Proposed Critical Slopes Ordinance Change - Albemarle County

use permit include the establishment of private facilities necessary to the use of the property.
Disturbing managed slopes would be permitted provided that design standards are met. The design
standards are intended to allow use of steep areas without the use of excessively tall retaining walls,
minimizing runoff and siltation from newly constructed slopes, maintaining visual quality and minimizing
impacts on abutting properties.
The proposed ordinance does not:
1. Increase or decrease the areas regulated.
2. Reduce environmental protection.
3. Increase costs to applicants or the County.
Benefits of the proposed ordinance:
FAQs
1. Predictability. All parties will know which areas may be disturbed and which may not.
2. Establishes design standards to insure that the County’s resources are protected. These
resources include protection of water resources and scenic resources.
3. Allows for efficient use of designated development areas potentially decreasing the need to
expand the development areas.
4. Saves the taxpayers of the County approximately $24,000 to $56,000 a year in estimated cost
associated with the processing of special exception requests. (These figures are based on
historical costs between 2005 and 2012 associated with the processing of special exceptions.)
5. Allows existing residential lots to expand use their property without first applying for a special
exception. It must be reinforced that special exceptions are discretionary and approval is not
guaranteed.
6. Establishes criteria for determination of exempt activities.
- How do I tell how much of my property is affected by Critical Slopes
- How do I determine if the slopes are proposed to be designated as Preserved or Managed
- Will I be able to build an addition to my house
- Will I be able to build a house on a vacant residential lot
- Will I be able to build a shed on my property
- Can I grade my property to put in terraces
- How can Preserved slopes be disturbed
- Will the proposed ordinance affect my ability to subdivide
- Does the proposed ordinance increase the areas subject to regulation
- How can I request that slopes be designated as Managed instead of Preserved
- How can I request that slopes be designated as Preserved instead of Managed
- How can I remove slopes from being designated as either Managed or Preserved
- What impact does the proposed amendment have on previously approved projects
- What happens to newly created steep slopes
- What happens when field run topography indicates slopes are different from the County’s
mapping