1974-05-22A277
An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia,
was held on May 22, 1974, at 3:00 P~M. in the Board Room of the County Office Building,
Charlottesville, Virginia, said meeting being adjourned from May 16, !974.
Present: Messrs. Stuart F. Carwile, Gerald E. Fisher, J. T. Henley, Jr.,
William L. Thacker, Jr. and Gordon L. Wheeler.
Absent: Mr. Lloyd F. Wood, Jr.
Officer present: County Executive.
(Mr. Wheeler arriving at 3:35 p.m.)
The Vice-Chairman called the meeting to order. He explained that this meeting
had been called in order to have a public work session on the Highway Master Plan as
it pertains to Albemarle County.
Mr. R. G. Warner, Resident Engineer, Virginia Department of Highways, and Mr.
Charles Perry, Assistant Resident Engineer, were present. Mr. Warner said the
Highway Master Plan has not been revised since 1968. Because of the numerous changes
during that period it is necessary to update the plan for the next ten-year period.
The residency is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and establishing a
working plan that will accomplish, within the budgeted amounts, some improvements to
the highway system. Their purpose in being here today is to review the overall
concept and get input from the Board as to their priorities. Highway standards have
been upgraded to provide for a 20-foot surface on roads. When the standards are
upgraded, this in turn raises the cost of construction. Mr. Warner said he feels
priorities should be established on those roads which have had surveys and on which
plans have been developed. With the cost of financing projects which are underway,
some other projects may not be finished as quickly as had been expected. When the
Rio Road project was conceived it was estimated at $350,000. By the time it is
completed it will cost approximately $1,500,000. Funds were included in the
1967 budget for the Rio Road project, but it has taken this long to get the project
near completion. The right of way cost $500,000 and utilities over $t00,000. Not
all of the money will be spent in actual construction of the road. In next year's
budget, he must finance this project to completion, or approximately $375,000. The
Milton Bridge will cost approximately $275,000 to close out the project. The citizens
will have to make up their minds that certain things are tolerable or some of the
gravel roads, in the county will never be improved. At the beginning of ~the Milton
Bridge project he had pointed out the cost side. He agreed that it is a needed
improvement, but it will cost approximately $750,000 for one mile of road and the
bridge. He said the impact of this must be considered in the overall improvement
program. The local Highway Department only receives $800,000 for construction and
after taking out $6~50,000 for completion of the two projects mentioned, there is not
much left in that fund. Mr. Warner said the County has received $173,000 in Recreational
Access Funds for improvements to the Mint Springs Road. Based on current prices,
this improvement is estimated at $275,000. This will require an additional $102,000
to be taken from Secondary Funds to get this project underway.
5-22-74 (afternooni
Mr. Fisher asked if after all this there is any money left for improvements
on secondary roads. Mr. Warner said he must have enough money in his budget to
finance State force improvements or he cannot carry his present personnel on the
maintenance program. He must also have construction.money in order to break even
at the end of the year. The only way to get State force money is for other new
projects to be pushed ahead in time. Therefore, he must have input from the
Board at this time so priorities can be established on projects which have already
had preliminary work. He could then finance one project a year, or at least get
it under contract. Mr. Warner said there are some projects which have been
underway for quite a long time, for example, Route 660 to Murray Manufacturing.
The County received $100,000 Industrial Access Funds for this project, but the
final cost is estimated at $425,000. He must include $225,000 in his budget this
year to finish paying off that project.
Mr. Fisher asked if this was the reason Mr. Hope had appeared at a recent
Board meeting to talk about Route 637. Mr. Warner said no, he was seeking input
from the Board as to the overall development of that area. Circumstances have
changed since that project was visualized. Mr.. Warner said if the three projects
which are underway can be financed in the 1975-76 budget, then finance one new
project for contract each year, and schedule other improvements, his budget will be
somewhat in line. This is not attributable to growth poor planning~ but everyone
has been caught in an escalation of prices. Mr. Warner said the major projects
at this point are: 1) Route 637; 2) Route 684; and 3) replacing the railroad
bridge on Route 649 at Proffit. Mr. Batchelor asked if Route 649 from Route 29
North to Automated Structures would be eligible for Industrial Access Funds. Mr.
Warner said it might qualify, but this would not be a drop in the bucket.
Mr. Batchelor said with the inflated prices, the Board should consider
changing the form of budgeting. Instead of setting up a project and financing a
little each year, they should set up a priority list and finance a project each
year.
Mr. Henley asked how much Secondary Road funds increase each year. Mr.
Warner said it is generally 5% and inflation has been increasing 10% to 15% a
year. Mr. Wheeler asked if the County is alloted additional money for maintenance
when subdivision roads are accepted into the State system. Mr. Warner said yes,
total road mileage is part of the distribution factor, but it has to increase
tremendously to have an impact on that part of the distribution.
Mr. Wheeler said it looks like the money ~ill have to come from the users of
the roads. Mr. Warner said the user tax is the only source of revenue available
to the Highway Department. With the reduction in travel, the Highway Department
may loose $40,000,000 in funds as a result of the energy crisis.
5-22-74 (afternoon)
279
Mr. Batchelor asked if monies needed for improvements to Rio Road from the
McIntire tennis courts to the Vocational Technical School could be taken from
urban funds. Mr. Warner said the only part eligible for urban funds is that part
from Melbourne Road to the 250 By-Pass in the City. Mr. Batchetor said the
County's budget is being taken.
Mr. Fisher said the situation described has been coming on and getting worse
for a long time. This situation may cripple the County as far as making the
impro~ents which most people agree are needed. He said the Board's only recourse
may be to support something that will put more money into the Highway Department.
Mr. Warner said inflation has taken its . arouna town where the traffic is
the greatest, the facilities become more and more obsolete. The three projects
now under way must be completely financed within six months after they are completed.
The Board can establish priorities on Routes 637, 684 and 649 because they ha~e
had preliminary work performed. In the 1975-76 budget he can finance the number
one priority and get that project going and use the balance of the budget on
State force improvements. The Highway Department has been fighting a loosing
battle~ for the last few years because of floods. They are now about to surface
Route 640, Route 600 from Route 747 toward the railroad tract and Route 616 south
of Route 250. Route 621 off of Route 20 is finished.
Mr. Fisher asked the location of Route 684. Mr. Warner said it runs from
Yancey's Mill to Route 691. There have been several fatalities on this road,
mostly caused by speed. The vertical alignment is terrible, but the horizontal
alignment is not too bad.
Mr. Henley said the Board should Establish priorities for the roads on which
work has already begun. Mr. Warner said the work established and which has gone
this far must be included somewhere. Mr. Thacker asked if these three roads had
a high priority in the previous master plan. Mr. Warner said 649 at Proffit was
included because of increased traffic and the condition of the bridge. Mr.
Wheeler asked how these projects were set up before. Mr. Warner said Route 637
was first, then 684, then 649. Mr. Wheeler asked which road has the most traffic.
Mr. Perry said the traffic counts are 335 v.t.p.d, on Route 684, 331 v.t.p.d, on
Route 637 a~d 350 v.t.p.d, on Route 649.
Mr. Thacker asked if a definite route were established for Route 637 how long
it would take to get this project under construction. Mr. W~nar~said if one of
the routes on which a public hearing has been conducted is selected, it would not
take too long. They have enough surveying by which to develop plans. This
project is estimated at $450,000.
Mr. Wheeler asked how these three projects compare2in cost. Mr. Warner said
Route 649 would cost less because there is less road work involved. It would be
only about 1/2 ~o 6/10th of a mile. Mr. Wheeler said the most traffic is on the
280'
5-22- ~--~a f t erno on)-
west side of the. bridge on Route 6.49 and since this would not help the people, who
use the road the most he did not think this project should have a high priority.
Mr. Warner said he also felt this should be number three although the project for
Route 684 is further along at this time than the others.
Mr. Fisher said he felt that the bridge itself is not going to help a great
number of people. If some of the curvy roads in the county can be straightened
with that money it will be a better expenditure of funds. Mr. Wheeler said he
could not put this project ahead of the others,. He suggested the projects be
an.d go ahead and
listed as 684, 637 and 649,/proceed with Route 684, aince~.a,~definite route has not
been picked for Route 637. The Board will be studying that area and the cluster
concept in the next few months and they will have more information about what will
develop on the other end of Route 637 in the near future. Mr. Warner said they
will still need some indication from the Board as to how the Highway Department
should proceed with Route 637. They feel there is still a need for this project.
Mr. Fisher asked when construction would begin on Route 684. Mr. Warner said
it can be financed in the 1975-76 year and if the right of way is cleared, it can
probably be advertised for construction later this year.
Mr. Wheeler said he hopes the Board can work on the different clusters in
July and August. This cannot be put off too long or the Board will be back working
on the County budget for the next fiscal year.
Mr. Warner thanked the Board for their comments and said he would present
them with the Highway budget soon.
On motion by Mr. Henley, seconded by Mr. Thacker, an ordinance establishing
the equalization of pay of members of certain boards and commissions appointed by
the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County,~ Virginia, was ordered advertised for
a public'hearing at 10:00 A.M. on June 20, 1974. The motion carried by the following
recorded vote:
AYES: Messrs. Carwile, Fisher, Henley, Thacker and Wheeler.
NAYS: None.
The Board continued with a discussion of the restricted roads provisions in
the proposed Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance. The staff had asked for
a clarification of the Board's policy relative to the incorporated homeowners
association.
Mr. Wheeler said a number of people have spoken to him and they feel deed
restrictions are a better way to handle this matter. ~Mr~,~Stv,.John said he feels
they are~if..based on standards, however that is something which would have to be
decided on the basis of each case. If there is a large subdivision, deed restrictions
are unwieldy. If there are only three lots, deed restrictions are better than a
corporation because a corporation would probably be defunct in two years. Mr.
Wheeler said the Board is only going to allow restricted roads in subdivisions of
10 lots or less. Mr. Fisher said that is 10 on one road, but there could be a
5-2~--~-4- (afterno0~) -
28i
large subdivision with a State road running through the middle that might have
numerous cul-de-sacs off of that State road. Mr. St. John asked if in that
sit'at,ion tha Board would require that each cul-de-sac have its own homeowners
association or if there would be only one association. Mr. Fisher said there
~ould be a homeowners aasociation either way. Mr. St. John said there could be a
homeowners association for each cul-de-sac or one big homeowners association. If
there were one large or~ it would be better to have a corporation. In any case,
whether the Board required a corporate structure or not, there could be deed
declarations. Deed restrictions is not a good word because you are speaking of
something in the title. If this is put in the chain of title maybe people will
not see it but they are responsible for seeing it. Mr. Wheeler said he felt they
w±ll see it but not pay that much attention. But he did not believe the lot
owners will keep a small homeowners association going either. Mr. Carwile said
most people only see these restrictions after they have contracted to buy. This
is one of the things the Restricted Roads Committee was concerned with. Mr. St.
John said he has doubts about the enforc.~ility of this. The fact that there is
a corporation on top of the deed restrictions will not notify the purchaser any
sooner.
Mr. Carwile said the Board could adopt a policy to allow deed restrictions,
but with the Board reserving the authority, if it deemed it to be in the best
interest of the public to require a corporate structure also. Mr. St. John said
that is the way it should be done.
Mr. Fisher said his experience in buying two homes in the community ha~a. been
where there were homeowners associations and one had deed restrictions. These
were not given to him until after he had signed for the house. However, a homeowners
association can be required whether or not it is incorporated. A homeowners
association seems to be the heart of communciation between the people. Mr. Fisher
said it seems the only question is whether or not the Board is going to require
the homeowners association to register with the State. Mr. St. John said he would
recommend that if the Board is not going to allow more than 10 lots on a restricted
road, that the corporation not be required. Mr. Carwile concurred.
Mr. Thacker asked if the Board should require a registered homeowners association
in subdivisions where there are more than 10 lots served by restri~cted roads. Mr.
St. John said yes. Mr. Thacker said there could be two restricted roads in one
subdivision that serves a total of 15 or 20 lots. Mr. Carwile said there is a
possibility that a subdivision could be platted with more than 10 lots in the
total subdivision and yet there could be two State-maintained roads and one restricted
road could go off of one road and another restricted road off of the other road
and technically they would be part of the same subdivision.
282 (afternoon)
Mr. Carwile offered motion that the Board not require an incorporated home-
owners association in a subdivision if there are 10 or less lots, but if there are
11 or more lots that an incorporated homeowners association be left to the discretion
of the Board of Supervisors. The motion was seconded by Mr. Thacker and carried
by the following recorded vote'
AYES: Messrs. Carwile, Fisher, Henley, Thacker, and Wheeler.
NAYS: None.
Mr. Fisher asked if the Subdivision Ordinance would have to be redrawn and
sent back to the City for further approval because of this change. Mr. Carwile
said this is just a policy and not a part of the ordinance.
Mr. Thacker asked what happens to those restricted roads that the Board has
already approved. Mr. Carwile felt it would be appropriate to have the Planning
Staff notify those people that the Board will lift this restriction, if they so
request. Mr. Wheeler concurred.
At 5:06 P.M., the Chairman requested the Board adjourn into executive session
to discuss legal matters. Motion to this effect was offered by Mr. Fisher,
seconded by Mr. Henley and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Messrs. Carwile, Fisher, Henley, Thacker, and Wheeler.
NAYS: None.
The Board reconvened at 7:30 P~M.
Upon proper motion, the meeting was adjourned.
C ha irman