Clustering and Phasing shelved (WINA) – link may not work, WINA’s permalink structure is bothersome.
Phasing and Clustering proposals fail to move forward (Cville Tomorrow)
Ok. Efforts to address land-use fail, and the Board of Supervisors approves more developments within the growth area. Crozet Rezonings move forward (CVille Tomorrow) The County BoS could not have set up the following any better, and I am sure that the groups would offer their thanks –
Groups appeals for growth limits
I have said many times before – if these groups were to be successful and shut down development and growth within Charlottesville/Albemarle (CharlAlbemarle), the surrounding counties will benefit and suffer whereas CharlAlbemarle will only suffer the consequences.
CharlAlbemarle is likely to remain the economic hub of the region for many reasons – we have the hospitals and the University to start. If we (and by “we” I mean our elected officials) drive out new development, other counties will get the housing and the property taxes and we will get the impact on the roads.
Defending development without infrastructure improvements is becoming more and more difficult, especially when some developers will not even meet their end of the proffer bargain. Sometimes battles might best be fought another day.
Unless the local government acts to manage (not control/stop/deter/defer) growth, the State will probably end up making those decisions for localities, something which the State are far less qualified to make. Make no mistake, if things keep going the way they are, we will see impact fees and/or adequate public facility legislation which will impact the local housing market by forcing prices higher.
These arguments (on both sides) come down to money, politics and land use/land settlement patterns. Not to mention the selfish desire to shut the door to this gem of a town once “discovered” by those leading the charge to stop development. We need a broader perspective that looks beyond CharlAlbemarle’s borders and extends region-wide.
Related transportation reading:
Transportation Measures
The Push for NoVa Regional Taxes heats up – this is something that is absolutely needed to grow local transportation infrastructure.
Democrat calls for “smart growth” funds
Brian Wheeler was on WINA yesterday discussing these and other issues. (thanks to CvillePodcast).
If you’re not paying attention to these developments (pardon the pun) – you should be.
Technorati Tags: affordable housing, albemarle, charlalbemarle, charlottesville, growth, land-use, politics, transportation
The shelving of phasing by the BOS in the rural area is a huge lost opportunity. If our elected officials don’t have the political will to approve innovative solutions, such as phasing, Albemarle’s farms, forests, and open spaces will continue to be transformed into a sea of subdivisions. With more than enough (over 10,000 houses) development being approved in the growth areas, why allow houses to continue to be scattered throughout the rural area.
That is too bad: phasing is a lot better answer than “never”.
“Unless the local government acts to manage (not control/stop/deter/defer) growth, the State will probably end up making those decisions for localities, something which the State are far less qualified to make. Make no mistake, if things keep going the way they are, we will see impact fees and/or adequate public facility legislation which will impact the local housing market by forcing prices higher.”
That is the single wisest, succinct, non-judgemental, and true statement on land use I have seen on any blog anywhere.