By William J. Des Rochers, Fluvanuvannana Field Officer
Fluvanna’s Planning Commissioners met on July 23rdto discuss the state of the Comprehensive Plan and to hear a presentation on Albemarle County’s cell tower policy. Since the agenda had no land use hearings, the commissioners wrapped up the meeting by 10:00 pm.
Commissioners reviewed the status of the draft Comprehensive Plan. The current draft runs over 175 pages and Planning Director Daren Coffey would like to pare it back and ensure greater consistency regarding format. To that end, Commissioners agreed to do the following:
- Develop a short vision statement for each chapter (land use, community design, public safety etc.) that would be compatible with the overall vision of the Comprehensive Plan;
- Amplify the vision statement later in each chapter to more specifically outline the vision appropriate to the chapter;
- Create goals that would implement the vision that are measurable, and achievable; and,
- Develop the policy formulations that would ensure that the goals are met.
By following the same format for each chapter, the commissioners hope to strengthen the document and the overall vision for the county.
There will be a series of public meetings in each of the election districts during September to obtain citizen input and Mr. Coffey hopes to present a draft recommendation to the Board of Supervisors by the end of November.
Mr. Bill Fritz, Albemarle County’s Chief of Current Development provided the planners with an overview of the Albemarle policy regarding communication towers. Faced with the decision to opt for either taller, but fewer, towers or shorter, but more, towers, the county adopted the latter approach.
Shorter towers enabled Albemarle to institute a policy of visual impact assessment, rather than one centered on aesthetic issues. Mr. Fritz noted that Virginia law precludes aesthetic regulation, but not visual.
This visibility approach in turn enabled Albemarle to adopt strict but clear standards, which, according to Mr. Fritz, appealed to the communication providers since it, provided greater predictability in the application process.
The cell tower issue has come to the fore in Fluvanna in recent months, as two applications have been deferred pending alternative site study. The question of “taller or shorter” towers has vexed planners and supervisors over the past several years without a definitive resolution. Currently the county opts for taller but fewer towers. That may change as the county seeks to ensure that cell service is provided to all areas of the county.
The Commission agreed to continue its practice of reviewing development sketch plans; Mr. Coffey had suggested that the practice might be ended if the plans are substantially the same as the original plans. The discussion arose because the Sycamore Square property had submitted a sketch plan for review as currently required.
New housing starts in Fluvanna continued their downward trend in June. According to county statistics, seven new homes were started last month, down from seventeen in June 2007. For the year, new housing starts are down by twenty-nine percent.
James Halstead (Palmyra) was introduced as the newest Planning Commission member. He replaces Ms. Patricia Eager on the Commission.
