The mall is in an area that Albemarle County has identified as a priority area for public investment and redevelopment.

A planning process began in 2016 and resulted in the Rio+29 Small Area Plan, which was adopted by the county Board of Supervisors in late 2018.

The plan covers about a half-mile radius around the U.S. 29 and Rio Road intersection, minus the single-family homes, and calls for a walkable community with public amenity spaces.

County staff members are now working on zoning updates, including a form-based code, for the area. Form-based codes are land development regulations that, rather than dictate occupancy levels and specific uses, focus on the form and mass of buildings and streets in relation to one another and public spaces.

“With walkability, it means that there needs to be more of an internal street network than there is today and that is an expensive cost for property owners to develop, and that’s something we’ve heard concerns about,” Albemarle Senior Neighborhood Planner Michaela Accardi said.

She said county economic development staff also have looked at options other than zoning that could encourage redevelopment.