Albemarle land use round-up: More homes at Albemarle Business Campus? 

This is another periodic look at land use applications using publicly available documents on the Albemarle County website.

Shimp Engineering has filed an amendment to a previous rezoning for a mixed-use development at the intersection of Fifth Street Extended and Old Lynchburg Road that would increase the number of residential units. (ZMA202300018)

The Albemarle Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning for the Albemarle Business Campus in October 2020 that allowed for a maximum of 128 residential units and 401,000 square feet of non-residential use. Those apartments are now under construction. 

Developer Kyle Redinger now wants to amend the code of development to allow a maximum of 368 units. A previous amendment was granted in 2021 that did not seek the increase in places for people to live. 

“Albemarle Business Campus is a mixed used development of five separate projects, including a progressive, modern 69,000 square foot anchor office building, 10,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 100,000 square foot flex/self storage building, a second 60,000 square foot office or hotel and 128 unit multifamily community,” reads the website. 

Those 128 units are now under construction.  The website for the Albemarle Business Campus lists a 715-unit storage facility and a firm called PS Fertility as existing tenants. 

More on this particular story in this week’s C-Ville Weekly. 

The final rezoning application filed in Albemarle County in 2023 would see a single-family residential property on Rio Road turned into a commercial venture. 

A couple has filed for a rezoning to operate a restaurant called Saigon Sandwiches at 2401 Northfield Road, a property that borders the busy Rio Road on the southern side. The land is currently zoned C-1 and the owners want to have a second business as well. (ZMA202300019)

“The intent of this project is to rezone the entire property from R-2 to C-1 and obtain a Special Use Permit to allow hotel/motel use,” reads the application put together by the Meridian Planning Group. 

The hotel would be operated in the existing dwelling and a new 1,200 square foot building would be constructed for the food store and deli. The existing driveway would be removed and a new parking lot would be built at the rear of the property. 

“The property is within the Places29 Master Plan and is designated at Neighborhood Density Residential, “ the narrative continues. “The location of the property is such that it is within the transition from office retail to residential.” 

Here’s more information that was updated as of January 8, 2024:

• A zoning clearance has been approved for a new take-out restaurant called Royal Biryan in the Albemarle Square Shopping Center. (CLE202300173)
• An application has been filed for a primary care medical office in the Ivy Commons shopping center in Ivy. The space had previously been occupied by Ivy Massage. (CLE202300174)
• A “small drug discovery company” called Adovate is seeking to use space at Seminole Place for eight full-time employees to develop “small molecules for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.” A letter to the county describes how the performance standards will be met. (CLE202300175)
• A business called “STEAM Discovery Academy” has filed a zoning clearance for the site of a former ABC Store in Albemarle Square Shopping Center. (CLE202300177)
• The Brewery at 1800 Tiffin Farm Lane in Free Union seeks a zoning clearance for outdoor amplified music. The business currently has a banquet license from the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, but an industry brewery application is still pending. (CLE202300178)
• Willow River Veterinary Services in the SouthSide Shopping Center will become the Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic if the zoning clearance is approved. (CLE202300184)
• Jim Price Chevrolet on U.S. 29 is now Malloy Chevrolet because the zoning clearance for the changes of hands is approved. (CLE202400001)
• The Building Services Division for Albemarle County Public Schools is seeking to relocate to Seminole Place in the space formerly occupied by Custom Ink. (CLE202400002)

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