Albemarle holding meeting on route for Three Notched Trail

Nearly five years have passed since Albemarle County received a $2 million planning grant from the federal government to plan for a trail to span from the Blue Ridge Tunnel to Charlottesville via Crozet.

The public will get a chance to see the proposed route at a public meeting at Henley Middle School at 6:30 p.m. on October 26. (meeting info)

“The next meeting builds on prior public engagement, including a May 2025 kickoff and a December 2025 meeting that shared draft route options,” said County Executive Jeffrey Richardson. “The October meeting will focus on a preferred route as determined by public input and research. This remains a planning-only effort.”

Richardson also previewed National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday. People can discard unwanted medications at a series of places including Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Forest Lakes Family Medicine, Crozet Family Medicine, and Wegmans.

“This past spring’s event collected 642,400 pounds of medication at 4,417 collection sites nationwide,” Richardson said. “Seven hundred and twenty-one pounds was collected in Albemarle County.

Richardson had other items to report as well.

• Employees in Albemarle’s Parks and Recreation Department helped improve access between the Rivanna River at Stone Robinson Elementary during the United Way’s Day of Caring on September 16.
• Albemarle County held a special event called SEAS the Day at Walnut Creek Park on September 20 for military personnel and veterans and their families.
• A historical marker was dedicated on September 27 at Yancey Community Center to commemorate its past as B.F. Yancey Elementary School and Esmont High School.

Additionally, the Board voted at the end of the meeting to approve a request from White Hall District Supervisor Ann Mallek for the county to go on record opposing the merger of Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. This will take the form of a letter to be signed by Chair Ned Gallaway.

Other follow-ups from the Albemarle Board of Supervisors meeting:

• An applicant seeking to relocate a homesite on a rural preservation lot asked for consideration of their special exception request to be deferred until a later date. Staff had recommended denial. Supervisor Fred Missel of the Samuel Miller District said the applicant wanted to “spend more time learning and speaking with staff about the concerns staff has in the application.” Learn more in the agenda for the meeting.
• Supervisors officially accepted 1.5 miles of new streets constructed as part of the North Pointe development into the secondary road network. These add new addresses on Northside Drive, Cliffstone Boulevard, Steep Rock Drive, Crosscreek Place, Thicket Run Drive, and Thicket Run Place.
• Missel also recused himself from one of the items discussed during the closed session held before the 6 p.m. evening session. There were no actions taken as a result of whatever was discussed.

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