Development Plan updates ranging from small to large

During the first two years of the zoning code’s implementation, landowners and developers seeking to take advantage of additional development rights would file either a Major Development Plan or a Minor Development Plan.

The updated code and its updated manual indicate that development review is required for new construction, additions, site modifications, and for some changes in use. There are many exceptions that allow a landowner to skip this review and go straight to the site plan or building permit process. This includes new construction that does not include any public improvements except streetscape improvement as long as there would be more than two new dwelling units.

All of the previous Major Development Plans have been renamed Development Plans including failed projects such as a plan to turn a single family house at 303 Alderman Road into six townhouses.

Several large Development Plans have been approved such as one for the redevelopment of Westhaven approved on March 9. A site plan for the first is now under review. City Council is providing $15 million to the first phase. City Council had a briefing in late February as I reported for C-Ville Weekly.

A development plan for 180 units at 1000 Wertland was approved on March 13, 2025 for 180 apartment units that would have reduced rents due to the project’s financing. However, the project still needs design approval from the Board of Architectural Review. This is one of three sites the University of Virginia agreed to donate land for affordable housing. City Council has indicated they will not consider direct financial support unless UVA puts in cash.

NDS staff also approved a major development plan for the third phase of Kindlewood on March 13, 2025. NDS staff issued a letter of denial for the site plan on February 10, 2026.

LCD Acquisition files new development plan for The Mark

On May 4, the Charlottesville City Council voted 3-2 to overturn the Board of Architectural Review’s denial of a certificate of appropriateness for a seven-story apartment building in Fifeville.

On May 7, a firm working for LCD Acquisitions filed the third version of a development plan with the following changes to comply with staff feedback.

• All retaining walls have been removed from the Delevan Street right of way.
• No administrative modifications, variances, or special exceptions are being pursued except for a streetscape waiver on Delevan Street.
• There will be 179 long-term bike storage spots and 18 short term bike storage spots.
• There will be 7 one-bedroom units, 13 two-bedroom units, 20 three-bedroom units, 69 four-bedroom units, 52 five-bedroom units, and 18 six bedroom-units.
• The total in-lieu fee would be $4,470,303.

Under the new Development Code, this project is by-right under the Residential Mixed Use 5 zoning.

Over 240 apartment units pending in Belmont

Riverbend Development’s Development Plan for 212 apartment units in the heart of the Belmont neighborhood has been denied by NDS staff three times with the most recent happening on March 26, 2026.

“We are getting close to development plan approval on Belmont Apartments,” said Ashley Davies with Riverbend in response to a question.”We are wrapping up a few final comments and processing two administrative modifications.”

Riverbend’s related project to build a 33 unit apartment complex at 914 Monticello Avenue across the street received a denial letter on March 4. I last wrote about the project last October for C-Ville Weekly.

Most development plans are for smaller projects such as 16 units proposed for 1906 Stadium Road. Shimp Engineering filed an application in late October which has received two denial letters from NDS. The latest was on April 6.

Several projects that sought a Development Plan remain stalled or stopped after receiving a denial letter over four months ago. These include:

• PL-25-0048 would have seen a total of 9 units at 303 Palatine Avenue in Belmont-Carlton. NDS staff issued a denial letter on May 5, 2025 and nothing has been submitted.
• PL-25-0051 would have seen 16 units and 524 square feet at 122 Apple Tree Road in the Jefferson Park Avenue neighborhood. NDS staff issued a denial letter on May 16, 2025 and nothing has been submitted.
• PL-25-0089 would see a new five-unit apartment building at 626 Cabell Avenue. NDS issued a denial letter on August 7, 2025.
• PL-25-0074 would see ten units at 528 Valley Road. The project would split the 6,000 square foot lot into two with seven units on one, three on the other. NDS issued a second denial letter on November 10, 2025.
• PL-25-0104 would see a mixed-use office building at 501 Hedge Street with three office suites and six residential units. NDS issued a denial letter on August 7, 2025 on August 28, 2025.

In a future newsletter, I’ll go through a list of final site plans of significance.

Before you go: The goal of Town Crier Productions is to increase awareness about what is happening at the local, regional, state, and federal government levels. Please share the work with others if you want people to know things. Paid subscribers cover the cost of conducting research for this article which was originally published in the May 13, 2026 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement.  You can either subscribe through Substack or make a charitable contribution.