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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
 
The CEQ regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR Part 1500) require documentation succinctlydescribing the environment of the area(s) to be affected by the alternatives under consideration,as well as a discussion of the impacts in proportion to their significance. The affectedenvironment under the Proposed Action Alternative(s) ranges from site-specific physical, naturaland cultural resources to broader regional concerns (i.e., air quality variables, noise,infrastructure, socioeconomic conditions, community facilities and services, transportation, andtraffic).
3.1 Land Use, Plans, Aesthetics, and Coastal ZoneManagement
3.1.1 Land Use
Rivanna Station currently covers approximately 76 acres south of Boulders Road and east of USRoute 29. It is part of an area designated in the Albemarle County Land Use Plan as the PineyMountain Community Development Area. Albemarle County has had a longstandingcomprehensive planning goal to direct development into designated “Development Areas,”particularly in the locations designated as “Urban Areas” or “Communities.” The DevelopmentArea concept is a critical planning component that the County is using to achieve growthmanagement goals. “Urban Areas” are intended to be more urban, or "city like," in character andless suburban. It is to be supported by a full range of public utilities, facilities, services andamenities (Albemarle County, July 2002).
 
“Communities” are intended to be smaller urban centers removed from the City of Charlottesville and the County’s neighboring “Urban Area.” Similar to Urban Areas,Communities encompass an expansive variety of land uses at a multitude of densities which aresupported by public utilities and facilities. The Rivanna Station site is within the Piney MountainCommunity, as designated within the Albemarle County Land Use Plan.
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Affected Environment
 
 
Environmental Assessment Expansion of Rivanna Station, Charlottesville, Virginia
The Piney Mountain Community is located about two miles south of the border betweenAlbemarle and Greene Counties. It is bounded to the south by the North Fork Rivanna Riverfloodplain, to the east by an intermittent unnamed tributary of the North Fork Rivanna River, tothe west by Route 606, and to the north by a line alternately formed by Route 763, HerringBranch (a tributary to North Fork Rivanna River), and the 500 foot contour. The existing landuse of the Piney Mountain Community is characterized by a mix of residential dwelling units,including two large residential areas identified as the Camelot and Briarwood subdivisions,limited commercial development, and two large industrial areas identified as University of Virginia Research Park at North Fork and Northside Industrial Park. Nearby are several tracts inpublic ownership, including Chris Greene Lake Park, Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, Baker-Butler Elementary School, Hollymeade Elementary School, and Mortimer Sutherland Jr. MiddleSchool.As identified in the Albemarle County Land Use Plan, Rivanna Station is within an area zoned asLight Industrial. Land uses at Rivanna Station are presently consistent with that designation andinclude the NGIC building, internal roadways, open space, buffers, and surface parking lots. Theproperty north of Boulders Road which INSCOM proposes to purchase is currently partiallyfallow field, forest, and partially a gravel parking lot. These parcels are zoned as Rural Areas.The area surrounding Rivanna Station is comprised of a variety of zoning categories, such ascommercial, industrial, residential, planned development, and neighborhood model districts(Albemarle County GIS, September 2007).The zoning of the northeastern adjacent property has recently been changed from Rural Areas toCommercial Office. The current land owner is planning the construction of office buildings tosupport NGIC operations. This construction will require the extension of Boulders Road past thesite boundary.The Albemarle County Land Use Plan also recommends the establishment of a greenway alongthe North Fork Rivanna River, which borders the southern portion of the site. Since greenwaysoften follow natural facets of the landscape, they are designed for conservation, recreation, and
Affected Environment
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Environmental Assessment Expansion of Rivanna Station, Charlottesville, Virginia
alternative transportation. Greenways are intended to connect nearby residential and non-residential areas (The Virginia Greenways and Trails Toolbox, October 2000).Rivanna Station is approximately 1.3 miles east of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. Due tothe site’s close proximity to this public facility, the Nicholson Building and associated structuresat Rivanna Station are located within the Airport Impact Area (AIA) Overlay District. TheAlbemarle County Zoning Ordinance states that its intent “…
is to minimize the creation of  physical, visual, and other obstructions to the safe operations of the airport facility and tominimize adverse airport-related impact on persons and properties in the vicinity”
(Section30.2.1 Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, June 2005). The AIA District consists of an AirportProtection Area, Runway Protection Zone (RPZ), and an AIA Noise Impact Area.The AIA District regulations are designed to prevent the breach of 
“buildings, structures, objectsof natural growth, or uses”
in airport protection areas. Airport Protection Areas are
“imaginaryconical, horizontal, transitional, and approach surfaces”
surrounding the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (Section 30.2.3 Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, June 2005). RivannaStation is located just at the point that the Airport Protection Area begins to transition from the780 ft absolute height above mean sea level (msl) to a 20:1 transition surface. The maximumranges of the building heights for Rivanna Station, based on topography will range fromapproximately 280 feet to 405 feet.The Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) is
“trapezoidal in shape and centered about the extended runway centerline, with dimensions for a particular runway end defined by the type of aircraft and approach visibility minimum associated with the end of the runway”
(Section 30.2.3Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, June 2005). Rivanna Station is well outside the RPZ.The AIA noise impact area identifies acoustical performance standards to guide design andconstruction by outlining the maximum permitted interior noise levels for various land usecategories. Rivanna Station is well outside the AIA.
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