Planning commission accepts applicant’s request to defer Seek rezoning after extensive public comment

The Albemarle County Planning Commission opened extensive public hearings Sept. 9 on ZMA 2022-02, the SEEK property rezoning application, and after more than two hours of staff presentation, applicant remarks and public comment, the commission accepted the applicant’s request to defer final action until Dec. 16, 2025.

Cameron Landrell, a principal planner with the county, presented staff’s analysis of the 62.4-acre site at the southwest corner of the I-64/Route 29 interchange. The application requests rezoning six parcels from R-1 and HC (highway commercial) to the Neighborhood Model District, a planned district. The submission would allow up to 1,200 dwelling units (19.2 units per acre gross, 22.6 net), 440,000 square feet of nonresidential space (minimum 50,000 sq. ft.), 20.1 percent minimum open space (12.55 acres), public utility connections to ACSA water and sewer, and a request to re-designate about 5.1 acres of preserved steep slopes to be disturbed for roads and utilities.

Staff recommended approval, concluding the application generally meets the Southern and…