If Albemarle County’s Community Development Department has a work plan, it stands to reason that I should likely have one to report on what that department is doing. Perhaps that means more frequent updates on various rezonings previously reported.
The Housing Lab and Kennon Williams Landscape Studio filed a rezoning application in early 2025 for a rezoning of 6.52 acres at 470 and 480 East Road in Albemarle County. The original plan for Lochlyn Commons called for 75 townhouse development units on a hillside and they sought to change the zoning from R-4 to Planned Residential District.
A second submission submitted in November of 2025 slightly reduced the number.
“Lochlyn Commons is a proposed 70-unit residential neighborhood close to downtown Charlottesville featuring sustainable and smart growth principles in the site design,” reads the second narrative for ZMA-2025-00002. “The proposed unit mix is 56 three-bedroom units and 14 studio units.”
A second set of comments from county staff informed the applicant that the proposed density of 12 units per acre is too high.
“The proposed density is double what the Comprehensive Plan and the Places29 Master Plan recommend for the subject property,” reads a December 12, 2025 from staff to Christoper Fuller of the Housing Lab.
The comments also express concerns about traffic at the site and requested removal of a proposed bus stop or provision of a place for vehicles to pull off. Charlottesville Area Transit would also have to approve a stop.
On December 17, Fuller requested a deferral to work on the comments.
According to Albemarle’s Civic Access portal, the deferral expires on December 16, 2026.
In an email to Charlottesville Community Engagement, Fuller said a new submission would be made soon.
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