AGENDA DATE: 12/20/2017
TITLE:
Title
Government Operations/Courts Relocation Opportunities Analysis - Board Direction
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Board Action Item meeting to discuss the Stantec report and public hearing feedback and then direct staff on next steps of the process regarding the Courts and/or County Administrative functions.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Letteri, Henry
PRESENTER (S): Trevor Henry
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Albemarle County has been engaged for some time in a thorough analysis and assessment of the County's future court needs and the best way to meet those needs. The Board of Supervisors discussed five potential options last October 24, 2016 and took public comment. The court expansion project reflects a major investment of County funds and is the most expensive project in the County's current Capital Improvement Program plan; therefore, the Board is particularly interested in ensuring all options have been properly vetted and giving County taxpayers an opportunity to review the identified options and provide comment.
There are two Courts options primarily remaining in consideration.
* Option 1: Renovation of the existing downtown courts complex for the Circuit Court and expansion of the General District Court on the Levy Opera House parcel, which is co-owned by the County and City of Charlottesville.
* Option 5: Build a new General District Court, Circuit Court and associated functions on a parcel in Albemarle County's designated development area, presumptive location identified as the Rio Road/Route 29 area.
The Board established in its November 2, 2016 resolution that the Courts project, in any scenario, must ensure the fair and equitable administration of justice. The Board also directed staff to investigate the potential to which this project could promote its highest strategic priorities of urban develo...
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