Albemarle Approves Fontaine Expansion

Posted: July 29, 2010

The Fontaine Research Park in Albemarle County is looking to add hundreds of thousands of square feet of office space to its campus. With that growth comes concerns over traffic and an important connector that was key to getting the go-ahead at Tuesday night's planning commission meeting.

The Albemarle County Planning Commission unanimously approved more than 300,000 square feet of new office and medical space at the park. The new development is centered around three major buildings as well as expanded parking and the expansion will take place within the current footprint of the park.

The meeting's debate focused on a new Sunset Ave to Fontaine Ave connector that would help alleviate current and future traffic in the area as drivers make their way into Charlottesville. Right now, that connector is slated to be parallel to Stribling Ave on the east side of the property.

Park supporters say the design dubbed Alternative Four is ideal, but planners see challenges.

"There is an engineering challenge and a feasibility question regarding Alternative Four ever being built through," said Albemarle Planner Wayne Cilimber.

"Our concern is that this is a campus that was built for research and health care facilities," said University of Virginia Executive Vice President Leonard Sandridge. "It's hard to imagine how a through road could go through the park without causing problems with that concept."

The park will pick up a portion of the costs for the connector in its planned location or if it is moved to an alternate spot that does not cut directly across its campus.

The plans will still need to be approved by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. There is no word on when we will see full funding for the connector.

Reported by Keith McGilvery
NBC29News

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