AGENDA DATE: 6/18/2025
TITLE:
Title
Secondary Six-Year Plan Hard-Surfacing Rural Roads Resolutions
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Adopt resolutions designating Sutherland Road, Burton Lane, Burton Road, Starlight Road, and Blair Park Road as Rural Rustic Roads.
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Rosenberg, Herrick, Tevendale, Filardo, Barnes, McDermott, Swartzendruber, Karina-Plun
PRESENTER (S): Alberic Karina-Plun
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Each spring, the Board of Supervisors (Board) 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. The goal of the SSYP 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 (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 Community Development Transportation staff. Following that, the Board may choose to designate the road as an RRR by resolution. Once a road is designated, VDOT initiates 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. Starting in January 2025, 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 26, if designated as Rural Rustic Roads by the Board:
-- The 0.40-mile segment of Route 697 (Sutherland Road) from 1.38 miles west of Route 29 to the end of state maintenance. (Attachment B)
-- The 0.35-mile segment of Route 707 (Blair Park Road) from Route 691 to the end of state maintenance. (Attachment C)
-- The 0.50-mile segment of Route 813 (Starlight Road) from Route 712 to the end of state maintenance (Attachment D).
-- The 0.40-mile segment of Route 856 (Burton Lane) from Route 711 to the end of state maintenance (Attachment E).
-- A 0.13-mile segment of Route 711 (Burton Road) from Route 856 to 0.13-miles east of Route 856 (Attachment F).
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 and Placemaking - Invest in infrastructure and amenities that create connection, opportunity, and well-being.
DISCUSSION: Notification letters were sent to affected homeowners following the April 2 Work Session. Not all the roads received either two-thirds support or one-third opposition from impacted homeowners, as detailed below. Two Roads, Burton Road and Burton Lane, were close to receiving enough votes, and due to concerns about maintenance, were recommended by staff to be included on the SSYP.
|
Road |
% Supported |
# Supported |
# Opposed |
# No Response |
Affected Owners |
|
Rte. 662 Bleak House Road |
30 |
10 |
14 |
9 |
33 |
|
Rte. 746 Fosters Branch Road |
52 |
13 |
5 |
7 |
25 |
|
Rte. 707 Blair Park Road |
67 |
8 |
0 |
4 |
12 |
|
Rte. 856 Burton Lane |
64 |
9 |
0 |
5 |
14 |
|
Rte. 711 Burton Road |
40 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
|
Rte. 813 Starlight Road |
80 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
Rte. 766 Pea Ridge Road |
13 |
3 |
9 |
10 |
22 |
|
Rte. 723 Sharon Road |
64 |
9 |
0 |
5 |
14 |
BUDGET IMPACT: Adoption of these resolutions would have no impact on the County budget. These resolutions would 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 the Board adopt the attached resolutions (Attachments B, C, D, E, and F) to designate the segments of the roads specified above as Rural Rustic Roads.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Albemarle County Unpaved Road Policies and Review Process
B - Resolution Designating Route 697 (Sutherland Road) as a Rural Rustic Road
C - Resolution Designating Route 707 (Blair Park Road) as a Rural Rustic Road
D - Resolution Designating Route 813 (Starlight Road) as a Rural Rustic Road
E - Resolution Designating Route 856 (Burton Lane) as a Rural Rustic Road
F - Resolution Designation Route 711 (Burton Road) as a Rural Rustic Road