Albemarle may add another layer to development approval

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors is set to add another layer to developments’ approvals.

You can read all this proposed new Committee here. My biggest beef with this proposed Committee is this part –

Staff recommends that membership not be limited to County residents. Given the relatively small number of potential members with the necessary expertise, staff hoped to avoid preventing the participation of any interested and capable people. However, the guidelines in the fact sheet do indicate that the total committee membership should consist of some County residents.

Hmm. We happen to have a fairly sizable University here from which to draw potential members, no? Why should those who are not taxpayers within our community be permitted to determine how we can or cannot develop our land?

and this part –

F. At the request of the staff, Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors, review selected development proposals for biodiversity impacts, and provide comment regarding the impacts, potential mitigation measures, and/or alternative approaches to the development.

What does this mean? Will the Committee have carte blanche to in effect deny new developments?