Albemarle County is working on a new strategic plan to guide economic development efforts that will put a priority on defense, intelligence, and biotechnology businesses. This document is being put together at the same time as an update of the county’s Comprehensive Plan.
At a special meeting of the Economic Development Authority on July 22, one resident of the Samuel Miller District asked for the economic development strategic plan (EDSP) to be slowed down to ensure it does not contradict the county’s long-standing efforts to restrict growth and development.
“In a rush to grow the defense, intelligence sector, life sciences, and a modern agribusiness economy, this plan proposes changing zoning and land use policies that protect Albemarle’s special natural environment,” said Joy Heyrman, vice president of the group Historic Batesville.
The EDA’s meeting was held to continue work on a draft before an August 13 joint meeting with the county’s Board of Supervisors. The Rivanna District’s Bill Mechnick said the EDSP works alongside all of Albemarle’s other plans and is designed to both bring in more commercial tax revenue and provide opportunity for people.
“I would say I’d like my kids to stay in the county and actually work in the biotech industry because that’s … their chosen profession and they’re very talented, intelligent, and I don’t want them moving to Baltimore [or] D.C. to do that,” Mechnick said.
David Storm represents the Scottsville District on the EDA and said he understood Hyerman’s concerns. He moved to Albemarle in the 1980s to attend the University of Virginia and has seen a lot of change, but it is becoming more rapid.
“We need to adjust for that,” Storm said. “I don’t think any of us on this authority or anyone on the Board of Supervisors actively wants to destroy the exceptional quality of life.”
Supervisor Bea LaPisto-Kirtley said about 12 percent of Albemarle’s local tax revenue comes from business-related taxes and the goal is to increase that to reduce the burden on homeowners. The Weldon Cooper Center at UVA forecasts a population of 152,770 by 2050.
Since 1980, Albemarle’s Comprehensive Plan has had a growth management policy that restricts development to only 5 percent of the county. Supervisors decided early in the Albemarle County 2044 process to keep that in place for another five years, but one EDA member asked whether that was realistic.
“Is that sustainable? Is it legitimate as we expand?” asked Steve Hood, a former commander of the National Ground Intelligence Center at Rivanna Station. “Because what we’re guaranteeing ourselves is everybody on 29 and that for all the time. And it’s not feasible.”
LaPisto-Kirtley said the county believes there is room for more development in the growth area.
“It has to go higher and denser,” she said.
LaPisto-Kirtley has also previously advocated softening the growth management policy by allowing restaurants in the rural area with a special use permit. EDA member Jeff Morrill supported the idea.
“You could imagine a winery that has all the facilities, the customers are already there, so we’re not adding traffic,” Morrill said. “It increases for the county the value of the real estate if it’s allowed to serve food there.”
That idea is not included in the Rural Area Land Use chapter in the draft Comprehensive Plan.
The draft EDSP can be viewed online and feedback is being taken through August 8.
