Planning commission backs Attain on Fifth Phase 2 rezonings; affordable-housing commitment contingent on ARHIP award

The Albemarle County Planning Commission on Oct. 28 recommended approval of two related rezonings for the Attain on Fifth Phase 2 project, forwarding the items to the Board of Supervisors.

Staff summary: Senior planner Sid Shoaf told the commission the 14.5-acre parcel (tax map parcel 76-54A1) sits between I-64 and Old Lynchburg Road with access from Fifth Street. The applicant seeks to rezone the property from R-10 to Planned Residential Development (PRD) to add 165 multifamily units in five new buildings, bringing the site to a maximum 309 units (about 21 dwelling units per acre). The proposal would reduce on-site parking from 660 spaces to 460 spaces; that parking reduction is part of a requested special exception the Board will consider.

The applicant is proposing new pedestrian and bicycle connections, including a shared-use path along Fifth Street frontage and improvements to the existing bus stop at Wahoo Way. Staff noted the shared-use path would end at an existing substandard facility on the adjacent property; VDOT has raised concerns about a new path terminating at that substandard segment, though staff and the applicant said adding the path is an improvement over existing conditions.

Housing and ARHIP: Shoaf summarized Housing Albemarle—s guidance recommending 20% of new units be…