At the recent Rivanna River Fest held on privately owned open space that meanders with the waterway, several organizations staffed booths to promote their activities to passersby.
However, two affiliated groups seeking to prevent the development of a 245-unit apartment complex on that property had their own table set up just outside the boundary line.
“We’re standing down the footpath that we as a neighborhood really like to use off of Caroline Avenue that leads down to the Rivanna River path,” said Rebecca Reilly, president of the recently formed Circus Grounds Preservation Corporation and the less formal No Floodplain Buildings.
The project known as 0 East High Street will require placement of 15 feet of fill dirt to elevate the building foundations project out of the floodplain. Until recently, much of the property had been designated as “floodway,” which would have prevented any development, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently agreed to a revision of the map.
Reilly and others are hoping City Council will find a way to purchase the land.
“This is happening on a piece of land that people really enjoy using,” Reilly says. “The Rivanna River Company is on this same piece of property, and the community really loves the events that they put on and the access to the river, and if this proposal goes through, it is likely that would all be heavily impacted.”
Reilly says her group is concerned that changing the contours of the floodplain will cause flooding downstream. She points out that the new draft zoning map would dramatically reduce the number of units that could be built on the land.
“It appears there is an attempt at shoving in as much development in this piece of land as possible before the zoning is enacted,” Reilly says.
City staff have issued a preliminary denial three times, but under state law must approve a site plan if it meets all of the technical details. Reilly is pushing for the plan to be reviewed by the Planning Commission. In particular, she wants them to review whether public roads in this location are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
“Our Comprehensive Plan is very clear that we’re trying to protect our riverfront,” Reilly says.
The property is owned by an entity associated with developer Wendell Wood, but under contract for Seven Development to purchase it. The main 20-acre parcel has an assessed value of $732,100. In February, City Council agreed to get an appraisal of the land to find out what the market rate would be.
“We are hopeful that the city would be interested in purchasing it as well or that our group could help fundraise to make it a public space,” Reilly says.
The appraisal is complete and the city is so far being quiet.
“The appraisal is [Freedom of Information Act] exempt as a working document of the city manager,” says Deputy City Manager Sam Sanders. “Details will be released as City Council eventually considers any action that might include a possible purchase.”
Sanders says the city is studying the issue carefully before proceeding.
Bo Carrington of Seven Development says he would be willing to have a conversation about the city or another entity purchasing the land, but believes the development his company is proposing would be the best for the community.
“Our most recent submission for the 23-acre property proposes a by-right development with 7.5 acres of residential development, four acres of dedicated park land, a trailhead parking lot, and a public access easement for the public to enjoy the trail and river,” Carrington says.
City staff are now reviewing that fourth submission and will provide comments by July 14.