HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 14 2014 PC MinutesAlbemarle County Planning Commission
October 14, 2014
The Albemarle County Planning Commission held a regular meeting and public hearing on Tuesday,
October 14, 2014, at 6:00 p.m., at the County Office Building, Auditorium, Second Floor, 401 McIntire
Road, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Members attending were Cal Morris, Chair; Karen Firehock, Richard Randolph, Mac Lafferty, Vice
Chair; Thomas Loach, Bruce Dotson, and Tim Keller. Julia Monteith, AICP, Senior Land Use Planner
for the University of Virginia was present.
Staff present was Scott Clark, Senior Planner; Elaine Echols, Principal Planner; Wayne Cilimberg,
Director of Planning; Sharon Taylor, Clerk to Planning Commission; Mark Graham, Director of
Community Development and Andy Herrick, Senior Assistant County Attorney.
Call to Order and Establish Quorum:
Mr. Morris, Chair, called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and established a quorum.
From the Public: Matters Not Listed for Public Hearing on the Agenda.
Mr. Morris invited comment from the public on other matters not listed on the agenda. There being
none, the meeting moved to the next agenda item.
Consent Agenda:
a. Approval of minutes: June 24, 2014 and July 29, 2014
Mr. Morris asked if any Commissioner would like to pull an item from the consent agenda for further
review.
Motion: Mr. Randolph moved and Mr. Lafferty seconded for approval of the consent agenda.
The motion carried by a vote of (7:0).
Mr. Morris said the consent agenda was approved.
Committee Reports:
Mr. Morris invited committee reports.
The following committee reports were given:
Tim Keller:
• Announced the Fiscal Impact Committee will meet on September 29.
Rick Randolph:
• Noted work of the solid waste committee was a topic on tonight's agenda.
• Reported that the Historic Preservation Committee is continuing to work on a handbook to be
available on the County website.
• Reported the Village of Rivanna Community Advisory Committee had a meeting and discussed
residential density with staff.
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• Briefed the Commission on the LEUP Workshop he attended in Short Pump.
Karen Firehock:
• Reported that the National Heritage Committee met and is working on an annual report to present
to the Board of Supervisors.
• Reported that the Water Resources Funding Advisory Committee has met twice to work to develop
funding recommendations for mandated regulatory changes to storm water management. Noted
they will have meetings open to the public the second Thursday of every month for at least the next
six months.
• Reported that the University of Virginia Master Planning Council met and reported the University
has an excellent bike share program coming on line soon (U Bike).
Mac Lafferty:
• Reported that the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee has called a special meeting for this
Thursday, 10/16 regarding House Bill #2.
• Reported PACC Tech will not be meeting.
• Reported on the 29 Solutions public meeting held by VDOT tonight and expressed an interest in
having the Commission receive a presentation of information provided at that meeting.
Cal Morris:
• Reported that The Free Bridge Area Congestion Relief Committee met in September to discuss the
final seven possibilities as to ways to relieve congestion at Free Bridge. Findings will be displayed at
a public open house to be held on October 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson Planning
District Commission Office on Water Street. A wrap up meeting will be held in November.
• Attended the initial meeting of the City -County Rivanna River Planning Committee on behalf of the
Planning Commission. The next meeting will be October 28 at 10 a.m. The Commission will
designate its representative under new business tonight.
There being no other committee reports, the meeting moved to the next item.
Review of Board of Supervisors Meeting — October 1, 2014, October 7, 2014 and October 8,
2014.
Mr. Cilimberg reviewed actions from the Board of Supervisors meetings on October 1, 2014, October 7,
2014 and October 8, 2014.
Deferred Items
CPA-2014-00001 Route 29 — Hydraulic Road Official Map
Ordinance Re -Adopting and Modifying U.S. Route 29 and Hydraulic Road Official Map — Ordinance to
re -adopt and modify an official map originally adopted December 2, 2009 under Virginia Code § 15.2-
2233 et seq., depicting, within the vicinity of the northwest quadrant of the U.S. Route 29 and Hydraulic
Road intersection, the location, centerlines, and existing and future right-of-way widths of the legally
established segments of U.S. Route 29 and Hydraulic Road abutting and on County Tax Map and
Parcel Numbers 61 W-03-19A and 61 W-03-25. The ordinance and map would be amended to identify
the current tax map and parcel numbers, but the location, centerlines, and existing and future right-of-
way widths would be the same as adopted on December 2, 2009, except as modified to remove rights -
of -way dedicated to public use and improvements constructed since December 2, 2009. A copy of the
full text of the proposed ordinance and the official map are on file in the office of the clerk of the Board
of Supervisors, and in the Department of Community Development, County Office Building, 401
McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. (Andy Herrick/Jack Kelsey) DEFERRED FROM THE
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
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Mr. Morris noted CPA-2014-00001 Route 29 — Hydraulic Road Official Map was deferred from the
September 16, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting.
Staff Presentation:
Mr. Andy Herrick, Senior Assistant County Attorney said he was filling in for Greg Kamptner. He has
been asked to speak about this official map for the Stonefield intersection. As they have seen from
looking through the executive summary, this case derives from the proffers for the Stonefield
Development. The purpose of the official map is basically to reserve proposed rights -of -way or future
rights -of -way for localities. In this case, the official map was part of the proffers for Stonefield originally
made in December, 2009. There have been a number of improvements made to the Route 29-
Hydraulic intersection and additional revisions made to the official map since this Commission and the
Board of Supervisors last reviewed it in December, 2009. It is a statutory requirement that the official
map be reviewed, revised and readopted once every five years. We are now reaching the end of that
five year window. Some revisions have been made to the map to reflect the right-of-way that has
already been dedicated, as well as some changed lot lines. Otherwise, the official map here is largely
the same as when it was last reviewed and approved in December of 2009. The process from this
point is that the Commission would review and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors
who would then have the final ability to adopt it by ordinance. Therefore, staff suggests readoption of
the official map as amended, and that the Planning Commission recommends it for approval by the
Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Morris invited questions for staff.
Mr. Lafferty asked if it would be prudent now to show the property's new name, instead of Albemarle
Place, which is on the map.
Mr. Herrick replied that label reflects the owner of that parcel, Albemarle Place, EAAP LLC. This plat is
just reflecting legal ownership, rather than the name of the development.
Mr. Randolph asked how the change on the map would affect pedestrian safety in crossing over Route
29.
Mr. Herrick replied that he was not sure that issue is really addressed in the official map. He is told that
the design shown on this map does have the capacity for the proposed interchange at Hydraulic or any
sort of interchange that could be proposed at Hydraulic. This map was made with those designs in
mind. He was not sure he could really address pedestrian impacts specifically.
Mr. Randolph asked whether with these changes, there was any impact in terms of storm water
management on site.
Mr. Herrick replied that he thinks this is more dealing with public rights -of -way than storm water
management.
Mr. Cilimberg said that when the official map was originally adopted, there was a conceptual plan that
County staff agreed with VDOT staff could be built in the location covered by the official map as an
interchange. The interchange itself is not part of the official map, but making sure the right-of-way
existed for any improvements including an interchange was the subject of the official map. Of course,
now they know that with the 29 Solutions, there will be a re -study of this intersection for the potential of
an interchange that may be like that proposed for Rio Road or something else. The official map is
providing for the land area necessary for the improvements that might follow in many years. They don't
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expect that to be imminent at this point because there is no funding for the actual construction.
However, there is funding for planning a work study of that for an interchange. Of course, with that
study will be the discussion and consideration of things like pedestrian crossing.
Mr. Dotson said he had no problem with the proposal, but it is its novelty. In the time he has been on
the Commission, he did not remember seeing an official map before. He was wondering if this is a new
procedure.
Mr. Herrick said it is not one that comes up very often. However, he found the minutes and the agenda
item from when the Commission considered the last map in 2009. He was not sure of any
consideration that has occurred subsequently to that.
Mr. Dotson said it was not necessary to have an official map, which he assumes has a certain amount
of engineering study that goes into it before these fairly precise lines are drawn. It is not necessary to
have an official map in order to receive dedications of right-of-way.
Mr. Herrick replied that is correct, it is not necessary. The main purpose of the official map is
essentially for a locality to reserve certain areas as public rights -of -way. For example, if a building
permit were to come up that proposed a new building within an area marked on the official map as a
proposed right-of-way, the locality would have basically the first opportunity to acquire the land. The
main purpose behind the official map is to set up the current and future proposed rights -of -way and to
give a locality essentially a first claim on those areas.
Mr. Dotson said that the example of the question that occurred to him is in Crozet, on what he would
call the Eastern Avenue that connects 240 and 250. Do they have an official map there and do they
need one? Again, he was just trying to understand how official maps work.
Mr. Cilimberg replied that they have the comprehensive plan designation of the general area. There
would need to be an actual completion of alignment studies to determine exact locations. They also
have had some reservations in a couple of projects for part of that road to be built. Upon demand of
the County, they can get the land to build, but they have not actually had through our Office of Facilities
Development an actual plan for the alignment of that road or some of the other roads that could
become an official map if they went through an alignment study. The comparison here is that they did
have an interchange study at this location to determine the land needed.
Mr. Dotson said that in the Crozet example, they obviously don't need to have an official map in order
to reserve lands as part of a rezoning.
Mr. Cilimberg pointed out that even in plats; they have gotten some land that has been set aside for the
County.
Mr. Keller asked as part of the bigger picture for the future, if in the wisdom of a prior Planning
Commission, there had been interest in having a parallel road to Route 29 North from the Route 250 By
Pass to the Rivanna River, and if that had been put in the comprehensive plan, could there have been
a reservation of a right-of-way for those parallel access roads to businesses on either side before they
were developed?
Mr. Herrick replied that there could be an official map along those lines. However, that map would not
automatically guarantee the locality the right to acquire those properties. It would affect the processing
of building permits for any building that would come up within the space designated as proposed rights -
of -way. That would pretty much be the extent of the legal effect on development. It would not take
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away from the property rights of the owners there because the County would have to compensate the
owners for any property acquired.
Mr. Keller said that it could have been an encouragement for a further setback of the buildings that
were built.
Mr. Herrick replied that an official map would be one way for the county to acquire property, again, fairly
compensating the owners for their property.
Ms. Monteith asked who prepared this map and whether it was the county.
Mr. Herrick replied that he did not believe so. Again, this map was in conjunction with the proffers for
Stonefield. He assumed that the Stonefield surveyor prepared the map.
Mr. Keller asked whether when they talk about these various connectors, such as the area anticipated
on the south side of town, there is an official map that is comparable to this.
Mr. Cilimberg replied no, not necessarily. The first step in determining where any potential roads or
road improvements would be located would be through the land use element of the Comprehensive
Plan, which for most of the County's development areas are master planned areas. Those plans would
have general alignments or locations identified where new roads or improvements to existing roads
would occur. The next step towards those roads being more precisely identified is to do alignment
studies. The county has not done too many of those, but has identified them in master plans or in the
land use part of the comprehensive plan. However, that has not typically occurred in terms of actually
going through the engineering work to determine road alignments. That work would be the next step
towards potentially doing an official map.
Mr. Keller asked if the Fifth Street Connector that is spoken about quite often in planning discussions is
just a dream.
Mr. Cilimberg replied that the Avon/Fifth Street Connection that will occur with the development of Fifth
Street Station was actually part of a rezoning approval. That road, which is actually going to be built
completely by a developer, was located as part of the zoning, and ultimately will be shown on the site
plans for the development. The Fifth Street to Avon Connector that would utilize part of what is the
Southern Parkway has not gone through that same kind of alignment study that would determine a
location. The Commission's recommendation, and ultimately with what the Board has been seeing, is
that project is not anticipated in the 20 years of the comp plan. So it is only being identified as a general
reservation of an area that initially might be developed in some form as pedestrian/bicycle access.
Mr. Morris noted an example of what he thinks he is referring to, on the Pantops Master plan, there was
a parallel road identified on the north side of Route 250. Really it was a line drawn on a map.
However, as development started taking place, that map was kind of a warning sign to take it easy on
this area since they might like to have a road. That road will be going in, near Chick-Fil-A. Eventually it
will happen, but actually as Mr. Cilimberg said; it is a long, long process. Up until very recently, it was
nothing more than a line on a map.
Mr. Cilimberg noted that more typically, they will get the lines on the comp plan map accomplished
through development with rezoning. The lines will be in locations that are determined during those
processes for the eventual extension of that particular road through other development that might
occur.
Mr. Keller asked whether they will all ultimately end up with an official map.
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Mr. Cilimberg replied not necessarily. Once it is committed to as part of the rezoning by the developer,
they don't need the official map for that particular road section, as an example.
Mr. Keller noted the point he was trying to get at was when they need or don't need the official map.
There being no further questions, Mr. Morris opened the public hearing and invited public comment.
There being no public comment, the public hearing was closed and the matter before the Planning
Commission.
Motion: Mr. Dotson moved and Mr. Lafferty seconded to recommend approval of CPA-2014-00001,
Route 29 - Hydraulic Road Official Map.
The motion passed by a vote of (7:0).
Mr. Morris noted the request will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for
approval at a date to be determined.
Mr. Cilimberg pointed out there is a tentative plan for the request to be heard on the Board of
Supervisors' November 5th agenda.
Public Hearing Items
a. AFD-2014-00004 Keswick Review
Periodic (10-year) review of the Keswick Agricultural and Forestal District, as required in Section
15.2-4311 of the Code of Virginia. The district includes the properties described as Tax map 48,
parcels 30, 30 A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E; tax map 63, parcels 39, 39A, 40, 42A; tax map 64, parcels 5,
7, 7A, 8A, 9, 10 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 11 12, 13, 13A, 14; tax map 65, parcels 13 , 14A, 14A1,
31 C1, 31 C3, 31 D, 32 ; tax map 79, parcel 46; tax map 80, parcels 1, 2, 2A, 2C, 3A, 3A1, 3G, 3H,
31, 4, 61 D, 88, 114A, 115, 164, 169, 169A , 169C, 169C1 , 174, 176, 176A, 182, 182A, 183, 183A,
190, 192, 194; tax map 81, parcels 1, 8A, 15A6, 15B, 63 , 69, 72, 73, 74, 79. The district includes a
total of 6,923 acres. The area is designated as Rural Area in the Comprehensive Plan and the
included properties are zoned RA Rural Areas. (Scott Clark)
AND
b. AFD-2014-00005 Kinloch Review
Periodic (10-year) review of the Kinloch Agricultural and Forestal District, as required in Section
15.2-4311 of the Code of Virginia. The district includes the properties described as Tax map 49,
parcels 5C, 6A1; tax map 50, parcels 13, 19; tax map 65, parcels 7, 7A, 8, 84A, 86, 89, 90, 91, 91A,
92, 93A, 93A1, 94, 94A, 94B, 94C, 95, 95A, 100, 121, 121Al; tax map 66, parcels 2, 3C, 3G, 10G1,
32, 32D, 32E, 34 (Albemarle part only), 34B.. The district includes a total of 1,722 acres. The area
is designated as Rural Area in the Comprehensive Plan and the included properties are zoned RA
Rural Areas. (Scott Clark)
AND
c. AFD-2014-00006 Moorman's River Review
Periodic (10-year) review of the Ivy Creek Agricultural and Forestal District, as required in Section
15.2-4311 of the Code of Virginia. The district includes the properties described as Tax map 27,
parcels 32, 34, 34A, 40, 40A, 40A1, 42, 42A; tax map 28, parcels 2, 2A, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6A, 6B, 7, 7A,
`%we 7A1, 7B, 8, 12, 12A, 12B, 13, 13A, 17A, 17C, 18, 23B, 23B1, 30, 30A, 30A1, 30B 32B, 32D, 34B,
35, 35B, 37, 37A, 37B, 37C, 38; tax map 29, parcels 2C, 4E, 8, 8B, 8E, 8E1, 8H, 8J, 8K, 9, 10, 15C,
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40B, 40C, 40D, 45, 4 51-11, 451-12, 49C, 50, 54A, 61, 62, 63, 63A, 63D, 67C, 69D, 69F, 70A, 70B,
70C, 70F, 70F1, 70H1, 70K, 70L, 70M, 71, 71 A, 73B, 74A, 76, 78, 78A1, 79C, 79E, 79F, 80, 84, 85
; tax map 30, parcels 10, 10A, 10C, 12, 12C, 12C1, 12D, 17A, 18E , 23 ; tax map 41, parcels 8, 8B,
8C, 8D, 9E, 15, 15A, 17C, 18, 19, 41 C, 41 H, 44, 50, 50C, 65A1, 67B, 68, 70, 72, 72B, 72C, 72D,
89; tax map 42, parcels 5, 6; 6B, 7, 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 10, 10A, 1OD, 37F, 37J, 38, 40, 40C, 40D, 40D1,
40G, 40H2, 41, 42B, 42B1, 43, 43A, 44; tax map 43, parcels 1, 1 F, 2A1, 2B, 3A, 4D, 5, 5A, 9, 10,
1662, 16133, 18E4, 18G, 18J, 191, 19N, 19P, 20A, 20B, 20C, 21, 21A, 24, 25A, 25B, 30, 30A, 30B,
30131, 30132, 30133, 3064, 30D, 30G, 30H, 30M, 30N, 32H, 33, 33E, 34D1, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 45C,
45D; tax map 44, parcels 1, 2, 24, 26, 26A, 26B, 26C, 27B, 27C, 28, 29, 29A, 29D, 30, 30A, 30B,
31, 31 A, 31 Al, 31 D, 31 F, 31 G , 31 H ; tax map 57, parcel 69; tax map 59, parcels 32, 32A, 34, 35,
82A ; tax map 60E3, parcel 1. The district includes a total of 10,994 acres. The area is designated
as Rural Area in the Comprehensive Plan and the included properties are zoned RA Rural Areas.
(Scott Clark)
AND
d. AFD-2014-00007 Hardware River Addition - Keeling
Notice is hereby given that the Albemarle County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to
receive public comments regarding the addition of the following parcel to the Hardware Agricultural
and Forestal District (Albemarle County Code § 3-214) on October 14, 2014, at 6 p.m., in the
Auditorium of the Albemarle County Office Building, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia.
The parcel proposed for addition (Tax map 88, parcels 3R) is approximately 21 acres in size and is
located at 1745 Chopin Drive. The Albemarle County Agricultural and Forestal Advisory Committee
have recommended approval of this addition. (Scott Clark)
Mr. Morris noted the next items for review are three AFD renewals with withdrawals (AFD-2014-4, 5
and 6) and one AFD addition (AFD-2014-7). The Hardware addition is a little bit different. However,
they have asked Mr. Clark if he would brief them all, they would ask questions, and open it up for public
comment. Then the first three items can be handled in one motion, but the fourth item will have to be
handled separately.
Mr. Herrick pointed out the Commission can consider the four requests as a group or individually as it
sees fit.
Scott Clark presented a PowerPoint presentation and summarized the staff reports for all four requests
individually. He noted there are three district reviews this fall. The first one is the Keswick District.
AFD-2014-04 KESWICK DISTRICT REVIEW
The Keswick District is located in the vicinity of Keswick along Route 22 to 31 north of 1-64. It was
created in 1986 with a total of 41 parcels and 5,412 acres. In October, 1994, two parcels totaling 87
acres were removed during a periodic review. It currently includes 71 parcels and 6,923 acres. Over
5,000 of those acres are also under conservation easement.
The ten year review for a district is the only time that landowners can withdraw by right. All they need
to do is submit a letter and state that they wish to withdraw and they will be withdrawn. It is not really a
judgment call, but something they can do simply by requesting it.
There is a slight change to the request for withdrawals for the Keswick District from what was in the
staff report. It turns out that although these landowners requested all of these parcels to be withdrawn
the bottom two were not actually in the district to begin with, they just are owned by the same people.
In fact, there are two parcels totally 46 acres that would be withdrawn as part of this review.
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Owners
Parcel
Acres
Anne & Carlton Vanderwarker
80-182A
23.71
80-183
22.64
80-193
14.9
81-3A
14.62
Total
4 Parcels
75.87 acres
Committee Recommendation: At their meeting on September 18, 2014, the Agricultural -Forestal
Districts Advisory Committee unanimously recommended renewal of the Keswick District, minus the
requested withdrawals, for another 10-year period.
Mr. Clark moved to the next request.
AFD 2014-00005 KINLOCH DISTRICT REVIEW
The Kinlock District is located just north of the Keswick District, also east of the Southwest Mountains
along Gordonsville Road. There is one small parcel requesting withdrawal. This district was also
created in 1986 at 1,467 acres. It has also been reviewed twice and is now up to 33 parcels totaling
1,722 acres. Again, there is just the one request for withdrawal this time.
Owners
Parcel
Acres
Jennifer E. Sargent
66-10G1
10.96
Withdrawal: Landowners may withdraw their parcels from districts by right during a renewal at any time
before the Board of Supervisors takes final action to continue, modify, or terminate the district. So there
may in fact be other withdrawals that come in later.
Committee Recommendation: At their meeting on September 18, 2014, the Agricultural -Forestal
Districts Advisory Committee unanimously recommended renewal of the Kinloch District, minus the
requested withdrawal, for another 10-year period.
Mr. Clark noted the last of the reviews is the Moorman's River District, which is by far our largest
district.
AFD 2014-06 MOORMAN'S RIVER DISTRICT REVIEW
The district is located in the vicinity of White Hall, Millington, Free Union, and Owensville. The district
was created in December, 1986 with a total of 151 parcels and 7,200 acres. It now includes 230 parcels
and 10,994 acres. This has been a very successful district over the years.
Withdrawal: Landowners may withdraw their parcels from districts by right during a renewal at any time
before the Board of Supervisors takes final action to continue, modify, or terminate the district. As of the
date of this report, five withdrawal requests have been received.
Requested Withdrawals
Owners
Parcel
Acres
Michael & Charlotte Zinsser Booth
28-7
59.92
Gu & Lisa Brown
29-70F1
6
Christopher H. or Margaret W.
29-8K
32.85
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Holden
Robert & Barbara Llewellyn
30-17A
14.11
30-18E
10.54
Neil & Winifred MacDougall
29-73B
5.09
29-80
11.28
Audrianne & John Welborn
43-30D
5.83
Total
8 Parcels
145.62 Acres
Committee Recommendation: At their meeting on September 18, 2014, the Agricultural -Forestal
Districts Advisory Committee unanimously recommended that the Moorman's River District be
renewed, minus the requested withdrawals, for another 10-year period.
Staff recommendation: Staff recommends approval of all three renewals.
Mr. Clark noted the next request is one request to join the Hardware District.
AFD-2014-00007 Hardware River Addition — Keeling
The Hardware Agricultural and Forestal District is located to either side of US 29 South, in the vicinity of
Crossroads and Red Hill. The District originally included 5,947 acres. The District now includes 3,341
acres.
Proposal:
AFD-2014-00007 Keeling: This proposal would add one parcel (Tax Map 88 Parcel 3R) of 21 acres to
the District. The property includes 14.75 acres of soils that are considered important for agriculture in
the Comprehensive Plan. The parcel includes approximately 11 acres of open land, 1.5 acres of pond,
and 8.5 acres of woods. There is one dwelling.
Committee Recommendation:
At their meeting on September 18, 2014, the Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee
unanimously recommended approval of this proposed addition to the Hardware Agricultural and
Forestal District.
Staff recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the addition.
Mr. Morris invited questions for staff.
There being no questions for staff, Mr. Morris opened the public hearing and invited applicants or
members of the public to come forward and address the Planning Commission on any of the four items.
Marie Larobardier, one of the adjacent properties for the Kinloch District, asked what are they officially
requesting; what is the definition of a parcel withdrawal from a district; and what does a district involve.
Mr. Clark replied that Agricultural and Forestal Districts are voluntary. Therefore, people join them by
applying and requesting to be added in. While they are in the district their ability to subdivide is limited.
The County Code allows them to withdraw themselves back out of the district during these ten year
reviews. What that means is they go back to the same zoning limitations on subdivision or other
activities that apply to everybody else in the Rural Areas zoning district. It does not increase anything.
They have had their potential reduced while they have been in the district. They just go back to being
like everybody else in the Rural Areas if they withdraw.
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Ms. Larobardier asked why someone would join the district in the first place and is there any benefit to
it.
Mr. Morris replied that was their individual right to do it. There are benefits involved.
Mr. Clark pointed out there can be tax benefits. They have also heard from a lot of people that they
tend to join in groups and they sort of reassure each other that they are not going to develop. So it is
sort of a community effort in some cases.
Ms. Larobardier asked if your parcel is preserved can it be withdrawn from the district.
Mr. Clark asked what she means by preserved.
Ms. Larobardier replied there are conservation easements through the PEC or land trusts.
Mr. Clark replied that this is entirely separate from conservation easements. Being in and out of the
district does not change the restrictions of your conservation easement. There are people who are
under conservation easement and are in the district. In a case the district does not really do very much
because usually the easements are much more restrictive and they are permanent.
There being no further public comment, Mr. Morris closed the public hearing to bring the matter before
the Planning Commission for discussion and action.
Mr. Dotson asked if his belief that being in an Agricultural and Forestal District automatically conveys
use value taxation benefits.
Mr. Clark replied that it was not automatic. That is a common misperception. Except if the County were
to withdraw its own use value program, then people who were in the districts would be able to be taxed
at those lower rates. As they are right now since that is not the case being in a district can qualify you
for the open space tax category if you have 21 acres or more. However, that still has to be acted on
separately and approved by the Real Estate Department. So there is nothing automatic in the current
situation between joining the district and then having your tax change.
Mr. Lafferty said anticipating that Donald Trump may want to get rid of the conservation easement on
some of his land what are the mechanics of doing that.
Mr. Clark replied that the State Code standard for removing land from a conservation easement is that
the holder of the easement has to find that removal to be essential to the orderly growth and
development of a locality. It is extremely high bar. He thinks it would be difficult to make an argument
that was essential out in the middle of the rural areas to remove it.
Mr. Lafferty pointed out the neighbors certainly don't want it.
Mr. Morris said he would entertain a motion for the first three requests.
Motion: Mr. Randolph moved and Mr. Keller seconded to recommend renewal of the Keswick, Kinloch,
and Moorman's River Districts for another 10-year period, with the requested withdrawals.
The motion passed unanimously by a vote of 7:0.
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Mr. Morris noted a recommendation for approval for all three requests will be forwarded to the Board of
Supervisors to a time to be determined.
Mr. Morris asked if there is any discussion on AFD-2014-00007 Hardware River Addition — Keeling.
There being none, he asked for a motion.
Motion: Ms. Firehock moved and Mr. Keller seconded to recommend approval of AFD-2014-00007
Hardware River Addition — Keeling.
The motion passed unanimously by a vote of 7:0.
Mr. Morris noted the following recommendations would be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors to be
heard at a time to be determined.
• RECOMMEND RENEWAL of the Keswick, Kinloch, and Moorman's River districts for another
10-year period, with the requested withdrawals.
• RECOMMEND APPROVAL of an addition to AFD-2014-00007 Hardware River Addition —
Keeling.
Work Session
a. CPA-2013-00001 Comp Plan Update — Solid Waste
Mr. Morris noted the next item was CPA-2013-00001 Comp Plan Update on Solid Waste. Ms. Echols
will be walking them through this. The Commission will be looking at recommending this for a public
hearing in the future.
Ms. Firehock asked if at this time they are not getting into the specifics but just discussing the merit of
having a public hearing on it.
Mr. Morris replied that is absolutely correct that it is a work session.
Mr. Cilimberg noted they will need to take the language to public hearing. Therefore, if there is
anything the Commission sees in this they feel should be changed for the purpose of the public
hearing, staff would want to know that.
Ms. Echols presented a PowerPoint presentation regarding Comp Plan Update — Solid Waste.
This is a potential Comprehensive Plan recommendation that staff wants to get input from the
Commission on tonight. The Board of Supervisors sent this back to the Commission. She asked the
Commission to review the Board endorsed objective on the screen.
Ms. Echols said that the new objective is broader than what the Planning Commission recommends
and what is in the existing Comp Plan. The proposed objective has to do with efficient and cost
effective disposal sustainable materials management to reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect
human and environmental health and decrease green house gas emissions. It is considerably different
than what is in the plan now, "Provide solid waste management services in an efficient and cost
effective manner." The first strategy you recommended, "Continue to abide by the Planning District
Commission Solid Waste Plan" is not in here as a strategy. Instead the first strategy is to use the waste
hierarchy to guide the policy, which is very similar to the last of the strategies about continuing to
support, reduce and reuse for recycling and resource recovery. The second new strategy has to do
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with education. The third strategy is in the current plan; continue to support the use of private haulers.
That concept is not removed from the proposal of the committee. It just is not listed as a strategy. The
next strategy has to do with analyzing possible economic benefits of partnering with the city, the region
and emphasizes sustainability. The next strategy has to do with offering a comprehensive household
hazardous waste program.
A new strategy would be to develop programs for recycling in electronic waste and pharmaceuticals
and then setting benchmarks for measuring progress. The plan recommended by the Planning
Commission emphasized the importance of progress by looking at increases or decreases in outcomes.
For example, is the amount of recycling increasing or decreasing. The Solid Waste Committee wants
to set goals, such as 10% reduction in waste. The last strategy says the Solid Waste Committee may
bring some other recommendations forward when they complete their work. Staff has looked at the
proposal and consistency of language was important. The policy language is up to the Planning
Commission.
Ms. Echols then directed the Commission to the recommended wording in Attachment A. She asked
the Commission to discuss how they want to deal with this. Rick Randolph sits on the committee.
Supervisor Palmer is here as well as other committee members who can answer questions they might
have. Mark Graham is also here. She asked if there were any questions for staff.
Mr. Morris asked if there were any questions for staff. There being none, he opened the meeting for
public comment prior to the Commission's discussion. He invited public comment on this item.
Liz Palmer, member of Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, thanked the Commission for taking a
look at this. The committee has worked quite hard in going through and trying to parse through and
make sure there were not any inconsistencies in the document and to also make sure that the county's
vision really matches the document. When the committee first read the document, it said that the status
quo is okay. That was one of the committee's biggest problems why they ended up redlining so much
of Comp Plan draft for solid waste. She appreciates the Commission's time.
There being no further public comment, Mr. Morris closed the public comments and bring it back to the
Commission for discussion. He would like to ask a question of Mr. Randolph on this. It is obvious that
a lot of work has been put into this. He asked Mr. Randolph if there were any specific comments that
he would like to share with the Commission.
Mr. Randolph said he thought that Liz Palmer summarized it very well. When the Planning Commission
worked on solid waste we obviously had a lot of other aspects of the Comp Plan to look at. The
Planning Commission's recommended plan for the solid waste is very much a statement of what is. He
thinks this committee wants to make a statement about where solid waste needs to be for the county in
the future. As a committee they have talked about the need at length to ensure that solid waste is
managed properly. There is a strong feeling that County residents are not aware of the degree by which
solid waste is not necessarily handled in a sustainable and environmentally beneficial manner. In other
words, it is going to a dump in Chester. There are resources in the waste stream that are recoverable
or recyclable that can be utilized. There is an opportunity for the county to help steer that process or
investigate ways in which through voluntary participation that can happen. Something that Leo Mallek,
Chair of the committee, has emphasized repeatedly is a need to look at regional solutions. Rather than
just looking at capacity building within Albemarle County we should be looking at the potential of linking
different geographic regions of the county together with a solid waste transfer/convenience center. It
might be in another county that is close enough to achieve a synergy by cooperating with that county
regionally. Also we should be looking at ways in which we can work more effectively with UVA and also
with the City of Charlottesville. The City of Charlottesville has gone its own way, and the University has
gone its own way. There may be an opportunity to bring all of us together around commonality. This
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION - OCTOBER 14, 2014 12
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may result in a reduced cost for taxpayers and it may increase the benefit of materials that get recycled.
That was a very important part. The waste hierarchy and commonality of waste terminology has been
very important for us because it varies as we look at materials. So there has been an effort to get to
that. Hazardous waste disposal is very, very important and something emphasized by one of the
participants from UVA and we on the committee want to look closely at that.
Mr. Randolph noted that discussion about electronic waste, pharmaceuticals is new. Currently
electronic waste is recycled voluntarily by private industry. Two major corporations in Albemarle County
do that. Right now there is a market incentive for them in terms of customer relations to do that. That
incentive may not be there in the future. So where will it leave Albemarle County if that occurs?
Currently there is no policy on pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals are often times disposed of just into
the toilet and especially with some pharmaceuticals that has huge implications in terms of downstream
benthic organisms and water supply outtakes from rivers. Fluvanna is increasingly going to use the
James River as its water supply looking north to Zion Crossroads. All of these issues are ones in which
they felt that the existing comp plan language did not go far enough and there was a need to update it
and to make it much more proactive. So they are looking much more for the future rather than looking
in the past. He thinks that is consistent with what a comp plan should be doing, and thereby he
enthusiastically supports the work to date and looks forward to the public hearing.
Mr. Morris invited questions relating to this. He thought that they had done a very good job of doing it.
He thanked them for putting in the electronics and the pharmaceuticals. He was embarrassed that the
Planning Commission missed them.
Mr. Lafferty noted there is a collection day every now and then that the police do pharmaceuticals
collections. Commenting on attachment B in blue he suggested the website address they condense if
we want people to use it.
Ms. Firehock suggested footnoting it.
Mr. Lafferty noted there are ways of transforming URL's to smaller.
Ms. Echols noted that there will be a hyperlink.
Mr. Lafferty said a hyperlink is okay.
Mr. Loach said he would add pharmaceutical drop off locations and partnerships to the electronic
section. He drops off his stuff off at Best Buy where they have a bin where you can recycle. He thinks
they can develop more public/private partnerships in and around town and that manufacturers have an
obligation.
Mr. Loach also said that for Strategy 7g, on page 5 the committee talks about the benchmarks in
measuring the waste reduction. Has the committee extrapolated for future residential units to figure out
our future needs?
Ms. Firehock said that is something for the committee to consider as they deliberate, and Mr. Loach
agreed.
Mr. Randolph thanked him since that was something worth looking at and investigating more
thoroughly.
Mr. Loach said he thought it was good they were developing metrics for waste reduction and suggested
they should develop the same metrics for waste increases to see how they meet those needs over an
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extrapolated period of time. Other than that he thought the draft it was real good.
%aw Mr. Randolph said they had a lot of discussion about metrics. There is a lot of controversy about
metrics out there in the trash and recycling field in what you count, how it is counted, and who counts it.
So know that they are looking as they go through this very closely at ways in which they can try to find
verification in measurement as they go along to see what the results of the program are, and thereby
what the benefits are to demonstrate to the public that it is worth looking at this in a different way.
Mr. Lafferty asked if shipping our stuff to Richmond cheaper than using the facility that separates the
materials at Zion Crossroad.
Mr. Randolph said they were familiar with these issues and they plan at some point to visit the site. The
committee has already tried to set up a visit. There was new machinery being installed on the site and
they were not able to be there. However, that is part of the spectrum of things that they are looking at.
There is a fair amount of controversy about the degree of recycling and the rate that is asserted by the
owner and operator of that facility versus the actual recycling rate that is suspected at other similar
facilities nationwide with that kind of machinery and what they are actually getting as a recycling or
recovery rate. They plan to go out there and take a look at it. It is one of several sites. They have
already had a site visit out to Ivy and the other sites that are forthcoming. So yes, the committee is well
aware of that.
Ms. Firehock said she had a minor comment. But, before she made that she just wanted to state that
she was very much in favor of this move to do a better job. She thinks what they really are about is they
are providing more options for people. Where she lives in Albemarle County there is no option for
recycling. There is no single stream recycling trash hauling available where she lives. So she has to
haul everything north to Charlottesville once a month in her truck. She is very sympathetic to this and
also the pharmaceutical issue is a very serious one. They cannot clean the pharmaceuticals out of our
waste water stream when they treat it for drinking water. It is something that is causing a lot of
problems for fish pollution. She noted a minor point language point since staff said they were going to
advertise this for the public. On page 2 of 4 in Attachment B the top paragraph begins, "Solid waste
management traditionally relates to..." In addition in the fourth line from the bottom on the right hand
side it says, "The County Comprehensive Plan must recognize the wide range and evolving nature of
our solid waste stream and changing regulatory environment." She thought it was odd to say the
County Comprehensive Plan must recognize this since it would be in the County Comprehensive Plan.
So it should simply say, "The County recognizes..." That is a minor word smiting point.
Ms. Elaine pointed out there were a few of these wording issues. Staff just wants to get the form similar
and not change the substance. So staff will be providing some minor edits.
Mr. Morris agreed that was a good catch.
Mr. Keller said it has been wordsmithed down to the essence "need" in a comprehensive plan. In his
mind this is the way they want our comprehensive plan section to read in the future so that the public
can look at it and can understand exactly what the points are. He applauds our Supervisors and the
committee for working with this. There are two new members of this Planning Commission who did not
work on the plan. But, it is an evolving body. He personally is very pleased with seeing what the
supervisors are doing on this comprehensive plan.
Mr. Dotson said in listening to the recording of the Board of Supervisors meeting one of the things that
he took away was the new committee would be looking at all alternatives. There are a couple of places
NNW where the specific language here seems to presume a conclusion. So he would like to be reassured
that they are looking at all alternatives and will be presenting those.
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Mr. Randolph replied that they have not looked into putting trash into space as one of our options. He
wanted to assure him that they are being very thorough.
Mr. Dotson asked whether the Planning Commission will have any future involvement in solid waste
policies once the Board of Supervisors receives recommendations.
Mr. Cilimberg replied if there are new strategies that are identified out of the work of the committee,
then it would come through a Comprehensive Plan Amendment process that they would see and the
Board would ultimately see for those new strategies.
Ms. Firehock said it would seem that if recommendations come from the committee for physical
infrastructure to be constructed in various locations about the county the Planning Commission should
be involved.
Mr. Cilimberg said that would be an example of a strategy that would come to you in terms of locations.
Mr. Dotson noted he had other questions that he will ask in private.
Mr. Cilimberg said after Comp Plan adoption there will likely be comprehensive plan amendments
coming to you. That has been the case in the past even going back to the 1989 plan, which identified
several strategies for initiatives that then came back to the Planning Commission and the Board for
comprehensive plan amendment in subsequent years. So that is not unusual for our comprehensive
plan to have that kind of dynamic process.
Mr. Morris invited further comments.
Ms. Echols asked if one of the committee members could answer what is intended in 7e where the Ivy
MUC is described. She said she didn't understand the strategy.
Mr. Morris invited the committee members to address that.
Leo Mallek, Chairman of the Solid Waste Committee, said that more wordsmithing will need to be done
to clarify what is intended. Strategy 7e should read something like "to continue certain services that are
currently being provided by Ivy MUC." It does not specify exactly what those services are, but it leaves
open the option that if the current transfer station loses it permit or its permit is allowed to lapse, that
there are a lot of other services, which are currently provided at the material's utilization center and at
the landfill site that should be encouraged to be continued. These include the mulching operation that
is going on, the grinding of pallets, the deposing of inner waste, which is certain building materials, and
keeping a site open for the reception of organic waste. This is like tree branches that were the result of
the derecho. Future Ivy uses may be what is actually happening at the Ivy MUC, which is separate from
the transfer station and the convenience center operation.
Ms. Firehock suggested it may be easier to understand if it said something like the Ivy MUC should
continue to provide these important programs such as or something.
Mr. Dotson suggested that it was a policy.
Ms. Firehock noted it was not really a strategy but just a statement of what is happening.
Mr. Mallek agreed that it really is a statement of what is happening.
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Ms. Firehock suggested if it was a strategy, then it could be fixed simply by adding a verb, like
"continue to". It is an easy fix.
Mr. Randolph said to be fair about it the committee is not at a point where they can put a verb here to
say what the actions are that should occur in this facility in the future because they are in the process
in looking at all the variables and options. There is pretty much a consensus that Ivy needs to be used
somehow for some purpose or some way. They are not at a point yet to say precisely what that use is.
The only thing they can say is that it plays a role here within the confines.
Mr. Morris asked Ms. Echols if she is getting all of this.
Ms. Echols replied yes and what she would like to do is to work with members of the committee to get it
in the form that says what they have asked for.
Mr. Mallek said he thinks they can continue to wordsmith this. In actual fact the written part of strategy
7e if they get away from the digestive strategies and if they were just to remove words Ivy MUC and
say to provide continuing programs for mulching wood and vegetation.
Ms. Firehock said however that should occur since she thought that would be the easiest way to do it.
Then they are saying they support mulching.
Mr. Mallek agreed since he thinks that is a very strong program that they need to continue somewhere.
If they can remove the location, that works.
Ms. Firehock said then the committee can continue to figure out how best to do that.
Mr. Morris thanked Mr. Mallek for his input.
Ms. Monteith said she had a question for Mr. Randolph. She wondered if he was talking about some of
the facilities that they have visited. She was wondering if they have bench marked against kind of
industry standards of excellence either in Virginia or elsewhere. She knows a lot of times it is hard to
do bench marking outside of the state because they have certain policies and procedures that they
have to format to within a certain state. However, she just wondered if they have looked at any
communities who have. This is not going to be relative because of the difference in size and the nature
of the place. However, the city of San Francisco has like an 84 percent recycling rate of all materials in
the community. It is the highest in the country. So she is not saying that they could necessarily take
best practice standards from them, but was wondering if they have been looking at any best practice
standards that are relevant to us.
Mr. Randolph suggested that Peggy Gillgen come up and speak to that.
Peggy Gillgen, committee member, said she lived in Marin County just north of San Francisco and
Marin County has about a 70% diversion rate right now. She is very familiar with the practice in San
Francisco and has been talking about that a lot during the committee meetings. She is glad that Ms.
Monteith is aware of it because that standard really is quite remarkable.
Mr. Randolph noted one of the municipalities they are looking at very closely is in the Richmond area
and Henrico County and Goochland area. They have looked at that full solid waste management plan,
which are about 85 pages.
Mr. Morris asked if the Commission is ready to recommend that they have planning prepare for a future
public hearing on this matter. He asked if staff wants a motion.
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Mr. Cilimberg replied that he did not think a motion is necessary. If the Commission is in a position that
they feel with the minor modifications that they have discussed tonight it is ready for a hearing and staff
will get it prepared and get the necessary notifications out.
Mr. Morris agreed noting that was outstanding. He thanked everyone for their participation because it
was very helpful.
After review of the recommendations from the Solid Waste Long Term Solutions Advisory Committee
the Planning Commission was in general agreement and asked staff to prepare a draft of this section
for the public hearing consistent with the form being used in the rest of the Comp Plan incorporating all
recommended changes/minor modifications, as noted below, and to schedule a public hearing.
Commissioners were asked to continue forwarding ideas to Mr. Randolph who would pass them on to
the Committee.
Old Business
Mr. Morris invited old business.
• Update on meeting with Board of Supervisors leadership
Mr. Morris provided an update on the meeting held on September 24th with the Board of Supervisors
and Planning Commission leadership that included the Chair and Vice Chair as well as Mr. Cilimberg
and Mr. Kamptner. It was a good meeting with a number of items being discussed. The take away
items included looking at providing the Commission and Board an overview of the status of
recommendations and going back and taking a good hard look at where they are right now. In other
words, taking a look at what happened with the Development Review Process Task Force. One
Commissioner, Mr. Dotson, was a member of that Task Force. As far as the Board of Supervisors
Anne Mallek and Ken Boyd were members of that Task Force. He would suggest they get a handle on
what that Task Force actually recommended, what has been implemented so far, and then shift and
look at what are the results as far as what the Planning Commission is bound legally to do based upon
the Sinclair decision. He thinks their primary concern is how does the Planning Commission actually
present information on recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. In an email that came out today
the Chair of the Board stated they were looking at four different things.
1. If the Planning Commission just says flat out we reject this, or
2. If it says we reject it but it could be doable if this, this and this happened, or
3. They approve it but with these conditions, or
4. They approve it and love it just exactly the way it is.
They chose not to even discuss items #1 and #4, but really would like the Commission to take a look at
the process when we do #2 or #3. He suggested the Commission revisit the Development Review
Process Task Force recommendations since they did establish some stream lined systems which they
have been using. He suggested the Commission needs to look at that.
Mr. Cilimberg noted the idea of getting an overview on the Development Review Task Force
recommendations and the status of those, and how the Sinclair decision might affect in any way our
review of projects came out of the leadership meeting. The Board did not themselves decide that they
needed to take up those matters for those particular items in their own work sessions. However, this
Planning Commission may want to get a refresher on those decisions. Tonight the Commission does
not have enough background to really do that. Mr. Kamptner has discussed with him establishing some
guidelines that tell the Commission when they would ask that an applicant come back before they
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION - OCTOBER 14, 2014 17
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forward the recommendation to the Board versus those things that can move on to the Board without a
1%W need for the Planning Commission to review it again. He wants to work on getting input from staff to
come back to the Planning Commission with a work session that discusses the Development Review
Process Task Force in what has been recommended, what has been done, any effects of the Sinclair
decision and where staff can focus on some suggestions for guidelines in making recommendations to
the Board. That would include anything that came out of either the Sinclair decision or the Development
Review Process Task Force recommendations that might affect how the Commission recommends
things to the Board. He did not think there was anything the Planning Commission needed to do
differently except in the case where they have made a recommendation for approval with certain
conditions and staff does not think the applicant has addressed the condition. In that case he thinks he
was hearing a majority of the Board members when the applicant has not addressed those conditions
and is proposing something alternatively that the Commission should see it first before they see it.
Mr. Morris agreed that was a good point.
Ms. Monteith asked if there had been such a case where the applicant did not address a condition
before going to the Board.
Mr. Cilimberg replied that there was with the Hollymead application.
Ms. Monteith noted that there was nothing the Commission could do if the applicant does not address
the conditions.
Mr. Cilimberg replied that was very true. In addition, it was also nothing the Commission could do
about it if the applicant says they don't want to go back to the Planning Commission.
`''"W ° Ms. Firehock suggested a tweak in the cases where they send the application on to the Board and the
applicant needs to do something that they can indicate in the minutes that it was a minor fix and here is
why they feel very comfortable versus they absolutely must do something. She suggested the
Commission could put more emphasis on it. She sometimes gets asked that by her Supervisor about
that if the Commission asks the applicant to do some more in how big a deal was that, how strong were
the opinions on that, etc.
Mr. Loach noted that it was usually done by staff in saying yes they can get that done by the next
meeting. He thinks the Hollymead Town Center was different because the Planning Commission
cannot be responsible for changes that the developer makes in between the two meetings. It was not
like the Commission did not address it.
Mr. Morris noted what he thinks Ms. Monteith was saying is that it is very often there are conditions that
the staff has identified and put on the staff report that have not been met when the applicant comes
before the Commission. However, they can work it out and they have forwarded that on. He asked if
that was what he was hearing Ms. Monteith saying.
Ms. Monteith replied yes. If the conditions are not met it is not the Commission's fault and not that they
are not doing their job. It is that somebody else is not doing their job.
Mr. Lafferty said if they put conditions on things it would be good to specify our intent.
Mr. Loach said there are two different types of conditions, which includes the ones that are explicit in
the motion when they approve something with conditions as set forth by staff versus those things that
are external where there are agreements between the developer, staff and the Commission that they
can be cleared up by the Board meeting. That is to expedite the project along over a minor issue.
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Mr. Cilimberg noted he did not think this is an issue that happens very often. This particular Board has
""' not seen a lot of rezoning and special use permits and are not used to how those kinds of
recommendations come to them. In the higher volume times there were many projects the Commission
recommended with conditions of what needed to be satisfied that applicants addressed. In those cases
where there was some substance the Commission wanted the applicant to address and the Board felt
they needed to see it first, then the Board has asked them to bring it back. Therefore, he did not think
this was a big problem, which is he thinks with some tweaks of the guidance of how to deal with it
everybody will understand it. He did not think there was anything in the Development Review Process
Task Force or Sinclair decision that has changed how the Commission would need to do that business.
Mr. Randolph said he could not look at this as anything other than a vote of confidence in the Planning
Commission from the Board of Supervisors. In a statement of respect for the work done here at this
level and trust and confidence they would in fact be able to do a better job than the Board of
Supervisors acting as a quasi Planning Commission. He thinks that is important. It was perhaps
precedential that they have not had a case like that before. They hope they don't see it again.
However, hopefully it sent a message in the development community that will prevent a repeat of this
occurring again.
Mr. Morris said he did not think they are going to have a great deal of problem with meeting the Board's
expectations and so on. He did feel that listening to Mr. Dotson and Mr. Graham in getting a handle on
what that process task force came up with because he did not think they ought to throw that out. They
need to streamline the process at the same time knowing what the legal restrictions are they are now
looking at. Then they can take a look at our process.
Mr. Morris asked Mr. Dotson when he could give the Commission a background view on that.
Mr. Dotson replied that he would not take the time to do it right now. He could do that whenever. That
is not an issue. He thinks the idea of having some guidelines where maybe the staff looks back over
the last year and what are the situations where the Commission has sent things forward to the Board
when there are still questions to be addressed. Maybe those would fall into some kind of categories
and they could say well those are kind of fatal flaws as opposed to almost bureaucratic flaws such as
something was not signed or the map did not have the right legend on it. A fatal flaw could be they
have not really resolved the question of use, the density or the location on the site. If the staff could
bring the Commission a candidate list that would really help to focus the discussion. In a sense one of
the things the Development Review Taskforce did is address the question of what information do they
need from an applicant in order to have a complete application. Well in a sense they are asking the
same kind of question here. What is a complete Planning Commission action so that when it goes to
the Board they can say okay they have all the information and feel confident to take an action. He
supports the idea of balloon guidelines. The other advantage of that is it lets the development
community know what they need to do or how to make the system work for what they are trying to
accomplish.
Mr. Dotson suggested that Mr. Graham could provide guidance since he had already written him a brief
memo summarizing what happened since the 2007 Development Review Task Force Committee.
However, it is complicated. The question the Commission has been asked by the Board is fairly
specific and complicated. To get into everything that the Development Review Task Force did is sort of
reinventing the world. They need to know that as part of their legacy, but he would caution generating
two dozen more projects for the work program. He thinks it is good to do, but the question asked is
actually fairly narrow and can be addressed as well as they can ever pin things down. They can try to
"'*AW do that as much as possible. What they are looking for is what his friend calls "flexible exactness".
They want to be flexible when they can, but when they want to be exact they can. As long as they are
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION - OCTOBER 14, 2014 19
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happy with it, then they have achieved flexible exactness.
Mr. Keller agreed with everything he had been hearing and supported staff taking a shot at that
because it would be helpful. He questioned why the Board's staff report was in a different format than
the staff reports to the Commission. He suggested taking a look at that since he thought that might add
to some of the confusion as well.
Mr. Cilimberg noted there is not a different report that the Board gets. What they will do is cover what
the Commission receives with an executive summary that notes the things they ask for to be addressed
and whether or not they were addressed and how they were addressed. That is the only addition to the
staff report the Commission receives that the Board gets. The Board also received the minutes, which
are many times in draft form and the action memo of the Commission's decision. But, the staff report is
the same report with all the attachments the Commission gets. The executive summary is for the
purpose of closing the loop of the Commission's decision and what the applicant has done since your
decision. There would be potentially an attachment to the executive summary that visualizes
something the Commission asked for, which the Commission would not have seen unless it came back
to them.
Mr. Morris noted Mr. Keeler's comment brings up another item that was high on the list of the Chair and
Vice Chair of the Board. They really felt there should be regular interaction between the Planning
Commissioner and the Board of Supervisor. Who initiates that is up to those two or three individuals.
He thinks by and large they do have that good interaction. It takes different forms. Another item he
would like everyone to be thinking about, which was one of the items in the email, was at what point
does a Planning Commissioner and/or Board of Supervisors start interacting with the individual who is
requesting a change. The reason he is asking this is because he knows there are some pretty strong
feelings on the part of members of this Commission and it comes out of a lot of things that they picked
up in our training that they really should not have interaction. He heard that stated a couple of times.
He has always chosen to have interaction if an applicant wants to get together. His only condition is he
wants to see the staff report first before interacting. However, others may say that is not the way they
do it. He is just throwing that out as an item for future discussion. He thought that was something the
Board encourages.
The Planning Commission discussed the issue of meeting with applicants and whether they have a
policy.
Mr. Cilimberg pointed out that for legislative items staff sets up community meetings where the
Supervisor and Board member are invited. He would plan for a work session that gives the
Commission a bit of an overview of the Development Review Task Force and the legal aspects. Staff
will provide what they think is at least a first shot at some guidelines on what was mentioned tonight.
Mr. Morris thanked staff. He said it was a very productive meeting and he thinks they will see more of
it, but is just
New Business
Mr. Morris asked if there was any new business.
Election for the City -County Rivanna River Planning Committee
Mr. Dotson nominated Mr. Morris to serve on the City -County Rivanna River Planning Committee.
Mr. Dotson moved and Mr. Randolph seconded that Mr. Morris serve on the City -County Rivanna River
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FINAL MINUTES
Planning Committee.
The motion passed by a vote of (7:0).
It was the consensus of the Commission that Cal Morris will serve on the City -County Rivanna River
Planning Committee.
• No Planning Commission Meeting on October 21, 2014, October 28, 2014 and November 4, 2014
• November 18'h joint City/County Planning Commission meeting to be held in room 241.
• Ms. Firehock will be absent on November 18, 2014
• Discussed the issue of meeting with applicants and whether they need a policy.
• Mr. Morris asked staff to schedule the work sessions they have been talking about.
• Next Planning Commission meeting on November 11, 2014
There being no further new business, the meeting moved to adjournment.
Adjournment
With no further items, the meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. to the Tuesday, November 11, 2014 meeting
at 6:00 p.m. at the County Office Building, Second Floor, Auditorium, 401 McIntire Road,
Charlottesville, Virginia.
V. Wayne Cifterg, Secreta
(Recorded and transcribed by Sharon C. Taylor, Clerk to Planning Commiss & P ning Boards)
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FINAL MINUTES