When Charlottesville adopts a new Development Code that mostly eliminates the role the City Council plays in making land use decisions, that does not mean projects will go through the planning process without scrutiny.
However, staff in the city’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services may find themselves with more public scrutiny on their review of site plans to see if they conform with a set of clear standards.
To get a glimpse into a future where all parcels of land have more development rights, here’s an example of what’s happening now with property up zoned 20 years ago in the last citywide rezoning.
Riverbend Development has filed a plan to build a 130-unit townhouse complex on land in Belmont currently zoned Neighborhood Commercial Corridor, which means no special use permit is needed though a critical slopes waiver was granted by City Council last fall. There was a site plan conference in May 2022 that I wrote about at the time.
About a month ago, I checked in with the company to see if the project was still proceeding after noticing a couple of pending demolition permits on Carlton Avenue. This was for research for a story I wrote for C-Ville Weekly.
“We are just wrapping things up for final approval,” said Riverbend Vice President of Development Ashley Davies in an October 3, 2023 email. “We will be moving forward with the site plan and current zoning.”
Two weeks later, city staff issued a denial of the fourth version of the site plan. (view the comment letter)
“City Staff have made a good faith effort to identify all deficiencies within this submission,” reads the formal notice.
The issue appears to be minor.
“The only substantive issue appears to be working out the separation between the required trees and the utilities,” said James Freas, the city’s director of Neighborhood Development Services.
Riverbend intends to address the remaining issues which include going before the Planning Commission for final approval as well as a major subdivision and dedication for right of way.
Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment comes from the October 30, 2023 edition.
To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.
