Four public hearings in Albemarle Board’s evening session including Cville Oriental site, solar roof at COB-5

The Albemarle Board of Supervisors hold their public hearings in the evening like most elected bodies in our area. These begin shortly after County Executive Jeffrey Richardson will be asked to give a report on items not listed on the agenda. 

The first public hearing is for a public hearing on an ordinance to give a one-time $1,000 bonus to eligible employees. The FY2025 budget did not include a salary increase, and this bonus is intended to offset rising healthcare costs and other increases in the cost of living. (item materials)

The second is for a rezoning of 1193 Seminole Trail for a maximum of 165 residential units and up to 10,000 square feet. This is the current site of Cville Oriental, a long-standing grocery store that rents from the site and will be displaced. Two other businesses have already closed in anticipation of redevelopment. 

The Albemarle County Planning Commission recommended approval on July 23, 2024, but some members expressed disappointment the project was not a taller one with more residential density. The developer, Up Campus Properties, said that was partially due to constraints that come from a lack of a second vehicular access point. For more details, take a look at the story I wrote in late July. 

The third public hearing is for a Solar Power Purchase Agreement to lease a portion of the roof of the county’s office building at 5th Street which is often referred to as COB-5. 

“Under such an agreement, the system is designed, installed, financed, owned, operated, and maintained by the solar development company for the life of the agreement,” reads the staff report. “Throughout the life of the system, the property owner pays the solar development company for the energy, just as an owner would pay for energy from electric utilities.”

The materials state that the county could install 1,500 solar panels and generate 660 killowatt/hours of electricity each day and an estimated 900,000 each year. That’s enough to generate half of the energy currently used at COB-5. 

Under this arrangement, the county would work with Sun Tribe Solar. The deed is here if you want to take a look at it. Additional information is available here in a three-page report. 

The fourth public hearing relates to a new lease with the United States Army for a utility easement underneath Boulders Road next to Rivanna Station. (item materials)

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 September 30, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.