Albemarle planners press land-use, site-ready strategies in AC44 ‘Thriving Economy’ chapter

Albemarle County planning staff on March 11 outlined the draft “Thriving Economy” chapter of the county’s AC44 comprehensive-plan update, asking the Planning Commission to prioritize land and infrastructure for employment uses while the county’s separate economic development strategic plan is finalized.

County planner Ben Holt, presenting on behalf of the AC44 team, said the chapter focuses on seven broad ideas: aligning growth-management and land-use policy with economic development goals, maintaining land inventory for light industrial and flex uses, supporting business retention and expansion, encouraging site-ready properties, strengthening workforce development and childcare support, and supporting rural economic activities such as agricultural processing and low-impact recreation.

The chapter matters because it links the 20-year comprehensive plan to near-term implementation: staff said they expect the final draft AC44 to be published for review in June and hope the Board of Supervisors will adopt the plan later in 2024. In the meantime, the economic development strategic plan (EDSP) is being refined and will provide more detailed implementation guidance, but staff argued the comprehensive plan must still set durable land-use directions now.

Holt and Emily Kilroy of the county’s economic team told commissioners the county’s build-out analysis found a shortage of “development-ready” employment parcels. Tori Kanalopoulos, principal planner,…