The effects of this tragedy on the real estate market and the economy are currently incomprehensible…. From InstaPundit – Lefty blogger Skippy has donated, and is issuing a challenge to bloggers left and right. “this is not about red states v. blue states…this is not about left v. right…this is not about liberal v. conservative…… and americans have historically always rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to help out their fellow countrymen in need.”It’s a shame that is has to be said, but we are truly all in this together.
Date Archives August 2005
September Newsletter
The September Newsletter is out! Please email me if you would like a copy.
Hurricane Katrina
While a variety of government and private agencies are en route to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, federal officials said people wanting to help shouldn’t head to the affected area unless directed by an agency.Instead, Michael Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, urged people to make contributions to organizations. FEMA listed the following agencies as needing cash to assist hurricane victims:• American Red Cross, 800-HELP NOW, 800-435-7669 • Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348 • America’s Second Harvest, 800-344-8070 • Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171 • Catholic Charities, 703-549-1390 • Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818 • Church World Service, 800-297-1516 • Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998 • Episcopal Relief & Development, 1-800-334-7626 or • Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522 • Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210 • Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283 • Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769) • Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, ext. 6440 • United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583 Copied entirely from the Wall Street Journal’s special coverage page. I hope they don’t mind.
Bloggers liable?
This article in the WSJ is especially in light of the recent Blogger Summit I attended.
Why not all agents are rich
Slate’s take.With all these new agents swarming onto the scene, the price they charge may remain constant, but the number of houses each sells will not. The zero-profit condition predicts that, in locales where housing prices rise, the number of agents will also rise, and acquiring new clients will become that much more difficult. The occasional star agent will always make a bundle. But the theory suggests that the average agent won’t make much more in places where house prices have risen than in places where they haven’t.’Nuff said.
Forum Watch is out.
IN THIS ISSUE: Important Dates Zoning Issues Master PlanningWater Supply Transportation Policy Other Land Use Editorial Important Dates September 14 – Local Governmental Forum Chamber of Commerce see www.cvillechamber.comSeptember 14 – Albemarle County BOS work session – Overlot grading 6:00 pm ACOBSeptember 20 – TJPED Economic Development Symposium http://www.tjped.com/ 9:00 am PVCCSeptember 20 – Albemarle Planning Commission Hearing Lighting Zoning Text Amendment 6:00 pm ACOBSeptember 21 – Fluvanna BOS meeting development work session 7:00 pm FCGC ACOB – Albemarle County Office Building CCH- Charlottesville City HallGCAB – Greene County Administration BuildingFCGC – Fluvanna County Government CenterPVCC – Piedmont Virginia Community College Return to Top Transportation Policy Meadowcreek Parkway – The efforts to generate federal dollars in support of a Meadowcreek Parkway interchange were successful to the tune of $27 million dollars…. Story and map see http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP/MGArticle/CDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784482548 Return to Top Zoning Issues Albemarle County Neighborhood Model Zoning Text Amendment – The previous iteration of the ZTA is now available online at http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=planning&relpage=5236 Albemarle County staff held a focused discussion on March 31st 2004 to discuss the changes to the zoning with members of the development, building, real estate and community at large…. A map of the study area can be found here http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Board_of_Supervisors/Forms/Agenda/2005Files/20050504/Northerndevelopmentattachb.pdfReturn to TopOther Land UseAlbemarle County Mountain Overlay Committee – This committee is now idle waiting for staff to draft proposed language for a Mountain Overlay District (MOD) Ordinance…. For additional details on their current deliberations, please contact neil@freeenterpriseforum.org .Albemarle County Lighting Zoning Text Amendment The Free Enterprise Forum has submitted a zoning text amendment to ask Albemarle County to reconsider it’s prohibition of spilled light on pedestrian walkways and right of ways.
Water
That they are requesting the public’s input is a credit to Tom Frederick, the Executive Director of Rivanna.Get involved (so long as you have an educated opinion!)Dear Interested Party:As you are aware, the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) is in the process of selecting a preferred alternative for expanding its water supply system.
…With respect to streams, sites that are typically most suitable for restoration include previously channelized streams (channels that have been excavated, straightened, and deepened to prevent unusually frequent overtopping of their banks) or streams that have become highly eroded due to changes in the watershed (deforestation, development, new stormwater discharges, etc.)…. Even channels that have a lesser degree of degradation, are acceptable candidates for restoration.With respect to wetlands, sites for consideration would most likely include low meadows or farmlands adjacent to stream channels that have been manipulated so that the hydrology of the system has changed over time (for example, through ditching or draining). Sites that are wooded, and are more mature are not generally preferred, while a site that has experienced changes in hydrology more recently may be a better candidate.While stream and wetland restoration or creation projects would form the foundation of the mitigation plan, there are other actions that could lead to improvements or protection of the aquatic environment which could be included as a component of the Plan.