Planning Commission to hold public hearing on changes to Albemarle’s cell tower policies

One of my biggest laments at the moment is an inability to write as much as I would like about the ongoing update of Albemarle County’s Comprehensive Plan. The AC44 process is at the tail end of Phase 2 and the Planning Commission last had a work session on February 13, 2024. I recorded the meeting but have been unable to review it yet or write it up the discussion on Development Areas Land Use and Transportation and Community Facilities. 

Thankfully there are 47 pages of draft minutes from that meeting to review what was said. 

On Tuesday, planning commissioners will resume their discussion of goals and objectives by discussing the drafts in the Rural Area Land Use and Transportation chapter. They meet at 4 p.m. for a work session. (meeting agenda)

For decades, Albemarle has had a strict interpretation that non-agricultural businesses are discouraged or prohibited in the rural area. A theme in the AC44 process is to reevaluate some of that interpretation while retaining the same basic principle that has been in place. 

“While the provision of public services and infrastructure will continue to vary between the Rural Area and the Development Areas, the Comprehensive Plan update is an opportunity to find ways to provide, support, and distribute some public services in the Rural Area in a more equitable manner,” reads the staff report for the work session.

There are two public hearings at the 6 p.m. regular session. The first is for a rezoning of 7.2 acres from R-6 to Planned Residential Development for a 244-unit apartment complex on Woodburn Road. In all there would be five buildings and the apartment would connect to a Woodbrook Drive. (staff report)

“The proposed community would offer needed housing options for County residents and would contribute to the urban redevelopment of the surrounding area envisioned by the Rio29 Small Area Plan, including by adding more residents who will support the implementation of the Rio29 Small Area Plan,” reads the applicant’s narrative.

The second public hearing is on potential changes to Albemarle’s policies on the siting of cell towers for personal wireless communications. For many years, the county has put a premium on aesthetics with a goal of restricting visibility. A review has been underway for some time, and the Planning Commission last discussed this matter last June as I wrote about at the time.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on recommended changes including allowing more treetop towers in areas currently listed as avoidance areas, removing limits on the number of arrays allowed on a tower, and limits on the size of antennas. 

An online survey seeking input resulted in over 700 responses. All of that can be seen from the staff 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 February 26, 2024 Week Ahead. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.