The Albemarle Board of Supervisors approved a family subdivision on Wednesday that had been voted down nearly a year-and-a-half ago under more liberal leadership.
Ronnie and Janie Matheny have been asking for county authorization to have their 4.9-acre property in western Albemarle subdivided, to give 2 acres to their grandson.
Members of the board’s conservative alliance consider support of the subdivision a pro-family, commonsense move. Democrat Ann H. Mallek and independent Dennis S. Rooker, however, fear that making exceptions to county zoning regulations jeopardizes the county’s effort to preserve its rural character by limiting property division.
When the board voted against the Matheny request last year, then-Supervisor Sally H. Thomas said the Mathenys were just one of hundreds of families that would like special permission for new rural-area developments.
At that time, only Democrat Lindsay G. Dorrier Jr. and Republican Kenneth C. Boyd voted in favor of the special-use permit. But like-minded Republicans Rodney S. Thomas and Duane Snow were elected in November, forming a majority alliance with Dorrier and Boyd.
Snow categorized the request as an affordable housing issue at Wednesday’s meeting.
Rodney Thomas noted that the property is surrounded by Matheny family members and the family has no intent to sell the property or have it further developed.
A second similar family subdivision special-use permit was also granted Wednesday to Coleman Morris.
Mallek questioned where supervisors would draw the line if exceptions are made for Morris and the Matheny family.
Under the special-use permit regulations, Morris and the Matheny family won’t be allowed to sell the property for 15 years, to ensure it remains part of a family subdivision.
Eleven similar special-use permits had previously been approved in Albemarle, which Planning Commission member Tom Loach said in August is not enough to set a precedent.
Planning Commission member Linda Porterfield, however, contended that the new special-use permits would open the door for more family subdivision requests that aren’t authorized by right.
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