Category: Charlottesville Tomorrow

On February 27, 2007, the Albemarle County Planning Commission held a work session to receive an update on the Places29 master planning project. When complete, the Places29 master plan will provide a twenty-year vision for the Route 29 North corridor detailing the development, transportation, and public facilities desired by the community. The commissioners received the recently completed draft plan which has been under development since the first public workshops were held in May 2005. The Places29 Master Plan is scheduled to be adopted by the Board of Supervisors in late 2007. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]

Brian Wheeler, Executive Director of Charlottesville Tomorrow, joins Coy Barefoot on the February 27th edition of “CharlottesvilleGuv,!vDjkjRight Now!” for the weekly growth and development discussion. This week, he and Coy discuss the Places29 Master Plan, proposed grade-separated interchanges on Route 29, and transportation funding plans recently approved by the Virginia General Assembly.

Callers had questions on the number of residential units proposed for the Places29 area and on plans for improving roads around Pantops. Carter Myers, former member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), called in to explain his past support for the Western Bypass for Route 29 and the reason he voted against pursuing grade-separated interchanges at intersections like Hydraulic Road and Route 29.

Charlottesville Tomorrow is a non-partisan community organization that focuses on land use, transportation and community design issues in Charlottesville and Albemarle. Executive Director Brian Wheeler joins Coy Barefoot each week on WINAGuv,!v,,us CharlottesvilleGuv,!vDjnjRight Now to update listeners on growth and development issues.

City wants Biscuit Run to pay for roads; Supervisors suggest City’s revenue sharing income and economic development dollars could be re-allocated to transportation

On February 21, 2007, the Policy Board of the Metropolitan Planning Organization held their monthly meeting. In responses to matters from the public and under other business, the Board held two significant discussions on the proposed Biscuit Run rezoning in Albemarle County. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]

Charlottesville Tomorrow is an organization that tracks the status of development projects in the area surrounding our fair city. Executive Director Brian Wheeler joins Coy Barefoot each week on WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now to update listeners on growth issues. This week, he and Coy discuss changes being considered by the Charlottesville Planning Commission, the possibility of funding for the Meadowcreek Parkway, and the latest on efforts to keep parts of Albemarle County as rural.

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On February 15, 2007, there was a quarterly meeting of the Planning and Coordination Council (PACC) which has representation from the University of Virginia, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, and Charlottesville City Council. The Council received an update on development and transportation issues in what is known as Area B. The September 2004 Southern Urban Area B Study identified road interconnections that could be built to enlarge the grid of streets serving the area around the Fontaine Research Park, the University’s Stadium Road area, the Fry’s Spring neighborhood in the City, and County developments along Old Lynchburg Road and Sunset Avenue. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]

In their meeting Thursday evening, the Charlottesville Planning Commission directed staff to prepare written guidelines strongly discouraging any communications between the Commissioners and developers or citizens with a position on a matter before the Commission. A motion to eliminate those communications entirely was considered then withdrawn. If approved, the City Planning Commission would adopt a style in sharp contrast to their neighbors in Albemarle County where these informal meetings with concerned citizens and developers are common practice. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]

On February 7, 2007, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors received an update on an initiative to foster environmentally friendly or Guv,!E”greenGuv,!Vkj building approaches and actions that could be taken to better support the sustainability goals in the Comprehensive Plan. The Supervisors reached consensus that future County buildings should, pending review of budgetary impacts, be green buildings and pursue a LEED certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and represents the efforts of a coalition including the US Green Building Council to establish a nationwide standard for constructing Guv,!E”greenGuv,!Vkj buildings. The new library in Crozet is expected to be the next County building designed with this approach. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]

This morning, Albemarle County Supervisor, Dennis Rooker (I-Jack Jouett), appeared on WINA’s Charlottesville Live with Jane Foy and Rob Schilling, and spoke with callers about tax rates, the budget, and expanding businesses in the community. The highlight of the radio program was when Mr. Rooker predicted the County’s tax rate would be lowered in this year’s budget and then Keith Drake, Chairman of the Albemarle County Republican Party, called in and debated the exact meaning of that statement and the effect on local taxes. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]

At the February 7, 2007 meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors there was a discussion about improving the public’s access to matters raised under the category of other business.kj This has typically been a time reserved late in the meeting for ad-hoc informational items and committee reports, the details of which are not published on the meeting agenda. The Board reached consensus to move other business and committee reports both to the beginning of future meetings for the benefit of the public who are often in attendance at the start but not at the very end of a meeting. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]

Brian Wheeler of Charlottesville Tomorrow joins Coy Barefoot every Tuesday for a discussion on growth and development in Central Virginia.

Government accountability is the first item up for discussion during Brian Wheeler’s weekly visit to WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now. Brian is the executive director of Charlottesville Tomorrow, and joins Coy Barefoot each week to discuss growth and development issues. He is now using Richmond Sunlight each time he needs to refer to a bill before the General Assembly, and lauds the use of the web to open up public access to government information.

Charlottesville Tomorrow helps that process locally by recording planning meetings in Albemarle County as well as other meetings. But, Brian says the city planning commission is thinking about a move towards holding pre-meetings, outside of the glare of cameras in City Council chambers. (C-Ville Weekly has the report). He’s also concerned about a trend at the albemarle County Board of Supervisors where important topics are brought up at the very end of their hours-long meetings.

In the regular growth and development update, Brian and Coy discuss the possible extension of Berkmar Drive. Albemarle County Chairman Ken Boyd is calling for a quick vote on building the road, despite the fact that the Places 29 is not yet complete. Boyd’s comments from WINA’s morning program are also heard in this edition.

On this special New Years segment of Charlottesville–Right Now with Coy Barefoot, Brian Wheeler of Charlottesville Tomorrow talks about the Top Ten Growth and Development Stories of 2006. Think he left something off the list? Tell him, by leaving a comment on his blog. The countdown begins at 18 minutes into the segment.

10. City Advances Government Internet Communication Initiatives [18:19]
9. Rio District Supervisor David Slutsky [20:34]
8. City/County Support Development of Regional Transit Authority [23:15]
7. County Advances Economic Development Initiatives [24:50]
6. City’s Vertical Growth Limits [26:55]
5. Local Housing Pipeline Grows [30:41]
4. County Supervisors Endorse Potential Population of 24,000 for Crozet [31:34]
3. County Approves North Pointe Rezoning [32:52]
2. City/County Agree on 50-Year Urban Water Supply Plan [34:26]
1. County Supervisors Reach Stalemate on Rural Area Protection Strategies [35:31]

CharlottesvilleGuv,!vDjnjRight Now is broadcast live Monday through Friday on NewsRadio 1070 WINA from 4 to 6pm. Best-selling author and historian Coy Barefoot is the host and producer. To participate in the program, you can call 434-977-1070. Coy can be reached at barefoot@wina.com.

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