Planning commission recommends approval of Spring Hill Farm subdivision with conservation conditions

Albemarle County planning staff and the applicant described revisions to the Spring Hill Farm subdivision concept plan at the May 27 Planning Commission meeting, and the commission voted to recommend approval with staff conditions.

Rebecca Ragsdale, planning manager, told the commission the property west of Charlottesville off Dickwood Road and near the Ivy interchange totals roughly 342 acres and that the current proposal would create six residential tracts while keeping the bulk of the land in conservation or open ownership. "We are primarily focused on how it gets developed," Ragsdale said, noting earlier approvals and special use permit history tied to the tract.

Applicant Ethan Miller, representing Blue Springs Land Corporation, said the current plan reduced the acreage allocated to residential lots from about 263.8 acres in the applicant's earlier concept to roughly 193 acres and shortened driveway lengths by nearly 2,500 feet through shared drives. Miller said the revised plan leaves 96.5% of the residue parcel in forested or agricultural use and averages roughly 32 acres per proposed lot (the ordinance minimum referenced by staff is 21 acres).

Staff recommended approval subject to conditions that include: - Limiting residential clearing on each new lot (staff and applicant specified a 2-acre clearing cap for building sites and driveways as applied to new driveway construction); - Requiring only one principal dwelling unit per lot (accessory unit rules remain tied to the county's definition of dwelling unit); - Review and approval of grading and erosion & sediment control before building permits are issued; - Ensuring emergency vehicle turnaround at the end of private driveways per the Fire Marshal's review.

Ragsdale said the county had worked with the applicant to reduce potential impacts from driveways and building sites; the applicant also agreed to deed conservation/open space areas to the neighborhood structure rather than retaining them under the seller's ownership. Several immediate neighbors told commissioners they supported the plan.

The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of SP‑2024‑24 with staff conditions. Roll‑call during the motion recorded commissioners in attendance and voting in favor (transcript roll call: Mister Bivens; Mister Murray; Mister Clayburn; Mister Missal; Mister Karazana; Miss Firehawk; Mister Moore). The commission's recommendation goes to the Board of Supervisors for final action.

Ending

If the Board of Supervisors follows the commission recommendation, building permits and subsequent site‑level reviews (driveway engineering, erosion and sediment control, and any required waivers) will govern construction timing and specific lot layouts.