Albemarle PC to hold public hearings on private school, mixed-use development on U.S. 29

The seven-person Albemarle Planning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. in Lane Auditorium in the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. (meeting info) (agenda)

There are two public hearings. The first is for a request from the Community Christian Academy to construct modular buildings where a parsonage building currently stands in order to accommodate increased students. A previous request to increase from 85 to 150 students was approved last year. 

The private school operates at 1410 Old Brook Road at Crosslife Community Church and its representatives say it has been hard to find an affordable place that is stable.

“As a school that focuses primarily on the working class, we have a very small budget for facilities and rely on the generosity of landlords to allow us to use their facilities for a minimal cost,” reads the narrative. 

As part of a multiple phase plan, three 3,000 square foot buildings would be constructed behind the current building. These would eventually be replaced with a permanent addition that would be the subject of a future land use application. 

In the second public hearing, RMD Properties will present their rezoning of 3.23 acres on U.S. 29 at the border with Charlottesville for the redevelopment of several commercial businesses into a 165-unit apartment building with 10,000 square feet of non-residential use. This will displace the C’Ville Oriental grocery store. 

The Planning Commission held a preliminary discussion about the development in October 2022 and many members encouraged a tall building with many apartment units. 

Now those units will be provided in a C-shaped building to be constructed at the eastern side of the property. The retail would front U.S. 29 in two buildings. RMD would build a ten-foot section of shared use path on the highway. 

The application does not depict an interconnection to any other parcels. RMD has asked for a special exception to be excused from the requirements of the Neighborhood Model District zoning that there be at least two types of residential units. 

While the staff report lists 165 units, the narrative has a different number and describes the residential structure as “a four-story building multi-family apartment building with a maximum of 130 dwelling units with surface parking and modern amenities.” 

That’s because at this point the developer anticipates building 130 units but wants the ability to increase that to 165 as the project. I anticipate at least one Commission will lament the lack of height. 

A visual in the application depicts the Hibachi Grille and Supreme Buffet to the south in the City of Charlottesville, but that site is also slated for redevelopment. There are no official meetings between appointed or elected officials in Albemarle and Charlottesville to discuss projects on the borders. 

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 July 22, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.