If building green were as immediately equal economically, we would probably see more of it from the larger local builders.WINAThomas Jefferson Planning District’s Green SourcebookTimesDispatch”The premium wasn’t that much and I bet it paid itself back in the first year with my electric bill,” Winn said. And this is why – what is the immediate return for building green, besides the good press? Oh, wait, good press is a good thing. All it takes is good start, and more will come …
Browsing Category Growth
“The Uglification of Virginia”
Sprawl is eroding the Commonwealth’s exceptional rural landscapes. Anyone concerned about Virginia’s quality of life and economic competitiveness should be worried.I can’t say that I disagree with his sentiments…. The idealist in me continues to firmly believe that smart growth can be accomplished – preserving natural resources, both below and above the surface, preserving the marketable views and landscapes, et…. I just haven’t yet figured out how to accomplish all this.
Water may be coming soon
The RWSA is currently acting on plans to build a pipeline from the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, just north of Charlottesville, to the Ragged Mountain Reservoir southwest of the city…. The plan also seems to be a middle path between environmental and business groups that have squared off over how to expand the supply.The idea has also united two groups that have been at odds throughout the planning process —the Piedmont Environmental Council and the developer-friendly Free Enterprise Forum. Environmentalists didn’t want the RWSA to pull water from outside the local area, while developers wanted a plan that satisfied those 50-year demand projections.Why should the Free Enterprise Forum (calling it pro-developer is a much too narrow description of this local think tank) be the only ones calling for sufficient planning?… Maybe I am reading too much into it.The best part of the story in this week’s C-Ville – Gilges chuckles at the idea that the solution came from the public instead of big-bucks consultants.
Old Trail news
Rooker calls a win-win situation for the developer and community.“It’s a great example of how someone has developed the neighborhood model and also been commercially successful,†Rooker said…. The changes have been coming for several years; this project serves to completely destroy any hope that that sleepiness will remain.As a Realtor, ostensibly change and growth is good…. Old Trail Village, a proposed development to include about 2,000 housing units on 257 acres, would change the nature of Crozet, clog its roads and threaten its downtown, residents of the area told the Albemarle County Planning Commission on Tuesday. This is news to some people?Crozet residents objecting to the plan said it would lead to new housing before needed road, sidewalk and school improvements are provided and would harm the vitality of the downtown.
Water may be coming soon
We are getting closer to a possible resolution to our water infrastructure woes. WINA reports that The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority has been considering four options; one is the favorite, one is still in the running, and the remaining two are running at the back of the pack. Authority Director Tom Frederick says a final choice will be sent to regulators in February, 2006.The saga continues. It will be interesting to see just how much actual input we have with the federal regulators.
Alternative transportation poll
The Daily Progress has a poll asking “Do you think Charlottesville needs more alternative transportation options?”When I answered the poll question this morning, 80% (178 votes) had answered yes…. Not really.If I could figure out how to do a poll on this site, and I had the traffic to give a decent, non-scientific response, I would ask – –Do you think the Central Virginia region needs more alternative transportation options? –If yes, would you be willing to pay an additional $5 per day/more in a localized gas tax/higher consumption tax of some form in order to pay for these improvements?–If yes, would you be in favor of the local governments possibly taking property from private landowners so that they can build these improvements? (this would be an example of the right kind of eminent domain!)–If no, are you happy with the current amount of traffic/infrastructure in our region?We have to realize that the transportation issues we are all facing impact us all from a property value aspect as well as a basic quality of life aspect.
End Growth in Greene?
From cvillenews – If there’s one thing that every candidate for the Greene County Board of Supervisors can agree on, it’s the need to end growth. So reports Kate Andrews in today’s Progress:This should prove an interesting story to follow. The region is facing growth issues – affordable housing, resource limitations, infrastructure weakness and inadequacies …… What impact can the County BOS have when private landowners continue to sell their land to developers?