HomeMy WebLinkAboutCPA201800007 Staff Report 2019-05-14GfRGL1y1A
County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
Memorandum
To: Albemarle County Planning Commission
From: David Hannah, Natural Resources Manager
Division: Administration
Date: May 14, 2019
Subject: CPA201800007 - Comprehensive Plan Amendment to Incorporate Biodiversity
Background:
Objective 4 of the Natural Resources Chapter of the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan states:
"Protect the biological diversity and ecological integrity of the County in both the Rural Area and
Development Areas." Strategy 4a under Objective 4 states: "Develop an Action Plan for Biodiversity to
protect significant areas of biological importance to the County." Narrative for Strategy 4a includes the
statement: "When completed, the action plan should be presented to the Board of Supervisors for
adoption into the Comprehensive Plan. "
County staff, working in consultation with the Albemarle County Natural Heritage Committee, completed
a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Albemarle County in June 2018. On July 5, 2018, the Albemarle
County Board of Supervisors endorsed the BAP and directed staff to begin working with the Planning
Commission to amend the County's Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). On September 4, 2018, the
Planning Commission adopted a Resolution of Intent to amend the Comp Plan to incorporate strategies
for conserving biodiversity. County staff subsequently developed draft revisions for the Comp Plan.
Summary:
At a work session on November 20, 2018, the Planning Commission reviewed the first draft of the Comp
Plan revisions. One outcome of the work session was approval by the Planning Commission to include
the BAP and related materials - Executive Summary, Appendices, and maps - in the Reference
Documents section of the Comp Plan. All BAP materials are available on the Albemarle County website,
http: //www. albemarle. org/department. asp?department=cdd&relpage=22534.
Staff conducted a public meeting on November 29, 2018 to solicit comments and feedback from the
public on the proposed revisions to the Comp Plan. An online survey was available to the public as
another means of providing comments on the proposed set of strategies in the revised Comp Plan (survey
results included in Attachment A).
A second Planning Commission work session was held on February 12, 2019. A second draft of the
revised Comp Plan was reviewed. The second draft incorporated comments and feedback from the public
and the first Planning Commission work session. Additional recommendations for revising the Comp
Plan were made during the second work session. Attachment A includes a summary of how comments
Memo to Planning Commission from Staff, 5/14/19
were addressed in revising the Comp Plan. The Planning Commission directed staff to proceed to a work
session with the Board of Supervisors to review the Comp Plan revisions.
A work session with the Board of Supervisors was held on April 3, 2019. The Board discussed and
reviewed the revised Comp Plan and made no recommendations for further changes. The Board approved
proceeding to a public hearing with the Planning Commission for the purpose of amending the Comp
Plan. Pending a successful public hearing with the Planning Commission, a public hearing with the
Board of Supervisors will be held. The public hearing is scheduled for July 3, 2019.
Attachments are provided to document all the proposed amendments to the Comp Plan.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends the Planning Commission adopt the attached Resolution to Recommend Approval of
Amending the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan, CPA2018-00007.
Attachment A: Summary of Comments and Actions Taken to Amend Comp Plan
Attachment B: Resolution to Recommend Approval of Amending Comp Plan
Attachment C: Summary of Proposed Comp Plan Strategies
Attachment D: Current version of Chapter 4 Comp Plan, Objective 4 section
Attachment E: Proposed Amendments to Chapter 4 of Comp Plan — "clean" version
Attachment F: Proposed Amendments to Chapter 4 of Comp Plan — "redline" version
Attachment G: Proposed Amendments to Chapter 13 of Comp Plan — "redline" version
Memo to Planning Commission from Staff, 5/14/19 2