The Planning Division of Albemarle County’s Community Development Department has begun a project to update the Rio29 Form Based Code that was adopted in 2021.

Background
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors adopted the Rio29 Form-Based Code and overlay district on September 1, 2021. At the time of adoption, it was anticipated that the first reviews of site development plans completed under the new code would reveal that revisions would be needed to the text of the code. The first reviews have been completed and the expectation that code revisions would be needed has proven to be true. The Planning Division of Albemarle County’s Community Development Department has teamed with form-based code consultants EPR, P. C. and Dover Kohl and Partners to work on this code update. This update does not seek to rewrite the code completely or take out foundational elements. Instead, the purpose is to refine the code to improve clarity, eliminate ambiguity, respond to changing trends/limitations in development, and ensure compatibility with the requirements of partner departments and agencies.

Early Stages
One of the first steps in the update project is a “listening session” scheduled for May 30. Developers and property owners in the Rio29 area have been invited to share their knowledge, experience, and questions regarding the current requirements and development in the Rio29 planning area to understand the barriers for opting in to form-based code development.