Albemarle planning commission recommends rezoning of Rio Road West site, sends ZMA 2025‑00001600 to supervisors

The Albemarle County Planning Commission on the evening opened a public hearing and recommended approval of ZMA 20250001600, a rezoning application for four parcels on Rio Road West that would change the properties from Commercial Office to the Neighborhood Model district and allow a multifamily development with a minimum of 28 and a maximum of 153 units.

Cameron Landrill, principal planner in the county’s community development planning division, told commissioners the staff recommendation is to approve the rezoning because the proposal is “consistent with the county’s growth management policy,” meets the small‑area plan’s form and site design standards in practice and provides transportation improvements, including an eight‑foot sidewalk along the Rio Road West frontage. Landrill also noted two special‑exception requests tied to the ZMA — to waive the mixture‑of‑uses requirement and to reduce the small‑area‑plan amenity default — which are acted on by the Board…