AGENDA DATE: 4/16/2025
TITLE:
Title
AC44: Thriving Economy and Community Facilities & Infrastructure Draft Chapters
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Staff will present and seek feedback on the draft Thriving Economy and Community Facilities & Infrastructure chapters of the Comprehensive Plan document.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Filardo, Barnes, McDermott, Swartzendruber, Benish, Kanellopoulos, Holt
PRESENTER (S): David Benish, Development Process Manager
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Albemarle County is updating the Comprehensive Plan through the Albemarle County 2044 (AC44) project. The project is in Phase 3: drafting language for the four-part Comprehensive Plan document and developing Plan actions.
The draft language for the Part III - Thriving Economy and Community Facilities & Infrastructure chapters in Attachments B and C are built upon input from the community and County staff and reflect the Planning Commission’s and Board’s feedback.
THRIVING ECONOMY
A thriving economy in Albemarle County is essential for residents' well-being, offering job opportunities, career growth, and economic stability. Equitable job access, business support, and workforce training are crucial, alongside essential community services like housing, childcare, and infrastructure.
The County’s Economic Development Office (EDO) is currently working on an economic development strategic plan (EDSP). The Albemarle County EDO has hired Resonance Consultancy Inc. to lead an inclusive and data-driven approach to updating the County’s EDSP. The updated plan will provide goals, objectives, and actions that reflect community input and analysis of the County’s current conditions and best practices in economic development. Once completed, the plan will guide the County’s decision-making around economic development-related work and priorities over the next five years.
Since the EDSP update is in progress, the AC44 Thriving Economy chapter goal establishes the County’s higher-level expectation for a thriving, sustainable, diverse economy by supporting businesses, workforce training, and strategic land use planning. While the objectives identify important elements that contribute to maintaining and enhancing economic vitality, especially related to land use and other community priorities heard during AC44 engagement, more detailed and specific directions and actions will be established with the EDSP. As the EDSP is completed, the Thriving Economy chapter may be revised to reflect the updated plan.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Community facilities and infrastructure enhance residents’ quality of life by ensuring health and safety and supporting the County’s growth management and land use policies. AC44 guides facility development, ensuring equitable service distribution while aligning with financial and environmental considerations.
The chapter covers facilities such as public schools, libraries, and public safety stations and infrastructure such as public water, sewer, and solid waste services. It’s important for the County to provide responsible and cost-effective public services while maintaining the public’s health, safety, and welfare, consistent with the County’s Mission Statement: To enhance the well-being and quality of life for all community members through the provision of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
For reference, a summary of previous Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors feedback on Thriving Economy and Community Facilities & Infrastructure is provided as Attachment F and G. Community input themes associated with these topics are summarized in Attachment D and E.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality of life - Encourage a vibrant community with economic and recreational opportunities that serve all community members.
DISCUSSION: An updated AC44 outline is provided as Attachment A. As a reminder, the topics within the red box will be the focus of today’s work session. This work session focuses on proposed comprehensive plan language within Attachment B and C, including the draft actions.
The Planning Commission previously held a work session on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, to discuss the Thriving Economy chapter and on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, to discuss the Community Facilities & Infrastructure Chapter.
Staff does not have specific questions or clarifications for these chapters. Instead, we request feedback on the content of both chapters as written.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no budget impact associated with this agenda item.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff requests the Board review and provide feedback on the draft Thriving Economy and Community Facilities & Infrastructure chapters.
ATTACHMENTS:
Att A - AC44 Outline
Att B - Draft Thriving Economy Chapter
Att C - Draft Community Facilities and Infrastructure Chapter
Att D - Community Input Themes - Community Facilities
Att E - Community Input Themes - Thriving Economy
Att F - Summary of Planning Commission and Board Feedback - Thriving Economy
Att G - Summary of Planning Commission and Board Feedback - Community Facilities