When the COVID-19 pandemic hit just over five years ago, child-care providers struggled to find ways to stay open amidst social distancing rules. Congregation Beth Israel “pivoted to a forest school model, embracing outdoor learning to keep our doors open for families,” said Jill Abbey-Clark, the director of what CBI calls its Forest School.
To build on the idea, CBI now wants to open a campus on Dudley Mountain Road on a portion of 156 acres donated by local philanthropists. However, the property is in Albemarle’s rural area and a special use permit is required for such a structure. The Albemarle Planning Commission held a public hearing May 13, and voted 3-2 to recommend approval of the school.
If approved by the county Board of Supervisors, the Forest School would be built in two phases on 15 acres with the first being a main school building to be called Basecamp. A second phase would be a building for religious assembly for up to 200 people, a by-right use that doesn’t require additional permission from the county. The remaining land would be placed under conservation easement.
County planner Syd Shoaf said a traffic study indicated the school would add 589 vehicle trips per day to Dudley Mountain Road, up from an average of about 180 per day, as measured in 2018. That might overload the rural road’s intersection with Old Lynchburg Road about a mile downhill from the site.
“Staff are concerned about safety at this intersection, with the higher level of traffic utilizing it with this proposal,” Shoaf said.
Any future plan to widen the road would have to compete with efforts to build capacity in the development area.
Speaking on behalf of CBI, civil engineer Kendra Moon said the school would stagger drop-off times and take other steps to limit trips. She said a school at this location would have a benefit to the county and be worth a trade-off.
“CBI would flourish at this location and help to alleviate child care needs for over 100 families,” Moon said.
At least a dozen residents of the Dudley Mountain neighborhood urged the Planning Commission to recommend denial. Several pointed out that Albemarle’s Comprehensive Plan seeks to limit intense uses in the rural area. For instance, Melanie Evans said the year-round facility threatens surrounding wells.
“Virginia law and Albemarle County zoning requires that special use permits protect neighbors and align with rural land use,” Evans said. “This proposal fails on both counts.”
Planning Commissioner Corey Clayborne said he thought the project was a good one, except for the additional traffic it would add to Dudley Mountain Road.
“Seems like the road infrastructure is just not suitable,” Clayborne said. However, he and some of his colleagues said the special use permit process gives the opportunity for CBI to agree to conditions.
After the Planning Commission’s vote in support of the special use permit, Commissioner Nathan Moore said his vote in favor was made in the public interest.
“What are people’s needs?” Moore asked. “In the county, we have a very strong need for quality childcare, for quality early learning.”
Moore was joined by Planning Commissioners Julian Bivins and Luis Carrazana. Clayborne joined Commissioner Lonnie Murray in voting no. Commission Chair Fred Missel and Commissioner Karen Firehock were absent.
The item is not yet scheduled for a vote by the Albemarle Board of Supervisors.
Opponents of the special use permit have erected signs along Dudley Mountain Road. Supplied photo.
