Draft Chapter: Rural Area Land Use

Chapter Summary

This chapter outlines Albemarle County's strategic approach to managing land in the county's expansive Rural Area, which covers approximately 689 square miles or approximately 95% of the county’s total land area. The Rural Area is characterized by its diverse geography, including valleys and mountain ridges. It is crucial for preserving our local natural environment, supporting agriculture, and protecting various historic, scenic, and cultural resources.

Key Objectives and Strategies

• Primary Land Uses: The chapter emphasizes the importance of land conservation to protect the natural environment and use land for agriculture and forestry. Land conservation benefits urban and rural residents with essential benefits like clean water and biodiversity.
• Reduction of Residential Development: Residential development in the Rural Area has significantly declined compared with the Development Areas—from 60% of all new units in 1971 to just 16% in 2023—due to effective land conservation policies in the Rural Area and growth directing into the designated Development Areas.
• Rural Communities: With about 43% of the county's population residing in the Rural Area, the chapter highlights the necessity of providing equitable access to essential services such as healthcare, public safety, and community facilities. It supports small-scale businesses and local markets in existing rural communities to meet daily needs.
• Land Use Planning: The proposed Rural Area Land Use Plan (Action 1.1) aims to recognize the diverse needs within the Rural Area rather than applying a uniform approach. This plan will include identifying conservation priorities and focus areas.
• Conservation Efforts: Approximately 25% of the Rural Area is protected by conservation easements. The chapter calls for updates to land conservation programs to support lower-income landowners better and enhance easement monitoring efforts.
• Adaptive Reuse of Structures: This chapter recommends encouraging the adaptive reuse of existing buildings for small-scale businesses and services in existing rural communities. Adaptive reuse supports the County’s Climate Action Plan by reusing existing structures and materials and reducing the distance surrounding rural residents need to travel for daily needs.
• Interchange Development: The chapter recommends further study of two rural interstate interchanges, prioritizing Exit 124 at Shadwell. Potential development around rural interstate interchanges could facilitate local food systems (e.g., food processing and distribution) and job opportunities while ensuring compatibility with rural land use goals.

The strategies outlined in this chapter prioritize land conservation, promote equitable access to community services, and support the Growth Management Policy to protect the Rural Area’s natural, historic, cultural, and scenic resources.