grade) presented an updated capacity analysis and a new Excel-based tool for evaluating development proposals under AC44. Key findings: maximum theoretical residential capacity declined from 2022 to 2025 due to deliveries; however, typical approved density is now ~70% of max (up from 58%). Market demand scenarios using CoStar data suggest residential capacity could be 81% utilized within a decade, raising concerns about whether the development area needs expansion. The new tool allows consistent analysis of gross density and affordable housing impacts for individual projects. Supervisor Pruitt called the 81% figure "alarming" and hinted at the need to consider expanding the development area. The board discussed incorporating infrastructure, tax revenue, and other qualitative factors into the tool. Staff will refine the tool for future use.

Closed Meeting and Appointment of Parks and Recreation Director

• The board convened a closed meeting under Va. Code §2.2-3711(A)(1) to discuss the appointment of the Director of Parks and Recreation. After certifying the closed meeting, they unanimously approved 26-156 appointing Amy Smith as Director. Smith has served as deputy director for many years and expressed her commitment to community building and innovation.

County Executive Report (Jeff Richardson and Trevor Henry)

• Richardson highlighted several initiatives: attendance at an INSA event, digital inclusion recognition (trailblazer award), expanded middle school volleyball league (400 participants), behavioral health crisis partnership, traffic calming with empty police cars (crash reduction >50%), new fire recruit school (24 recruits), and a cardiac arrest save on Dec 22, 2025.
• Trevor Henry provided a storm preparedness update ahead of a forecasted extreme winter event (snow, ice, deep freeze). Emergency management is activated; the county is coordinating with regional partners and planning for resource holdovers.

Public Hearings

26-107 Holly Hills Sewer Extension West of Route 29 – Request to amend the jurisdictional area map to allow sewer service to 10 parcels in Hollymead. Staff recommended approval. The applicant (Hunter Wood) noted the extension is proactive to avoid future disruption and is privately funded. The board adopted the revised resolution unanimously.

26-128 Eminent Domain for Library Avenue Extension – Acquisition of a portion of 1153 High Street (Crozet) for road construction. The landowner agreed to compensation, but the lienholder (Mr. Cooper) failed to respond, necessitating condemnation proceedings to clear title. The board authorized condemnation (deposit of original offer of $11,466) to proceed while negotiations continue. Unanimous approval.

26-129 Abandonment and Conveyance of a Portion of Oak Street, Crozet – To facilitate a land exchange with VPRA for the Crozet Square improvements, the county needed to abandon a section of Oak Street and convey it to VPRA in return for additional parking. The board found no public necessity for the road segment and approved both the abandonment and conveyance in separate unanimous votes.

26-122 Northridge Preschool (SP-2025-00004) – Request to increase enrollment from 80 to 100 students and expand hours from 6 AM to 6 PM (previously 7:30-1:00). Staff found no detrimental impacts; the school serves a need in the rural area. The board approved the special use permit unanimously, with comments about streamlining future similar requests.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda – Approved unanimously.
• Reassessment Update – Acknowledged; board directed staff to prepare information on multifamily/renter impacts for budget work sessions.
• Buildout Analysis – Board directed staff to continue refining the AC44 analysis tool and bring back a work plan for incorporating additional metrics (infrastructure, tax revenue, etc.).
• Appointment – Amy Smith appointed as Parks and Recreation Director (unanimous).
• Public Hearings – All four items (sewer jurisdictional amendment, eminent domain, Oak Street abandonment/conveyance, Northridge Preschool) were approved unanimously.
• Board-Initiated Items – Supervisors requested staff to assess the resources needed to (a) develop a sidewalk shoveling ordinance, (b) inventory and map cemeteries (as recommended in AC44), and (c) update the Safer Chemical Policy. These will be brought back as part of the work program for further discussion.