Albemarle ARB to review Holly Hills subdivision, three other projects

The five member Albemarle Architectural Review Board meets at 1 p.m. in Lane Auditorium at the county’s office building at 401 McIntire Road. (meeting info) (agenda)

This may be the most images for any single entry in the history of the Week Ahead newsletter. To paraphrase Olivia Newton John, let’s get visual! 

The first item is the review of a sign at 2415 Ivy Road, a commercial center known as Bellair Place. 

“2415 Ivy Road is part of a small group of buildings (including 2405, 2409, and 2411) originally constructed as a John Deere dealership,” reads the staff report.  

The property is owned by JPA Tower Investors.

The second item is for a major amendment to the certificate of appropriateness for 114 Old Brook Road to allow for a modular building to be constructed to accommodate students at the Community Christian Academy. Supervisors approved a special use permit for this use on September 4, 2024. 

The third item is review of the final site plan and a preliminary review of architecture for Holly Hills, a subdivision to be constructed on the east side of U.S. 29 south of South Hollymead Drive. 

“The properties are either occupied by houses and associated outbuildings or are vacant. The Forest Lakes neighborhood, with a mix of single-family attached and detached dwellings, is located to the east and southeast,” reads the staff report. “The Brookhill development is situated to the south across Ashwood Blvd. Forested properties are to the west across U.S. Route 29.”

The first phase will consist of 318 apartments in six buildings. While there is to be a 100-foot landscaped buffer, the staff report notes the trees that will be included will take many years to become mature. Phase 2 and Phase 3 consist of two sets of townhouses and those site plans will come before the county in the future. 

Supervisors approved the development on June 5, 2024 and the ARB will review that first phase at this meeting.

In other business, the ARB will resume discussion of the Carter Machinery equipment rental store that is in operation at 721 Rio Road. The owners need a special use permit to be able to display forklifts and other machinery outside. The ARB last reviewed the project on October 21. 

“During that meeting, the ARB requested revisions to the concept plan, to be reviewed by the ARB before Planning Commission review,” reads 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 is from the November 4, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.