University of Virginia Library

County Approves GE Plan;
Zones Ivy 'Light Industrial'

By Mike Gartlan
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The Albemarle County Planning
Commission Monday night approved, 4-3,
a General Electric request that about 200
acres in western Albemarle's Ivy Valley
be shifted from A-1 agricultural to M-1
light industrial use.

Those commissioners who voted
against the rezoning pointed out that
they were not against the GE plant in
Albemarle nor GE's proposed use for the
220 acre site. What they did oppose,
however, was a lack of guarantees by GE
that their proposed tract would also
conform to (R-TM) zoning, a plan
preferred by both the planners and GE.

R-Tm Zoning

This R-TM zoning would limit the area
to technical research and light
manufacturing. County planner John L.
Humphrey recommended that the
commission vote against the M-1 zoning
because "the mechanics are not available that
would insure that GE would locate" on the
tract after rezoning, thus leaving the tract open
for any light industry.

The R-TM zoning would allow the planners
more control over the area should GE not
locate there.

The GE zoning request will be taken up by
the Board of Supervisors tomorrow. The
planning commission will hold a work session
today to develop further the proposed R-TM
zone.

Dislikes M-1

Following the hearing, William C. Battle.
GE's Charlottesville attorney, said, "we (GE)
don't like the M-1 zone either. What we want is
the R-TM zone."

Noting that the R-TM zone is only in the
study stage, Mr. Battle admitted that the
commission's approval of the M-1 request
appeared to be a temporary expedient. The
attorney continued by saying that the approval
of the M-1 request will remove any question of
zoning barriers to GE's planned move into the
valley.

Commissioner Savoy E. Amato who led
those favoring the adoption of the M-1 plan
argued that "either we believe...or we don't
believe the assurances already given by GE."
Mr. Amato said further that GE is "no
fly-by-night company" and that it will live up
to its "moral commitment" to go along with
the R-TM zoning.

Planning commission chairman Avery Catlin
argued for the zoning proposal saying that GE
may be the "salvation of the valley" if other
industries are barred from the Ivy area. Mr.
Amato noted that GE plans call for a
low-profile, "attractive facility."

GE's potential impact on the county was
outlined by county planner John L. Humphrey.
He said that the proposed facility could
generate a county tax potential of $1.1 million
per year. Mr. Humphreys noted also, that GE
would bring in at least 630 people into the
county and that 140 of these would be school
children.

The site of the multi million dollar research,
development, and manufacturing facility is in
the heart of the Albemarle Valley. It will be
located at the intersection of Interstate 64 and
State route 637.

Vice chairman David Carr said that this
proposed facility would not endanger the
master plan of the Charlottesville-Albemarle
area. Mr. Carr said that trends of development
in the area as well as the new interstate seem to
indicate that a plant of this type is appropriate.