Charlottesville staff begin two‑year review of environmental regulations focused on stormwater, floodplains and tree canopy

Charlottesville planning staff presented an environmental regulations and policy review project at a Planning Commission work session, outlining a roughly two‑year effort to examine stormwater management, floodplain regulations, tree canopy and preservation, stream buffers, critical slopes and related energy and resilience policies.

"This evening, we have a work session on the environmental regulations and policy review project," said Tori Kanalopoulos, principal planner on the long‑range planning team with Neighborhood Development Services, introducing the project and staff from public works, utilities, parks, the Office of Sustainability and other departments.

The nut graf: The review is intended to reconcile city development code requirements, the 5‑year comprehensive plan review, and multiple ongoing studies — including a flood resilience plan update, an urban forest management plan and a stormwater model — and to produce code and policy recommendations, guidance and phasing for implementation. Staff emphasized the project will be coordinated across departments and include future public engagement; commissioners and staff raised drought planning, stormwater crediting, maintenance of stormwater facilities and regional coordination as priorities.

Staff described the scope and rationale. Kanalopoulos said staff want feedback on the project’s proposed phasing and topics after completing an internal review of existing conditions, policies and regulations. Potential outcomes listed by staff include updated provisions in the…