The Albemarle County Architecture Review Board on Oct. 27 removed SDP 2025-00122 (Archer North Phase 2 initial site plans) from the consent agenda for discussion and forwarded a recommendation to the Site Review Committee that the applicant consider reorienting Buildings 12, 13 and 14 to align parallel with the Route 29 entrance corridor.

Board members raised concerns that changes since the rezoning approval altered the internal road alignment and removed buildings that had previously flanked the main entrance, which could make the new building orientations more visible from Route 29. A staff member noted the current initial site plan remains consistent with the approved rezoning, but the board discussed visibility given the site topography: the consultant reported a measurement of approximately 287 feet from Route 29 to a building pad and members estimated the pad rises about 20 feet above the road.

Members debated whether architectural elevations or rendered perspectives should be required at the initial site-plan stage. Staff explained that elevations and renderings are not required for initial site-plan submittals; the board may request them but cannot compel the applicant to provide them at this phase. In lieu of requiring elevations, staff outlined four options: forward the staff recommendation as submitted; add a recommendation asking the applicant to consider reorienting the three buildings; make reorientation a condition precedent to initial site-plan approval; or require additional information demonstrating that the current orientation will present an appropriate appearance.

The board voted to forward the staff recommendations for initial site-plan approval to the Site Review Committee with an added recommendation that the applicant consider reorienting Buildings 12, 13 and 14 parallel to the entrance corridor. The motion passed with a majority in favor and one member opposed.

The ARB did not require elevations at this stage; members said they expect to review building architecture and perspectives at a later submittal and may request changes then. Staff advised that if the architecture, when submitted, shows an unacceptable appearance from the corridor the ARB can request changes during subsequent reviews.

Clarifying details recorded during the discussion included the application identifier (SDP 2025-00122), a staff-measured distance of about 287 feet from Route 29 to a building pad, and board estimates that the pad rises roughly 20 feet above Route 29. The ARB discussed the legal/regulatory context only insofar as zoning staff confirmed the current plan is consistent with the previously approved rezoning; no statutory citations beyond general references to a lawfully posted meeting notice and public-record rules were made in the discussion.

The Site Review Committee will receive the ARB recommendation. The record does not show the applicant’s response to the ARB recommendation at this meeting; the board expects to see architectural submittals or visualizations in later reviews.