Albemarle County planning staff are currently reviewing locations that will be the first subjects of an “activity center plan” to help implement a Comprehensive Plan goal.
“Activity Center Plans are expected to accommodate a significant proportion of the county’s future growth and economic development,” said James Wilkinson, a long range planner in Albemarle. “They encourage high density, walkable, mixed-use areas across the development areas.”
Wilkinson made that comment as part of a presentation to the Albemarle Planning Commission on June 9. Today’s C-Ville Weekly has more background and I’ll have a longer report later this week.
One of the three areas recommended by staff is the South Pantops area due to a lot of potential for redevelopment. This long quote from the staff report sets the stage for imagining new possibilities.
“This fast-growing, destination-rich corridor along Route 250 east of the Rivanna River includes the underutilized Pantops Shopping Center, major nearby institutional anchors (Sentara/Martha Jefferson Hospital, Peter Jefferson Place), significant undeveloped landholdings (Worrell Development and Sentara parcels flanking South Pantops Drive and State Farm Boulevard), possibilities to coordinate with the City around Free Bridge, and extensive natural and recreational resources along the Rivanna River, including the new Free Bridge Lane pedestrian Amenity,” reads a four-page report documenting three sites recommended by staff.
Later on today the Albemarle Board of Supervisors will meet and adopt a consent agenda item for a special exception for a property within the South Pantops Area.
An entity called CWT Real Estate LLC wants to develop 1652 State Farm Boulevard as a “sterile processing facility” and needs to adjust the existing structure to proceed. The property is zoned Planned Development – Mixed Commercial which limits that use to no more than 4,000 square feet and the proposal is for 4,895 square feet.
The narrative from Shimp Engineering notes the proximity to both the University of Virginia Hospital and the Martha Jefferson Hospital.
“The proposed sterile processing center would provide essential services to these facilities by supplying sterilized surgical instrument kits, thereby enhancing efficiency and reliability in medical procedures,” reads the narrative. “In doing so, the use not only aligns with but actively advances the County’s stated economic development objectives by strengthening and supporting the existing healthcare infrastructure.”
That language is echoed in the staff report supporting the exception after quoting language from the Comprehensive Plan.
“The proposed sterile processing center would provide essential services to these facilities by supplying sterilized surgical instrument kits, thereby enhancing efficiency and reliability in medical procedures,” reads the staff report. “In doing so, the use not only aligns with but actively advances the County’s stated economic development objectives by strengthening and supporting the existing healthcare infrastructure.”
Other consent agenda items include support for Smart Scale applications and a resolution of intent to update the zoning code in response to new directives from the General Assembly that will go into effect on July 1. Read that staff report here.
Albemarle Supervisors holding public hearing on changes to riparian buffer standards
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors will take feedback tonight on a proposal that will strengthen the county’s ability to regulate what can happen within riparian buffers.
“The proposed Zoning ordinance amendment establishes performance standards for vegetation management and land uses within riparian buffers in all zoning districts,” reads the staff report for a public hearing tonight.
If adopted, the ordinance amendment will create the position of the “riparian buffer administrator” who must approve any activity within buffers.
This work is part of Albemarle’s efforts to be compliant with Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. In 2017, the Board of Supervisors established the Stream Health Initiative and this is one of the outcomes.
For more information on what’s in the ordinance, there’s a wealth of information on Engage Albemarle.
The Planning Commission recommended approval in February but expressed concern that some landowners might stop removing invasive species in buffers if they had to get permission first. An exception has been made in the language.
The ordinance would delay enactment until September 1, 2026 to give the engineering division a chance to update the regulations. (item materials for you!)
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