August 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to the AC44 monthly digest for the County’s Comprehensive Plan update. This is where we regularly share our work, feedback, and upcoming opportunities to participate.

AC44 Milestone: Draft Comprehensive Plan

We are now beginning Phase 4 of the AC44 project, which features a full draft version of the AC44 Comprehensive Plan! The complete draft document includes all chapters of the plan, which are organized into four parts. The Draft Comprehensive Plan can be found on our brand new Phase 4 Webpage, which includes a Feedback Tool to share your thoughts on the plan material.

Engagement Event: Unveiling Our Draft Comprehensive Plan

We hope you will join us for our next Community Check-In on Thursday, August 21, from 6-8 pm at Lane Auditorium, in the County Office Building at 401 McIntire Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

For those who are unable to attend in person, we will have an online option for those who wish to join virtually (Register to Attend via Zoom(External link)(External link)).

Following a brief staff presentation focused on our newly published Draft AC44 Comprehensive Plan, attendees will have a chance to review posters, representing the content of the plan chapters, ask questions of staff, and share feedback. Virtual attendees will likewise be able to review plan content, share thoughts, and ask questions of our online facilitators. We’ll also share with our audience (both at the event and online) how they can access the AC44 Draft Comprehensive Plan on the AC44 website and share feedback during Phase 4. We hope to see you there!

What We Did

The most recent additions to the AC44 Comprehensive Plan content include the Plan Overview that provides an introduction and context for AC44, the Growth Management Policy, the Plan Implementation, and the Appendix, which includes an Engagement Process overview and a Community Story chapter that provides additional history and context.

Our most recent work sessions, which focused on the Plan Implementation chapter, were held on July 8 with the Planning Commission and on July 16 with the Board of Supervisors. This chapter describes how AC44 will be put into action by utilizing the objectives and actions within each topic chapter, as well as incorporating metrics that will be used to track implementation progress. The chapter also features the AC44 Big Moves – a list of priority implementation strategies that cut across multiple topic chapters, informing resource allocation (such as funding and County staff efforts) with an emphasis upon plan implementation over the next 5 years. This initial short-term guidance is critical given the broader, 20-year vision for the County established by AC44.

Looking Ahead

Draft AC44 Plan Feedback: The online Feedback Tool to share input on the draft comprehensive plan will remain open until September 5. Please spread the word about this opportunity to share your thoughts about the comprehensive plan document, which presents a 20-year vision for our community!

Work sessions to review the updated AC44 Draft Comprehensive Plan document with the Planning Commission (PC) are scheduled for August 26 and the Board of Supervisors on September 10. Input from the PC, Board, and community members will inform final edits and refinement of the plan document. Public Hearings to adopt the final version of the plan (with the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors) are anticipated in early fall.

Staff will continue to provide information about upcoming meetings and ways to stay involved on the AC44 website.

Categories: #projectupdate