Board approves comprehensive-plan amendment for Father and Gay property after extensive public comment

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors voted 5–2 on Thursday to amend the county's 2025 comprehensive plan to re-designate portions of the Father and Gay property from Resource Stewardship to Village Expansion, including about 326 acres slated as Medium Density Residential and roughly 307.72 acres as Open Space.

The amendment was debated at length after a large public-address period in which more than a dozen residents from Elliston, Shawesville and surrounding areas urged supervisors to deny the change. Tim Thornton, who identified himself as a Charlottesville resident, told the board the Resource Stewardship designation exists to protect "rural areas with high resource value" and that the land "has not changed since it was protected by this designation." Henry Lawrence Bridal, a lifelong Alliston resident, said the site's historic value outweighs development and urged an archaeological study. Several speakers, including Paige Williams and Josh Williams, said the proposed development would accelerate gentrification and raise…