AGENDA DATE: 4/3/2019
TITLE:
Title
Amending the Comprehensive Plan to Incorporate Biodiversity Strategies
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Review proposed revisions to Objective 4 of the Natural Resources chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. Receive confirmation from the Board that proposed revisions are ready for proceeding to a public hearing with the Planning Commission.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Herrick, Graham, Hannah
PRESENTER (S): David Hannah
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Biodiversity Action Plan for Albemarle County (BAP) was completed in June 2018. On July 5, 2018, the Board endorsed the BAP and directed staff to begin working with the Planning Commission to amend the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). On September 4, 2018, the Planning Commission adopted a Resolution of Intent to amend the Comp Plan to incorporate strategies for conserving biodiversity. County staff developed draft revisions for the Comp Plan.
An online survey and one public meeting were conducted to solicit public comment. Two work sessions were held with the Planning Commission to review the proposed revisions, on November 20, 2018 and February 12, 2019. At the more recent of the two work sessions, the Planning Commission approved proceeding to a work session with the Board of Supervisors to review the proposed Comp Plan revisions.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Natural Resources Stewardship: Thoughtfully protect and manage Albemarle County’s ecosystems and natural resources in both the rural and development areas to safeguard the quality of life of current and future generations.
DISCUSSION: Objective 4 of the Natural Resources chapter of the Comp Plan states: “Protect the biological diversity and ecological integrity of the County in both the Rural Area and Development Areas.” Strategy 4a states: “Develop an Action for Biodiversity to protect significant areas of biological importance to the County.” Narrative for Strategy 4a includes the statement: “When completed, the action plan should be presented to the Board of Supervisors for adoption into the Comp Plan.”
Completing the BAP was the first step in implementing Strategy 4a. County staff is working to complete full implementation of the strategy by amending the Comp Plan.
After Planning Commission adoption of the Resolution of Intent to amend the Comp Plan (Attachment A), staff drafted revisions to the Comp Plan incorporating strategies to conserve biodiversity. All proposed revisions are under the Objective 4 section of the Natural Resources chapter. In addition to wording changes, several new strategies are proposed (Attachment B). Three maps from the BAP are also proposed to be added.
Staff sought comments from the public about the proposed revisions via an online survey (Attachment C) and a public meeting held on November 29, 2018. Two work sessions with the Planning Commission also allowed public comment as well as review, discussion, and comment from members of the Commission. Attachment D summarized the edits made to the Comp Plan based on public input and Planning Commission comments.
A final draft of proposed revisions is provided for review, in both a “redline” version (Attachment E) and a “clean” version (Attachment F). The current version of the Comp Plan is also provided (Attachment G). The BAP and related materials (Executive Summary, Appendices, maps) are proposed to be included as Reference Documents in the Comp Plan, thus not part of the Comp Plan itself.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no budget impact in simply amending the Comp Plan. Future efforts to implement strategies could have budget impacts.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff requests confirmation from the Board that proposed Comp Plan revisions are ready for proceeding to a public hearing with the Planning Commission.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A - Planning Commission Resolution of Intent
Attachment B - Summary of revised strategies
Attachment C - Results of online survey
Attachment D - Summary of comments on proposed revisions
Attachment E - Final draft of revised Objective 4-redline version
Attachment F - Final draft of revised Objective 4-clean version
Attachment G - Current version of Objective 4
Attachment H - Revisions for Comp Plan Implementation Strategies-redline version;
Attachment I - Letter from Free Enterprise Forum;
Attachment J - Comments from Free Enterprise Forum-redline version