Berkley Group to present recommendations for how to turn Nelson’s new Comprehensive Plan into the county’s new zoning code 

The five member Board of Supervisors in Nelson County will meet at 2 p.m. in the General District Courtroom in Lovingston. (agenda packet)

One item on the consent agenda is a budget amendment for the current fiscal year because of higher-than-budgeted spending that comes from the Children’s Services Act.

“The CSA is the result of a 1993 Virginia law that provided for the pooling of eight specific funding streams used to purchase services for high-risk youth,” reads a June 3, 2024 letter from Allison McGarry, Nelson County’s CSA administrator.

The budgeted amount for FY24 was $2 million, but expenses are expected to finish out at $2,226,358. Most of that funding comes from the Commonwealth of Virginia, but a local match is required. Because of the additional spending, the formula requires Nelson to make an additional match of $83,479.10, or 31.32 percent higher than anticipated. 

“The increase in expenditures is a result of the increase in number of children in foster care, their increasing level of needs, the increase in valid [Child Protective Services] complaints resulting in foster care prevention services, the increase in children placed in private day schools through [Individual Education Plans], the increase in parental requested placements and overall. the increase in pricing of services,” McGarry explained. 

One item on the consent agenda is a petition for a writ of special election for the position of Treasurer. Angela F. Hicks is resigning effective August 1 but her term doesn’t expire until the end of 2027. This resolution asks the Nelson County Circuit Court to allow the position to be filled in the general election on November 5. 

There will be a presentation from the Virginia Department of Transportation followed by an application for funds through VDOT’s Smart Scale process. Nelson will submit two projects that came out of a study of Route 151.  The text comes straight from the resolution. (See also: Route 151 alternatives in Nelson County available for review, November 29, 2023)

• Route 151 at Tanbark Road Intersection Improvements: This project will construct a Roundabout at the intersection of Route 151 and Tanbark Drive, and expand gas station curb to restrict driveway opening nearest to proposed Roundabout on Route 151. Relocate the existing parking lot entrance on Northbound 840, south of the intersection. Regrade Tanbark Road embankment to improve visibility to Route 151, geometric improvements in the form of curve radius modification and realignment to Route 151 south of the Tanbark intersection. (Cost estimate: $9,258,000)
• Rockfish School Lane & Route 151 Turn Lanes: This project will install dedicated right turn lanes in the southbound and eastbound legs of the Rockfish School Lane and Rockfish Valley Highway intersection. (Cost estimate: $1,374,223)

If you’re interested in why transportation projects are expensive, take a look at the detailed cost estimates for both projects.

A main highlight of the meeting is a follow-up on the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan. This includes a review of a summary of a “diagnostic report” completed by the Berkley Group that takes major themes of the new plan and recommends changes to the zoning and subdivision ordinance. Some of the highlights:

• Combine the two zoning and subdivision ordinance into one document
• Create a mechanism for alternate residential uses and increased density in “appropriate areas”
• Update language to become compliant with state code 
• Update the list of definitions to make additions, changes, and subtractions
• Convert some special use permits to by-right uses 
• Create overlay districts in key areas such as along Route 151 “to regulate access management and density of development”

These would all go through a public process and Berkley suggests this kick off in July for a 18-month process that will be completed by the spring of 2026. Their requested fee is just over $156,000. 

This time around there will be no evening session. 

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 June 10, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.