Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Meeting - March 4, 2026

The Board of Supervisors met on March 4, 2026, starting at 1:00 PM, with a work session on zoning modernization and SMART SCALE applications, followed by a closed meeting and a public hearing on the County Executive's FY2027 Recommended Budget at 6:00 PM. The board deferred action on Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) projects, approved the Turkey Knob Solar special exception, and heard extensive public comment on the budget, housing, and other issues.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from September 17, October 1, October 15, and December 3 (Work Session), 2025.
• Approved Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations.
• Approved adding Virginia Department of Health designee to the Community Policy Management Team membership.
• Approved Revitalization Area Designation for Premier Circle Phase 2.
• Approved Burton Road Rural Rustic Paving Updated Resolution.
• Approved SE202500032 1015 Taylors Gap Road Homestay.
• Approved VDOT Monthly Report and Board-to-Board School Board report for information.
• Two items were pulled from the consent agenda: 8.4 (Proposed Projects for AHIF Support) and 8.8 (Turkey Knob Solar).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gary Grant (public comment): Criticized the county's lack of apology for a data breach, his property assessment error, and the Affordable Housing Expenditure Fund. He questioned snow cone expenditures.
• Rob Propes (CEP Solar): Expressed support for the county's by-right solar provision and the Turkey Knob Solar project.
• Tom Loach: Called for transparency in the land use subsidy program, requesting inclusion of its cost in the budget and a line item on tax bills.
• Neil Williamson (Free Enterprise Forum): Urged the board to evaluate zoning changes based on housing affordability, economic development, and relevance, emphasizing the need to make housing easier in development areas.
• Peter Krebs (Piedmont Environmental Council): Announced the Active Mobility Summit and highlighted community wins.
• Saivo Flynn (Community Climate Collaborative): Requested the board sign a joint letter asking Fluvanna County to reject a gas plant expansion, citing climate change and drought.
• Susan McCullough, Alicia Lanahan, and others (public comment at 6:00 PM session): Urged the board to pass a resolution on immigration enforcement actions, similar to the city's, to protect community trust and civil rights.
• Bruce Eads and Jim Carpenter (Dogwood Vietnam Memorial): Requested support for ADA access improvements, including a pedestrian bridge, and noted a $250,000 county contribution in the budget.
• Tom Olivier: Proposed restructuring county planning to create a department focused on rural areas, natural resource conservation, and climate action, criticizing current development policies.
• Denise Zito, Vicky Bravo, Susan Carlson, and others (Impact and religious organizations): Advocated for $10 million annually for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, citing the housing crisis and impacts on low-income residents.
• Heidi Gilman Bennett (Family Council): Opposed withholding $6.4 million from schools, urged full funding for school operating and capital needs.
• Karen Clerkin (Bennett's Village): Requested CIP funding for the next phase of an inclusive playground.
• Jane Colony Mills (Loaves and Fishes): Thanked the county for funding and requested a 7.3% increase to meet growing food insecurity needs.
• Michael Monaco and others: Supported a one-cent real estate tax increase dedicated to affordable housing, arguing $5 million is insufficient.
• Theresa Willis and Tannis Fuller (Foothills Children's Advocacy Center): Requested a $130,000 grant to cover costs for serving Albemarle County children, noting the center is the only investigative partner not fully publicly funded.
• Peggy Gilgas: Urged more attention to sustainability and climate action in the budget, noting the small allocation compared to other priorities.
• Phil Reese: Criticized the 13.5% budget increase, rising debt service, and the revenue sharing agreement with Charlottesville, urging general obligation loans and a renegotiation of the revenue sharing agreement.

Discussion Items

• Zoning Modernization - AC44 Implementation Priorities (Lea Brumfield): Staff presented a prioritized list of 30 tier-one actions for phase three of zoning modernization, focusing on affordable housing, activity centers, economic development, and streamlining review. The board generally supported the approach but requested clarity on public input and the sequencing of topics. Supervisor Malik stressed the need for environmental protection and transparency in stakeholder engagement.
• SMART SCALE Transportation Project Funding Applications (Jessica Dimmick): Eight projects were presented, including improvements at Barracks Road, Ivy Road, and Fifth Street/I-64. Pre-applications are due April 1, with full applications by August 1. The board discussed project details, timeline (funding typically 4-8 years out), and the need for a transportation priorities list update.
• Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) Projects (Item 8.4 pulled from consent): Staff presented four projects recommended for funding totaling $3.5 million. Supervisors raised concerns about the scoring process, transparency, calculation errors, and the lack of a standing housing advisory committee. The board decided to defer a decision to the next meeting on March 9, 2026, to allow more time for review and to address questions about the application process.
• Turkey Knob Solar Farm (Item 8.8 pulled from consent): Staff recommended approval of a special exception for a 21-acre solar facility by-right with modifications. Supervisor Malik expressed concerns about insufficient information on prime soils and forest block impacts. After discussion, the board approved the resolution as amended (5-1, with Supervisor Malik voting no).
• FY2027 Recommended Budget Presentation (Jeff Richardson): The county executive presented a balanced budget with no tax rate increase (89.4 cents per $100), highlighting $512 million in general fund expenditures, a 7.3% increase for schools ($20.7 million), $5 million for AHIF, $4.15 million for economic development, and $300,000 for climate action. He noted rising obligations, debt service, and the need for tax base diversification. The board discussed trade-offs, with some supervisors expressing interest in fully funding AHIF at $10 million and addressing school capital needs.
• Senate Bill 443 (Supervisor Malik): Supervisor Malik proposed a board letter requesting the governor's veto of SB443, which would override local solar regulations. After discussion, the board declined to send a letter as a group, but supervisors were encouraged to send individual letters.

Key Outcomes

• Deferred action on AHIF projects: The board voted to postpone a decision on the four recommended projects to the March 9, 2026, work session, pending additional information on scoring, math, and transparency.
• Approved Turkey Knob Solar Special Exception: Approved 5-1 (Supervisor Malik dissenting) with amendments as revised March 2, 2026.
• Closed Meeting and Appointments: The board convened a closed meeting to discuss appointments and certified it. Appointments were made to various boards and commissions, including the 5th & Avon Community Advisory Committee, Crozet CAC, Equalization Board, PVCC Board, and Police Department CAC.
• No board letter on SB443: The board did not reach consensus to send a letter; individual supervisors may send letters.
• Budget Work Sessions Scheduled: The board will continue budget discussions on March 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM in Room 241, with additional work sessions and public hearings to follow.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.