AGENDA DATE: 7/19/2023
TITLE:
Title
Rural Rustic Road Designations
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: To approve resolutions designating Beam Road, Stony Point Pass - West, Stony Point Pass - East, Old Dominion Road, Arrowhead Valley Road, Blenheim Road, and Sutherland Road as Rural Rustic Roads.
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Henry, Rosenberg, Herrick, Filardo, McDermott, Karina-Plun
PRESENTER (S): Alberic Karina-Plun
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Each spring, the Board of Supervisors approves the Secondary Six-Year Plan (SSYP), which includes funds dedicated to paving unpaved roads in the County under the Rural Rustic Road (RRR) paving program. This program is the preferred approach of both Albemarle County and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for paving low-volume roads. Its goal is to retain the traditional rural lane ambience, while also improving the road surface within the current right-of-way. A “chip and seal” or asphalt surface is used to pave the existing alignment and width of the road for minimal disturbance.
The process for identifying and prioritizing RRR paving projects in Albemarle is defined in the Unpaved Road Policies and Review Process (see Attachment A). When a paving priority is advanced, funds are allocated to the road and the road becomes a project in the SSYP following the spring public hearing. Adjacent landowners are notified by letter and given an opportunity to comment at the spring public hearing or to County Transportation staff. Following that, the Board may choose to designate the road as RRR by Resolution. Once a road is designated, VDOT will initiate the paving process.
Following the Board’s direction at the May 18, 2022 Public Hearing, projects now require two-thirds (2/3) support from directly impacted homeowners along the segment of road to be paved. Following the April 5 Work Session this year, residents were notified by mail of the potential projects on their roads and asked to provide feedback either by email, phone, or in person. For projects that already had demonstrated two-thirds support, impacted homeowners were simply notified and given the opportunity to provide feedback. For projects that still required the two-thirds support, impacted homeowners were directed to reach out to staff to voice their support for, or opposition to, the proposed paving.
The following road segments are fully-funded for RRR paving in FY 24, if designated as Rural Rustic Roads by the Board of Supervisors: • A 0.27-mile segment of Route 769, Beam Road from Route 1484 to end of road.
• A segment of Route 600, Stony Point Pass - West from Route 20 southward for 0.90 miles.
• A segment of Route 600, Stony Point Pass - East from Route 231 northward for 1.29 miles.
• A 1.12-mile segment of Route 721, Old Dominion Road from Route 6 to Route 630.
• A segment of Route 745, Arrowhead Valley Road, from the intersection with Route 29 continuing for 0.20 miles.
• A segment of Route 795, Blenheim Road, northward from the intersection with Route 713 for 0.37 miles.
• A segment of Route 697, Sutherland Road, starting 0.22 miles west of Route 29 and continuing 1.16 miles.
Before paving these roads under the RRR program, VDOT requires that the governing body adopt a resolution designating the roads as Rural Rustic Roads.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure - Invest in infrastructure and amenities that create connection, opportunity, and well-being.
DISCUSSION: Notification letters were sent to the affected homeowners following the April 5 Work Session. All of the roads below received more than two-thirds support from impacted homeowners, as follows:
|
Road |
% Supportive |
Affected Owners |
# Supportive |
# Opposed |
No Response |
|
Route 769 Beam Road |
80% |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
|
Route 600 Stony Point Pass - West |
73% |
11 |
8 |
0 |
3 |
|
Route 600 Stony Point Pass - East |
89% |
18 |
16 |
1 |
1 |
|
Route 721 Old Dominion Road |
80% |
10 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
Route 745 Arrowhead Valley Road |
81% |
27 |
22 |
0 |
5 |
|
Route 795 Blenheim Road |
77% |
13 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
|
Route 697 Sutherland Road |
69% |
13 |
9 |
2 |
2 |
BUDGET IMPACT: Adoption of these Resolutions would have no impact on the County budget. These resolutions authorize VDOT to expend state funds on a project for which the Board has previously recommended state funds be allocated through the SSYP.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolutions to designate each of the roads as a Rural Rustic Road.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Albemarle County Unpaved Road Policies and Review Process
B - Resolution Designating Route 745 (Arrowhead Valley Road) as a Rural Rustic Road
C - Resolution Designating Route 769 (Beam Road) as a Rural Rustic Road
D - Resolution Designating Route 795 (Blenheim Road) as a Rural Rustic Road
E - Resolution Designating Route 721 (Old Dominion Road) as a Rural Rustic Road
F - Resolution Designating Route 600 (Stony Point Pass - East) as a Rural Rustic Road
G - Resolution Designating Route 600 (Stony Point Pass - West) as a Rural Rustic Road
H - Resolution Designating Route 697 (Sutherland Road) as a Rural Rustic Road