Charlottesville City Council to consider two large buildings on UVA’s periphery

The five member Charlottesville City Council will have two very long meetings back to back beginning Monday at 4 p.m. for another work session on department budgets followed by a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. (meeting overview)

The budget presentation will cover Information Technology, the Charlottesville Police Department, the Charlottesville Fire Department, and the Office of Police Civilian Oversight. (view the report)

Of the four listed above, there are only further details by the Office of Police Civilian Oversight. The office currently only has one employee but a management and policy analyst position is in the process of being hired. Two other positions appear to be requested for FY2025 pending budget approval. In fact, the request is to increase the total budget for the office from $546,468 in FY24 to $686,125 in FY25. (detailed presentation)

The very full meeting begins with a report on the financial audit for FY23.

“The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) is available on the City’s website,” reads the memo. 

Except that FY23 is not on that website at publication time. 

Next is an amendment of a three-party agreement from 2012 that led to construction of a new dam at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area. 

“Construction of the New Ragged Mountain Dam was completed in 2014, and, in 2016, the initial filling of the expanded reservoir was completed to the pool level of 671 feet above sea level,” reads the staff report. 

The earthen dam is tall enough to allow for more storage and the agreement sets out conditions for when the pool level can be increase to 683 feet above sea level. Since then, there is a sense among the four parties that the bigger bathtub should be activated before those conditions are met. 

“The capacity of the reservoir needs to be increased due to the current and projected future effects of a changing climate, including but not limited to more frequent and severe storms, more severe and longer periods of drought,” the report continues. 

The water supply plan also calls for a new pipeline between the Ragged Mountain and South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, a project that is being expedited. The Ragged Mountain Reservoir is currently fed by a pipeline from the Sugar Hollow Reservoir that will be discontinued when the nine mile waterline is completed and operational. The Albemarle County Service Authority will pay for 80 percent of the cost of the bi-directional pipeline. (view the staff report)

Next, Council will consider a lease extension for 1,117 square feet of space that Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital uses for a health clinic in the Jefferson School City Center. The health care company wants to use the space for another year before relocating to a building that they own. The Parks and Recreation Department will take over the space upon their departure. (staff report)

After that, the Omni is seeking a reduction in their lease for city-owned right of way for an outdoor cafe. After renovations, the space the Omni needs is 25 square feet smaller than before. (staff report)

Two big rezoning requests near UVA

On the day before the public hearing for the Development Code, there will be decision points on two major rezoning requests that have already had their public hearing at a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission in November. 

The first is VERVE Charlottesville, a multistory building at the intersection of Stadium Road and Jefferson Park Avenue very near the University of Virginia. The project has twice received recommendations of approval from the Planning Commission with the second in November. (staff report)

The plan has been changed slightly since November 14. The total cash contribution for affordable housing has now been increased to $6 million, 17 parking spaces have been added, and non-residential space has been added at the corner of Stadium Road and Emmet Street. There will also be fewer places for people to live. 

“The enclosed revisions resulted in a net reduction of approximately 70,000 gross square feet and approximately 175 bedrooms,” reads the memo from Dylan Lambur, the Development Manager for Subtext. (read the full list)

This project also requires:

• Council to remove the Individual Protected Property designation for 104 Stadium Road (staff report)
• A previous agreement to close public right of way on the former Woodrow Street to be amended (staff report)
• An ordinance May 2, 2011 authorizing the sale of city-owned 409 Stadium Road to be amended to drop requirements of that acquisition by the developer. (staff report)
• A critical slopes waiver to be granted. (staff report)
• A sidewalk waiver for residential development needs to be granted. (staff report)

The University of Virginia has sent a letter to the City Council expressing concern over Verve Charlottesville as well as a letter to 2117 Ivy Road.  Despite the letter and perhaps in spite of it, the Planning Commission recommended 6-0 for Council to approve, according to the staff report.

However, only Council gets a vote and the project has been altered as a result. Some of the changes include:

• The amount to be paid into the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund is to be increased to a maximum of $2.75 million, four times higher than what the developer calculates under the existing rules. 
• If affordable housing is built on site, the term will be 30 years rather than 25 years. 
• The maximum building height would be reduced from 142 feet to 124 feet. 

Finally, the Department of Social Services will present their annual report to Council. (staff report) (read the report)

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 December 4, 2023 Week Ahead. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.