Albemarle ARB approves Christian Aid Mission office design with landscape conditions

The Albemarle County Architectural Review Board on May 19 approved a certificate of appropriateness for a new office building for Christian Aid Mission at 255 Bob Finley Way, with conditions listed in the staff report.

The approval, for application ARB2025-07, allows a new building that keeps the footprint of an existing structure and uses a mix of brown brick, tan and bronze metal, and composite wood-grain siding; the board’s action requires the applicant to make the landscaping and minor revisions recommended by staff.

Staff planner Margaret (Albemarle County staff) told the board the proposed building “meets the guidelines with a series of bays with alternating materials that create rhythm, scale, and break up the mass of the building,” and recommended approval with the revisions listed in the staff report. Architect Mark Kessner of Henningson Kessner Architects said the project will demolish most of the existing theater building but retain part of the basement and build within the existing footprint.

Board members said the design responds well to the corridor. Tara (ARB member) said she “appreciate[d] the way in which the architecture responds to the surrounding context,” noting the material selection and massing. Frank Stoner (ARB member) called it “an attractive building” and said the material selection was appropriate. Another member noted the site could accommodate a larger building but said the proposal serves as a good transition to more rural areas farther west on the corridor.

The certificate was approved with no amendments to the staff motion; the board’s action authorizes staff to require the changes listed in the staff report and did not require a return for additional architecture review unless the applicant or staff request it. The roll call recorded the approval (ayes recorded by board members present). The board also confirmed that mature trees on the site are proposed to remain and that additional trees and shrubs will be added along the frontage and near the parking perimeter per staff recommendations.

The ARB’s approval is limited to the certificate of appropriateness for architecture and the site changes identified in the staff report; any future changes to the site plan or additional work beyond the approved footprint would require separate review. The board did not record any dissenting votes on the item.

The Albemarle County ARB’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 2, 2025.