From the Wall Street Journal today (link good for 7 days):The Sierra Club is well-known for trying to stop big real-estate-development projects. But in a move that could help it gain new allies, the nation’s best-known environmental group is starting to go to bat for some builders….”We are trying to be supportive of developers who are doing the right thing,” said Eric Olson, Washington-based director of the Sierra Club’s Healthy Communities Campaign. “We’re also recognizing that you can’t just be against things all the time. You have to be for things.”It seems that the Sierra Club has realized that by consistently advocating against development, they may have lost credibility as market leaders. By positioning themselves as positive advocates for good growth, they will be able to gain more partners and thereby strengthen their collective voice. Make no mistake – politics played a factor:The Sierra Club also could gain politically by this move because builders are well-connected in Washington, as well as at the local level in many communities. There will always be groups that consistently oppose growth; they have their place too…. I would be curious about what position the local Sierra Club takes on this.
Browsing Category Growth
Restrained growth on the horizon?
Fluvanna (from the DP):'”It’s a generational shift” … “It became apparent during this last campaign at [Lake Monticello] that there are more and more young people living at the lake,” Moss continued.”It’s a reflection really of the changing demographics, not just in Fluvanna County but at the lake.”Greene (courtesy of The HooK):”Morris cites land use and rising property taxes– particularly as they affect seniors– as the issues that spurred her to run. … “I think it boiled down to land use. He was Planning Commission chairman, and some of their decisions could be perceived as developer friendly,” Catalano says.”We don’t like pushy in Greene County,” he adds. “The perception was that the Planning Commission was trying to push an agenda in the county.”One aspect of politics that continually vexes me is the consistent dishonesty, or even perceived dishonesty, of politicians. If the following is true (and I believe it to be), how can we expect different from our elected officials?Grant concedes that his name recognition and longtime resident status may not have helped. “Maybe they hate my guts and don’t want to tell me,” he says.
Ha. YIMBYs.
… a new line of YIMBY t-shirts on cafepress.com today. YIMBY = Yes In My Back Yard, a person who believes that the more life there is, the greater the city. (As opposed to NIMBY, a person who’s generally opposed to development in their neighborhood.)
Growth and the County’s credibility
From Jessica Kitchin’s story in the DP:The meeting was intended to be an information session for those who live in the Village of Rivanna – one of Albemarle County’s five growth areas and the only designated village in the county. County spokeswoman Lee Catlin, Planning Director Wayne Cilimberg, Planner Elaine Echols and Community Development Director Mark Graham all spoke to those in attendance about the planning process and what is expected to come.In light of last week’s quiet revelation that the County may have mismanaged the Crozet Master Plan, The supervisors asked county staff to look into whether the Old Trail Village development in Crozet includes significantly higher densities than those included in the Crozet Master Plan. (bolding mine)“If there is substantially more density, perhaps we can look [to cut back growth] in other areas of Crozet,†Rooker said.”If the above is an accurate, and Tom Loach is correct when he says on CvilleTomorrow’s blog:The question of a huge difference between what was in the Crozet Master Plan and what was before the BOS for rezoing (a 103% increase by my calculations in housing units and 78% increase in commercial development) was raised as early as the Planning Commission by members of the community…. It’s just that no one in the County bothered to look at the data or if they did, it didn’t seem to matter.My question is this – What credibility does the County government have left?
Where is the Senior Housing?
Charlottesville has been repeatedly ranked as one of the best places to live, top five college towns and best places to retire in the States.Best places to retire … that implies that there is both adequate housing stock that is suitable for the (sorry for the broad brush) “Over-55 crowd.”From a Businessweek article – And from Charlottesville, Va., to Hanover, N.H., you can always count on having plenty to do in a college town…. Says retirement expert Mark Fagan, a professor of social work at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Ala.: ”Retirees and college students are always looking for the same thing: a good time.”Many of the communities that are being designed for the Over-55 demographic are not located in or immediately around Charlottesville…. Seniors typically have less impact on infrastructure and existing services, add to the property tax base and can share their years of knowledge and experience, especially through programs such as the Jefferson Institute for Lifelong Learning – good for the entire community!
Albemarle BoS race, etc.
A short post this morning on the Albemarle BoS race – Christian Schoenwald lost resoundingly to the formidable incumbent Dennis Rooker in the Jack Jouett District despite running a good race. David Slutzky defeated a strong opponent in Gary Grant and Dr. Jakubowski in the Rio District. You may recall that the Charlottesville Association of Realtors (CAAR) endorsed both Schoenwald and Slutzky…. David Slutzky is the most qualified candidate for the job, and I believe that Albemarle will benefit from his years of experience and his vast wealth of knowledge.
CharlAlbemarle’s water supply
Charlottesville Tomorrow has an excellent summary and podcast about last night’s Public Outreach meeting held by the RWSA. That they are holding these meetings shows how far they have come since Tom Frederick took the helm.Bill Emory notes: RWSA has taken the community input about the water source and they are acting to realize the vision!… In time, I would like to see the local governments podcast much of their Planning Commission meeting, BoS meetings, City Council, etc. The quick progress that Cville Tomorrow is making is an excellent sign…. The water debate is a sign of the public actually being heard and making a difference.