In May 2023, Albemarle County announced its intention to purchase 462 acres of land located on Boulders Road, off Route 29 in Northern Albemarle. The property surrounds Rivanna Station in Albemarle, a sub-installation of Fort Belvoir and home to several defense intelligence agencies of the federal government – National Ground Intelligence Center, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Rivanna Futures is an economic development project to retain Rivanna Station and to provide space to grow the mission here in Albemarle County.

The vision for this acquisition is the establishment of an Intelligence & National Security Innovation Acceleration Campus (INSIAC), a place for public sector organizations, private sector businesses, and academic institutions to work together to co-create solutions to the biggest challenges facing our nation and the world.

After several months of due diligence to analyze the property, the property acquisition was finalized in December 2023. Learn more.

Efforts Underway: Site Readiness

In order to build partnerships to bring the vision for INSIAC to reality, Albemarle County is focused on site readiness, or the identification and preparation of land with the intention of reducing the development timeline. Site readiness includes efforts such as zoning, engineering, and infrastructure planning.

Conceptual Engineering

Albemarle County is working with a consultant to plan for the extension of Boulders Road, which currently terminates at the property line. A future extension to connect back on Route 29 is part of the County’s adopted Places29 Master Plan. The conceptual engineering analysis is evaluating road alignment as well as stormwater management and future pad sites for development. All of this work is guided by a study undertaken through the Commonwealth Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs in 2017, which developed a conceptual expansion plan for the mission there. This work also includes planning for stormwater management and identification of future pad sites.

Rezoning & Special Use Permit

Albemarle County has applied for a rezoning (ZMA202400002) and special use permit (SP202400014) in order to allow for light industrial and commercial uses on the portion of the property that lies within the Development Area. The application materials can be viewed online.

This application follows an approval by the Board of Supervisors on June 21, 2023 of a resolution affirming development of business and industry as possible uses of the property.

Interested in learning more?

·        Attend the Community Meeting, hosted by the Places29-North Community Advisory Committee on May 9

·        Attend the Planning Commission Public Hearing on May 14

·        Attend the Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on June 12