COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
SHADWELL INTERCHANGE
Pantops
I-64
Chavan
Conservation Easement
S. Lego Farm
Rt. 250 E
Southern Albemarle Historic District
Area Name: Shadwell Interchange (southside)
Magisterial District: Scottsville
Physical Characteristics:
 Critical environmental resources (streams,
floodplain and steep slope) exist on most
properties near the I-64 interchange.
 On the north side, except for the Comfort Inn
property, a steep wooded bank exists in the rightof-way between Route 250 and the properties
from North HL Lane for approximately 2/3 of a
mile.
Existing Uses:
 The South Lego Farm is largely undeveloped at the
southwest corner of the interchange.
 The Comfort Inn is located at the southeast corner of
the interchange.
 Several homes take access from North HL Lane
 An existing industrial park is located east of the
interchange with 6 properties zoned HC and 10
properties zoned LI.
Other Considerations:
 The BOS has discussed the potential need for
greater utilization of interstate interchanges to
promote economic development.
 John Chavan has requested that his parcel on the
north side of Rt. 250 be available for miniwarehouses, either by expansion of the
development area or by permission through
zoning.
 The South Lego Farm property is a 50 acre
property which might be able to serve some target
industry needs, should the BOS add it to the
Development Area.
 South Lego was one of four farms owned by
Thomas Jefferson in the late 18th century. At least
four successive principal dwellings have stood at
Lego, a large farm east of Charlottesville, since
1800. Three of the properties have been
destroyed, the last one by fire. The current house
was built in 1951.
Other Considerations, Continued:
 Adjacent properties are within the Southern Albemarle
Rural Historic District and the Monticello Viewshed
 The property south of 250 across from Hunters Way
Industrial Park is within the Monticello Historic District
as well as property south of the Rivanna River
adjacent to the South Lego Farm property.
 The area is adjacent to the Shadwell conservation
easement and close to a conservation easement
across the Rivanna River given by the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial Foundation.
 There are environmental challenges to developing the
South Lego Farm property including a deep ravine
with an active stream.
 Providing access to the South Lego farm property will
be difficult because of the ravine. A bridge would be
needed across an 80-foot drop on the east side and a
60-foot drop on the west side of the creek. The
alternative is putting the stream through a culvert and
filling in the slopes.
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Attachment A
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The southwest side of the interchange abuts the
Rivanna River on the south side and the river and
floodplain are included as an Important Stream
Valley in the Natural Resources Plan.
This reach of the Rivanna River (from the Woolen
Mills to the Fluvanna County boundary) is a
Virginia Scenic River.
The South Lego farm site and the Shadwell canal
lock/dam in this area are included on the Open
Space Map.
The South Lego Farm property is currently not
visible from Monticello, possibly because of tree
cover; properties on the north side of Rt. 250 are
visible.
Access to Utilities:
 Six parcels adjacent to the hotel have water
service through ACSA from water line along 250
that runs to Glenmore. One residential parcel is
limited to water service to the existing structure
only.
 The nearest ACSA sewer line is north of the
interchange at Hansens Mountain Rd. Providing
sewer service would require a pump station and
improvements to the existing Peter Jefferson
Pump Station. Costs for providing sewer service
are estimated at >$1 million.
 Electric service is available to this area which
could support industry.
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Railroad tracks cross the southern part of the South
Lego farm site; however, due to steep slopes, they are
extremely difficult to access.
At present, the most developable land is the southeast
part of the interchange, approximately ½ mile from the
interchange and adjacent to an existing industrial park.
The intervening property in the southeast quadrant is
made up of mostly small parcels with existing
residences.
Topographic challenges currently exist with providing
access to the properties adjacent to the hotel.
Transportation Issues:
 Properties with developable acreage which currently
could meet VDOT access guidelines are north of Rt.
250, farthest from the interstate and closest to the
existing Hunter’s Way Industrial park.
 The existing South Lego Farm Drive is too close to the
interchange to be used for commercial or industrial
traffic;
 VDOT is developing plans for interchange
improvements to better facilitate traffic flow. Future
improvements to the interchange will affect properties
in this area and may ultimately make them more
developable.
Recommendation: Staff does not recommend inclusion of the southern part of the Shadwell Interchange in the
Development Areas for industrial development at this time. Current conditions regarding access, topography,
provision of sewer service and impacts to Monticello, the Southern Albemarle Historic District, and other resources
make development of these properties problematic. The lack of plans for improvements to the interchange leave
questions as to what future development might be possible. Staff does see potential for this area if these issues are
addressed and recommends that this interchange area be revisited for expansion possibilities during the next
review of the Comprehensive Plan.
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Attachment A