CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville City Council will hear an update on the city’s efforts to transition its fleet of vehicles to all electric models, part of the city’s climate goals. That presentation will start off Monday’s regular meeting at 4 p.m., according to the agenda item policy briefing.
“Replacement decisions are based on condition, safety, reliability, service needs, and cost, not age or mileage alone,” the briefing said. “(Staff) has reviewed the FY26–FY31 replacement schedule to identify opportunities for electric vehicles (EVs) and the charging infrastructure needed to support them.”
A city fleet maintenance team of 12 employees manages 710 vehicles. Fourteen of those vehicles are EVs,”including two recently delivered transit buses anticipated to enter service in Fall 2026.” Two more transit buses are set for delivery in April.
The city has been running two battery electric school buses since January, according to the policy briefing, with $409,968 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Program assisting with that purchase.
“The City’s climate goals are to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to 45% below 2011 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050,” the briefing said. “Fleet electrification contributes to those goals. A phased approach supports continued progress, while maintaining reliable services and addressing the needs of the entire fleet.”
The second item in the afternoon report session is the second annual cleanup of the City Development Code which was passed in Dec. 2023, according to a policy briefing.
“The proposed amendment package includes technical corrections, administrative clarifications, state-law conformity updates, and targeted refinements intended to improve implementation of the CDC, while maintaining its adopted policy framework,” the policy briefing said. “Feedback from Planning Commission members, applicants, property owners, preservation stakeholders, development professionals, and City staff informed the proposed amendment package.
“Examples include updates to easement requirements, references to the Standards and Design Manual and Appendices, clarification of standards eligible for Special Exception Permits, and other corrections intended to improve consistency and usability throughout the CDC. The package also includes amendments necessary to maintain conformity with recent changes in state law, including updates related to accessory dwelling units. Additional refinements address topics such as tree-removal review procedures, private streets, bicycle parking requirements for lodging uses, active-depth standards, and the treatment of nonconforming buildings.”
Council will also consider a resolution to establish Nov. 1-7 as Charlottesville Tree Week.
Among the action items, Council will consider a Performance Agreement with the Piedmont Housing Authority for when they begin constructing Phase 3 of Kindlewood, referenced in the agenda item as Friendship Court, under which they will build and preserve 79 affordable housing units for 30 years in return for the city providing a 70% reduction in real estate taxes for those units. Council will also hear the first to two readings to appropriate $67,667 toward support services that SupportWorks Housing is doing in their Albemarle County Vista 29 transitional housing facility.
On the consent agenda is an item “initiating Planning Commission review, consideration, and recommendation relating to the proposed ZTA for local marijuana marketplace regulations to City Council”, according to a policy briefing.
The 2026 General Assembly and Gov. Spanberger passed legislation that creates a regulated, adult-use cannabis marketplace in Virginia, and this resolution instructs City staff to construct a Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) to a marketplace ordinance in Charlottesville in accordance with state law.
“The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority’s Board of Directors must promulgate regulations by Feb. 1, 2027, and the first licensing period will commence on that date, and retail sales commence July 1, 2027,” the briefing said. “Localities must address any necessary local Ordinance amendments, establish internal processes for responding to license application notifications, and adopt a local marijuana tax Ordinance.”
The business section of the meeting begins 6:30 p.m.
