Fluvanna PC to hold public hearing on removal of rural cluster subdivisions as a land use tool

The Fluvanna Planning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. in the Morris Room in the County Administration Building in Palmyra for a work session on the capital improvements plan. Department heads appeared before the PC at their October 8, 2024 work session. (agenda packet)

The regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and there are a lot of items on the agenda.

• The first is a request for a sidewalk waiver for the Rivanna Bend development. From the minutes of the October 8 meeting, we learn that some existing residents are not happy with the proposed new homes. The total area for this development is 76.71 acres and the cluster development would have 11.5 acres in residential lots, 1.5 acres in right of way, and the rest in open space. There would be 21 residential lots and the developer argues that sidewalks would not be keeping with the rural character. Instead, a walking path would be constructed. (learn more)
• The second is a site development plan for West River Self Storage, a proposed 39,800 square foot development across five buildings. They are also seeking a sidewalk waiver. (learn more)
• There will be three resolutions to advertise public hearings for three future zoning text amendments. These are for the definitions of “family day home,” “major and minor subdivision,” and “front yard.” For the first one, the proposal is to lower the number of children in a family day home from six to five.  For the second one, the idea is to clarify that no more than five lots can be created from a parent lot. 
• There will also be a discussion of the Comprehensive Plan under unfinished business. Supervisors recently adopted an update of the plan but work has already begun on another update to try to increase rural area protection. The removal of rural cluster subdivisions follows the spirit of that update. 

There are three public hearings on other zoning text amendments. 

• One is related to rural cluster neighborhoods, which are currently allowed in Fluvanna County by-right. These allow for slightly more sense development in the rural area by clustering units in one location to preserve open space. Virginia Code requires localities to offer this option for areas with a growth rate higher than percent ten percent between Census counts. That no longer applies to Fluvanna so the idea is to remove the land use tool. (learn more)
• The second is to add definitions for “Pet Crematorium” and “Animal Training Facility” to potential uses in Fluvanna County. (learn more)
• The third is to clarify the definition of a phrase in the section on tarp screening. (learn more)

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 11, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.