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Owner says neighbor's 'junk' and encroachment cut marketability; board affirms assessor after denying site visit
Summary
A landowner asked Albemarle's Board of Equalization to reduce his 2025 assessment because of a neighboring property he described as a "junkyard" that encroaches on his lot; the board declined a site visit and affirmed the assessor's value, applying small reductions already in the tax record.
A Keswick area landowner asked Albemarle County's Board of Equalization on May 12 to lower his property's assessed value because a neighboring parcel hosts numerous outbuildings, stored material and parked vehicles that the owner said spill onto his lot and harm marketability.
The appellant submitted photographs and recited portions of the county code's definition of "junkyard" to argue the neighbor's use amounted to an unlawful or detrimental use of land that depressed his property's sale price. He said he had two real estate firms review the property and that both told him a buyer paying near $1 million would not tolerate the adjacent site conditions.
Assessor's staff acknowledged they received complaints and had applied a 5% land adjustment and a 5% improvement adjustment to reflect the neighboring property's condition and screening; Community Development staff had not yet completed a site walk or enforcement action. The appellant had filed complaints online; staff described the county's enforcement process and the potential timeline for corrective action.
During the hearing the board voted not to conduct a separate on‑site inspection and then voted to affirm the assessor's 2025 valuation for the property. The board recorded one member voting against the assessor's recommendation and requested that county staff follow up with the appellant about enforcement steps and timelines.
Action: Board denied the appellant's request for a site visit and affirmed the assessor's 2025 assessment after a recorded vote (motion carried, one opposed). The assessor had already included a 5% access/land adjustment and a 5% improvement adjustment to account for neighboring conditions.
