July 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.

We are wrapping up Phase 3, which focused on drafting the chapters that comprise the AC44 Comprehensive Plan Document. The project has reached a major milestone with a draft version now published for all chapters of the Comprehensive Plan! We would like to thank everyone for your involvement in Phases 2 and 3. Your input on the various chapters, including the goals, objectives, and actions for each topic chapter, has been extremely valuable as we incorporate community priorities into each part of the AC44 Comprehensive Plan.

What We Did

The published AC44 draft chapters are available on the Phase 3 webpage. The most recent additions include the Part 1 Plan Policy chapter, which provides an introduction and context for AC44; the Part 2 Growth Management Policy; the Part 3 Plan Implementation chapter; and two chapters within the Part 4 Appendix – an Engagement Process overview and a Community Story chapter, which provides additional historical context.

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

Looking Ahead

AC44 is now moving into Phase 4, with a focus on finalizing and adopting the Comprehensive Plan. We are currently revising and editing the plan content, with an anticipated publication date of August 8 for the final AC44 plan document. The final document draft will be published to the AC44 website.

Community members will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments during the final Community Check-In, scheduled for August 21 (6-8 pm, in-person at the Albemarle County McIntire Building in Lane Auditorium and virtually via Zoom). Work sessions to review the updated plan document with the Planning Commission are scheduled for August 26 and the Board of Supervisors on September 10. Public Hearings for plan adoption (with the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors) are anticipated in early fall.

Staff will continue to provide information about plan content as well as upcoming events on the AC44 website. Stay tuned for the new Phase 4 webpage that will focus on plan refinement and the final document to be adopted this fall.