AC44 Phase Three

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During Phase Three, we will develop Actions to implement the Comprehensive Plan. (Actions are how we achieve the Plan's Objectives, including capital projects, programs, code updates, policies, and plans.)

The Plan chapters are shown below. Green buttons are clickable, and grey buttons indicate that the content is coming soon.

Community feedback plays a crucial role in the AC44 process by:

  • Shaping the Plan: Community input directly influences the development and refinement of draft policies and strategies
  • Informing Decision-Making: Feedback collected during this phase helps policymakers and planners make informed decisions about the community's future.

During Phase Three, we will develop Actions to implement the Comprehensive Plan. (Actions are how we achieve the Plan's Objectives, including capital projects, programs, code updates, policies, and plans.)

The Plan chapters are shown below. Green buttons are clickable, and grey buttons indicate that the content is coming soon.



Community feedback plays a crucial role in the AC44 process by:

  • Shaping the Plan: Community input directly influences the development and refinement of draft policies and strategies
  • Informing Decision-Making: Feedback collected during this phase helps policymakers and planners make informed decisions about the community's future.

Questions about Topics and Tools

Do you have questions about chapter content, planning tools, or other Phase 3 topics? Please share your questions and our project team will review and respond here.

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  • Share Is Batesville being considered for your "equitable access to essential services"? I onlt ask because in Batesville we are under 10 miles to medical offices, dentists, groceries, and other amenities. We have our own post office and general store. The store andtwo local churches serve nicely as community meeting spaces. Please don't attempt to fix what is NOT broken. on Facebook Share Is Batesville being considered for your "equitable access to essential services"? I onlt ask because in Batesville we are under 10 miles to medical offices, dentists, groceries, and other amenities. We have our own post office and general store. The store andtwo local churches serve nicely as community meeting spaces. Please don't attempt to fix what is NOT broken. on Twitter Share Is Batesville being considered for your "equitable access to essential services"? I onlt ask because in Batesville we are under 10 miles to medical offices, dentists, groceries, and other amenities. We have our own post office and general store. The store andtwo local churches serve nicely as community meeting spaces. Please don't attempt to fix what is NOT broken. on Linkedin Email Is Batesville being considered for your "equitable access to essential services"? I onlt ask because in Batesville we are under 10 miles to medical offices, dentists, groceries, and other amenities. We have our own post office and general store. The store andtwo local churches serve nicely as community meeting spaces. Please don't attempt to fix what is NOT broken. link

    Is Batesville being considered for your "equitable access to essential services"? I onlt ask because in Batesville we are under 10 miles to medical offices, dentists, groceries, and other amenities. We have our own post office and general store. The store andtwo local churches serve nicely as community meeting spaces. Please don't attempt to fix what is NOT broken.

    Marianne asked 2 months ago

    One purpose of the Rural Area Land Use chapter is to 'to balance the need for equitable access to services for the 43% of the County’s population (as identified by the 2020 Census) living in the Rural Area, while also being consistent with the Growth Management Policy' (text from chapter narrative). Several actions are related to further studying Rural Area communities, including determining if land use or zoning changes are desired/feasible or if no changes are recommended. The Rural Area chapter emphasizes the adaptive reuse and preservation of existing buildings rather than the construction of new buildings. Actions 5.1 and 7.2 include an overview of how rural communities will be engaged in the future (after Comp Plan adoption), and Action 7.1 recommends using existing buildings as community resilience hubs. These recommendations emphasize supporting what is already working and serving the community in the Rural Area.

  • Share 1. in the draft rural areas plan it says the plan should Include a map of rural focus areas and proposed land-use and conservation priorities for each. Please explain more about these rural area focus areas? How much of the rural area do you expect will be in these focus areas. 2. Please explain this with an example. Is the goal to get more houses on a given property? Implement a maximum lot size for development-right lots in the Rural Area zoning district to significantly reduce the acreage used for residential lots compared to the current 31-acre maximum for five lots (6.2-acre average lot size). 3. does this mean allow mining? Obj 7 Protect human health, property values, and ecosystem health from the impacts of extraction and recognize the economic value of the County’s mineral resources. thank you on Facebook Share 1. in the draft rural areas plan it says the plan should Include a map of rural focus areas and proposed land-use and conservation priorities for each. Please explain more about these rural area focus areas? How much of the rural area do you expect will be in these focus areas. 2. Please explain this with an example. Is the goal to get more houses on a given property? Implement a maximum lot size for development-right lots in the Rural Area zoning district to significantly reduce the acreage used for residential lots compared to the current 31-acre maximum for five lots (6.2-acre average lot size). 3. does this mean allow mining? Obj 7 Protect human health, property values, and ecosystem health from the impacts of extraction and recognize the economic value of the County’s mineral resources. thank you on Twitter Share 1. in the draft rural areas plan it says the plan should Include a map of rural focus areas and proposed land-use and conservation priorities for each. Please explain more about these rural area focus areas? How much of the rural area do you expect will be in these focus areas. 2. Please explain this with an example. Is the goal to get more houses on a given property? Implement a maximum lot size for development-right lots in the Rural Area zoning district to significantly reduce the acreage used for residential lots compared to the current 31-acre maximum for five lots (6.2-acre average lot size). 3. does this mean allow mining? Obj 7 Protect human health, property values, and ecosystem health from the impacts of extraction and recognize the economic value of the County’s mineral resources. thank you on Linkedin Email 1. in the draft rural areas plan it says the plan should Include a map of rural focus areas and proposed land-use and conservation priorities for each. Please explain more about these rural area focus areas? How much of the rural area do you expect will be in these focus areas. 2. Please explain this with an example. Is the goal to get more houses on a given property? Implement a maximum lot size for development-right lots in the Rural Area zoning district to significantly reduce the acreage used for residential lots compared to the current 31-acre maximum for five lots (6.2-acre average lot size). 3. does this mean allow mining? Obj 7 Protect human health, property values, and ecosystem health from the impacts of extraction and recognize the economic value of the County’s mineral resources. thank you link

    1. in the draft rural areas plan it says the plan should Include a map of rural focus areas and proposed land-use and conservation priorities for each. Please explain more about these rural area focus areas? How much of the rural area do you expect will be in these focus areas. 2. Please explain this with an example. Is the goal to get more houses on a given property? Implement a maximum lot size for development-right lots in the Rural Area zoning district to significantly reduce the acreage used for residential lots compared to the current 31-acre maximum for five lots (6.2-acre average lot size). 3. does this mean allow mining? Obj 7 Protect human health, property values, and ecosystem health from the impacts of extraction and recognize the economic value of the County’s mineral resources. thank you

    liz asked 2 months ago

    We have not determined the size or location of conservation focus areas at this time, but that analysis will be completed as part of the future Rural Area Land Use Plan. The Rural Area Land Use Plan will build on the Biodiversity Action Plan (along with its future update and more updated data) to protect core habitats and improve habitat connectivity. Community engagement will be included in the Rural Area Land Use Plan.

    The purpose of Action 2.1 is to promote smaller lot sizes for residential development that are permitted in the Rural Area per existing development rights without increasing the total number of housing units allowed per those existing development rights. Reducing the amount of land used for development rights lots would leave more land available for other uses, such as agriculture and land conservation.

    The recommendation related to mineral rights (which was a carryover from the 2015 Comp Plan) has been removed. There are existing regulations in place to address mineral extraction, and the primary intent was to ensure any affected property owners are aware of existing mineral rights and extraction requirements.

  • Share When I look at the FLUM, it shows our area in black and white stripes ….this says to see Rio29 small area plan for that area. Can you please tell me where to find the Rio29 small area plan as i cannot seem to locate it by searching on this website. Thank you. on Facebook Share When I look at the FLUM, it shows our area in black and white stripes ….this says to see Rio29 small area plan for that area. Can you please tell me where to find the Rio29 small area plan as i cannot seem to locate it by searching on this website. Thank you. on Twitter Share When I look at the FLUM, it shows our area in black and white stripes ….this says to see Rio29 small area plan for that area. Can you please tell me where to find the Rio29 small area plan as i cannot seem to locate it by searching on this website. Thank you. on Linkedin Email When I look at the FLUM, it shows our area in black and white stripes ….this says to see Rio29 small area plan for that area. Can you please tell me where to find the Rio29 small area plan as i cannot seem to locate it by searching on this website. Thank you. link

    When I look at the FLUM, it shows our area in black and white stripes ….this says to see Rio29 small area plan for that area. Can you please tell me where to find the Rio29 small area plan as i cannot seem to locate it by searching on this website. Thank you.

    KitN asked about 2 months ago
    Thank you for your question! The Rio29 Small Area Plan is available on the County's website here. The Small Area Plan includes future land use designations specific to this area (core, flex, edge).
  • Share Good afternoon. Please inform me the BOS and PC session dates for AC44 that discussion centered on two issues: 1) permitting access to ACSA water along the 250 corridor between the east side of the Shadwell interchange running to the 250/22 intersection; and 2) changing any existing county policy as to the existing rural land uses along that same length of highway. Thanks! on Facebook Share Good afternoon. Please inform me the BOS and PC session dates for AC44 that discussion centered on two issues: 1) permitting access to ACSA water along the 250 corridor between the east side of the Shadwell interchange running to the 250/22 intersection; and 2) changing any existing county policy as to the existing rural land uses along that same length of highway. Thanks! on Twitter Share Good afternoon. Please inform me the BOS and PC session dates for AC44 that discussion centered on two issues: 1) permitting access to ACSA water along the 250 corridor between the east side of the Shadwell interchange running to the 250/22 intersection; and 2) changing any existing county policy as to the existing rural land uses along that same length of highway. Thanks! on Linkedin Email Good afternoon. Please inform me the BOS and PC session dates for AC44 that discussion centered on two issues: 1) permitting access to ACSA water along the 250 corridor between the east side of the Shadwell interchange running to the 250/22 intersection; and 2) changing any existing county policy as to the existing rural land uses along that same length of highway. Thanks! link

    Good afternoon. Please inform me the BOS and PC session dates for AC44 that discussion centered on two issues: 1) permitting access to ACSA water along the 250 corridor between the east side of the Shadwell interchange running to the 250/22 intersection; and 2) changing any existing county policy as to the existing rural land uses along that same length of highway. Thanks!

    Rick Randolph asked 2 months ago
    Thank you for your question! Rural interstate interchanges (including Shadwell/Exit 124) were previously discussed during the following work sessions and have related recommendations in the draft Rural Area chapter:

    Recommendations for public water and sewer were discussed during Community Facilities work sessions:

    To date, the consensus from the PC and BOS has been to study rural interstate interchanges in more detail with a future small area planning process (after Comp Plan adoption).

    The Community Facilities draft chapter has not yet been shared but is anticipated to be ready in the next 1-2 months.

    An upcoming BOS work session on February 12 on the Growth Management Policy, Rural Area Land Use, and Development Areas Land Use may also be of interest: https://engage.albemarle.org/ac44/widgets/44185/key_dates#32910.

  • Share Resiliency hubs. At a meeting last year one of the board members mentioned how residents in rural areas might benefit from a coffee shop opening or a auto repair place or a doctors office or bank in Batesville. We are less than 5-10 miles from all of those in either direction. We also have two rescue squads and firestations. So what sort of "resiliency hub" do you envision Batesville needing? Is this just a ploy by the supes to get more development in our rural area? I've seen the changes in Crozet over the past 20 years and it is not pretty... I would hate to see the supes destroying our little village that way. on Facebook Share Resiliency hubs. At a meeting last year one of the board members mentioned how residents in rural areas might benefit from a coffee shop opening or a auto repair place or a doctors office or bank in Batesville. We are less than 5-10 miles from all of those in either direction. We also have two rescue squads and firestations. So what sort of "resiliency hub" do you envision Batesville needing? Is this just a ploy by the supes to get more development in our rural area? I've seen the changes in Crozet over the past 20 years and it is not pretty... I would hate to see the supes destroying our little village that way. on Twitter Share Resiliency hubs. At a meeting last year one of the board members mentioned how residents in rural areas might benefit from a coffee shop opening or a auto repair place or a doctors office or bank in Batesville. We are less than 5-10 miles from all of those in either direction. We also have two rescue squads and firestations. So what sort of "resiliency hub" do you envision Batesville needing? Is this just a ploy by the supes to get more development in our rural area? I've seen the changes in Crozet over the past 20 years and it is not pretty... I would hate to see the supes destroying our little village that way. on Linkedin Email Resiliency hubs. At a meeting last year one of the board members mentioned how residents in rural areas might benefit from a coffee shop opening or a auto repair place or a doctors office or bank in Batesville. We are less than 5-10 miles from all of those in either direction. We also have two rescue squads and firestations. So what sort of "resiliency hub" do you envision Batesville needing? Is this just a ploy by the supes to get more development in our rural area? I've seen the changes in Crozet over the past 20 years and it is not pretty... I would hate to see the supes destroying our little village that way. link

    Resiliency hubs. At a meeting last year one of the board members mentioned how residents in rural areas might benefit from a coffee shop opening or a auto repair place or a doctors office or bank in Batesville. We are less than 5-10 miles from all of those in either direction. We also have two rescue squads and firestations. So what sort of "resiliency hub" do you envision Batesville needing? Is this just a ploy by the supes to get more development in our rural area? I've seen the changes in Crozet over the past 20 years and it is not pretty... I would hate to see the supes destroying our little village that way.

    Mick asked 4 months ago
    Thank you for your question! 

    The updated AC44 Comp Plan includes two different sets of recommendations related to your question—one is for community resilience hubs, and the second is for rural communities (called 'crossroads communities' in the 2015 Comp Plan).

    Community resilience hubs are buildings that can provide emergency shelter and serve as community gathering places. In the Rural Area, they are recommended within existing buildings, such as a community center. Additional recommendations will be provided in the forthcoming Resilient Community chapter for resilience hubs, including identifying existing buildings that could serve as resilience hubs, collaborating with community partners on programs and services (e.g., jobs training or mobile health clinics) that could be provided, and connecting building owners with grant opportunities for resilience upgrades (e.g., back-up generators).

    Separately, there are recommendations for rural communities in the Rural Area chapter, which are an update to the 2015 Comp Plan crossroads communities recommendations. Like the 2015 Comp Plan, the AC44 Rural Area chapter recommends conducting community engagement and more detailed planning studies of individual communities to determine what land use changes (if any) may be desired. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings is still prioritized. Encouraged uses for rural communities include small offices, country stores, daycare, post offices, and fire/rescue police services. It would depend on future community engagement within individual communities to identify which land uses are most appropriate, with the use of existing buildings preferred over constructing new buildings.
  • Share What % of land in the "development area" is uncommitted (undeveloped or unpermitted) and will be covered under the "Goals of AC44? The AC44 talks about access to green space and walking paths, but the thousands of townhomes built in Pantops and being built near the airport have neither greenspace or walking paths - and the trees are being decimated. on Facebook Share What % of land in the "development area" is uncommitted (undeveloped or unpermitted) and will be covered under the "Goals of AC44? The AC44 talks about access to green space and walking paths, but the thousands of townhomes built in Pantops and being built near the airport have neither greenspace or walking paths - and the trees are being decimated. on Twitter Share What % of land in the "development area" is uncommitted (undeveloped or unpermitted) and will be covered under the "Goals of AC44? The AC44 talks about access to green space and walking paths, but the thousands of townhomes built in Pantops and being built near the airport have neither greenspace or walking paths - and the trees are being decimated. on Linkedin Email What % of land in the "development area" is uncommitted (undeveloped or unpermitted) and will be covered under the "Goals of AC44? The AC44 talks about access to green space and walking paths, but the thousands of townhomes built in Pantops and being built near the airport have neither greenspace or walking paths - and the trees are being decimated. link

    What % of land in the "development area" is uncommitted (undeveloped or unpermitted) and will be covered under the "Goals of AC44? The AC44 talks about access to green space and walking paths, but the thousands of townhomes built in Pantops and being built near the airport have neither greenspace or walking paths - and the trees are being decimated.

    Diane asked 4 months ago
    The land use buildout analysis is an estimate, using a series of assumptions, of the theoretical maximum number of additional homes (‘dwelling units’) and square feet of non-residential land uses (such as office, commercial/retail, and industrial) that could be built within the county’s Development Areas. Assumptions are used to identify land within the Development Areas that is vacant or has the potential to redevelop. The future land use designation of each identified property is used to create a potential future buildout of each property. 

    Based on the assumptions used in the buildout analysis (most recently completed in 2022), the buildable acres comprise about 6.9% of the Development Areas total land area. 

    The recommendations in the Development Areas Land Use chapter of the Comprehensive Plan cover both new development/redevelopment and existing neighborhoods. Objectives 1 and 2 focus mainly on new development, redevelopment, and infill, while Objective 3 is specific to investing in existing neighborhoods, including parks, open space, and infrastructure improvements. Objective 4 is to increase tree coverage throughout the Development Areas, including in existing neighborhoods. Additionally, there will be recommendations for increasing parks and trails in the Development Areas in the forthcoming Parks and Recreation chapter.
Page last updated: 27 Mar 2025, 12:28 PM