Fluvanna Planning Commission to review solar changes, public hearing for beauty parlor

Earlier this year, Fluvanna County Supervisors came close to adopting new rules that would have eliminated the ability to apply for a special use permit to build utility-scale solar facilities on land zoned for agricultural use.

Instead, a work group was put together to address growing concerns over too much land being used for energy generation. The full Commission will get an update at a work session. 

There will be a public hearing on an amendment for a previous rezoning to change the proffers for a project at 21453 James Madison Highway.

“The owner of this 1.27-acre parcel is currently operating an unpermitted personal services establishment as a beauty parlor,” reads the staff report. “Personal service establishments are a by right use in the B-1 zoning district.”

Under new business, there will be a request from White Oak Tree Solar LLC to defer their application from the June 11 meeting to the September 10 meeting. 

The Fluvanna Planning Commission will next meet on May 14 and will have a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan. The agenda states that Supervisors will hold their public hearing on June 11, but that’s a Tuesday and Supervisors usually meet on Wednesdays. 

From the minutes, we learn that Todd Fortune is Fluvanna’s new Planning Director. Planning Commissioner Bree Kay has resigned from the advisory body. 

In other meetings:

• The Charlottesville Housing Advisory Committee will have a special meeting at noon. There’s no agenda, but it’s likely they will further discuss a potential land bank and what rules should be in place. Many of the HAC members are the leaders of nonprofit and government housing organizations, and there have been disagreements between them. These meetings are not recorded and not televised, so you’ll have to attend. This meeting is in the basement conference room in City Hall. Read last week’s Week Ahead for more background as the minutes are not available yet for the May meeting. 
• The Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. in CitySpace. (meeting info)
• The Charlottesville Tree Commission will meet at 5 p.m. in the Parks and Recreation Office at 501 East Main Street. (meeting info)

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 is from the May 6, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.