There are many areas in the greater community that will likely look very different in 20 years as whatever will happen will have happened. For over 20 years already, planning has been underway for the eventual future of the former Barnes Lumberyard in Crozet.
“The site of the proposed development lies in the heart of Crozet,” said Margaret Maliszewski, a planning manager with Albemarle County. “It’s generally located south of Three Notched Road and the railroad tracks, west and north of houses along Hilltop street and east of Crozet Avenue and Oak Street.”
The Barnes Lumberyard began operations as the Crozet Lumber Company in 1922 and was a casualty of the Great Recession of 2008. The last employee stopped work in August 2011 and an entity called Crozet New Town Associates purchased the property in December 2014. The company is involved with a public-private partnership with Albemarle County to redevelop the space as a mixed use area.
On March 3, 2025, the Albemarle Architectural Review Board took a look at the proposed design criteria that will be used to review future buildings. They had previously seen the criteria in January 2024. (review the materials)
“The proposed criteria address the appearance of buildings and ARB comments from the previous review with requirements addressing the depth of recesses and projections, changes in detailing, material limitations and limits on wall mounted lighting styles,” Maliszewski said.
Much of the discussion at the ARB is highly technical but worth reviewing to get a sense of what might be possible in the area. The Board of Supervisors rezoned the property to Downtown Crozet District in 2019. That zoning has the purpose of establishing “a district in which traditional downtown development, as described in the Crozet Master Plan” according to the county code.
The Crozet Master Plan was first adopted in December 2004 and has been updated twice. The firm brwarchitects has put together the criteria.
ARB member Frank Stoner recused himself from the proceedings given his company owns Crozet New Town Associates. Taro Matsuno also recused himself.
The other three members expressed support.
“I appreciate the applicant’s willingness or focus on place making,” said ARB Member Frank Hancock. “And I think some of the things we’re drilling down on really speak to trying to create a unique place or build on an energy that exists in Crozet.”
ARB member Dade Van Der Werf called the criteria very thorough and thoughtful but pointed out that staff would have final approval on individual applications. He asked for at least one change to limit the potential that a building could be 600 feet wide.
“I certainly trust and respect the development team and the folks involved in this project,” Van Der Werf said. “I know they’ve got the best interests of Crozet and the community at heart, but would like to see that consistent visual buffer as a way to help ensure some greater degree of continuity in the development without our oversight going forward.”
The item was approved with conditions. If you want to know those, take a look at the final action memo for the meeting.
Before you go: This is the second of two stories today published first to this website as opposed to the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter. It’s possible that may come out today, but if you’re reading this, then you’re seeing it here either way. All of this is an experiment and experiments are sometimes confusing.
Discover more from Information Charlottesville
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
