“Both Charlottesville and Albemarle have dedicated $250,000 for an Eastern Connector location study and a committee has been meeting regularly to discuss the road.” From today’s DP.
Browsing Category Politics
A case for transparent government in Albemarle
You need look no farther than the NGIC-Wendell Wood- BoS/Ken Boyd situation?… Taxpayers deserve to hear from Mr. Boyd exactly what happened.Cvillenews has a nice roundup while Charlottesville Tomorrow has incomparable coverage. From CvilleTomorrow:In addition, the Supervisors had discussions behind closed doors that, while legal, meant the public didn’t have the benefit of knowing the details of their past discussions leading up to the vote on the resolution. Few dispute the enormous positive impact that NGIC has on our region.
Have your say on proffers in Albemarle
Take the Survey just released by the County.
Albemarle Place delayed at least a year
… I am told by a little birdie.
Get involved, darn it
Good article today in the HooK about bicycle commuting in the Charlottesville area. One thing that struck me was this -None of the bicyclists interviewed for this article, for example, are members of The Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation, the Charlottesville Area Bicyclists Association, BikeWalk Virginia, or other groups trying to “think globally and act locally” about how automobile transportation affects national and international issues.Without, therefore, the political muscle of say, the AAA, could muscle-powered transportation be getting short shrift in the political world? Government money for roads and bridges carries a lot of zeroes.To effect change, it’s important to align with the local groups advocating for change. A bunch of individual voices is just that – relatively ineffective individual voices.
Albemarle’s growth so far this year
Brian Wheeler’s excellent analysis continues. Two things surprise me – 1) Building permits don’t seem to have dropped off in light of the market shift. 2) This year, far more permits have been issued in the development area versus the rural area – a very good thing. Gratuitous endorsement: Brian is running for re-election to the School Board and has done more for transparency in local government than anyone else I can think of.
New soccer park in Charlottesville?
The Soccer Organization of Charlottesville is seeking to build, and build big near its current facility on Polo Grounds Road.The project proposal consists of an outdoor, lit, synthetic surface, full-size soccer field; a small, indoor soccer field with synthetic surface; two mini-soccer fields suitable for pick-up play and training; and the club’s permanent offices…. No public address or amplified sound system has been proposed as part of the project.I received an email yesterday seeking Realtors to speak in favor of this proposed soccer facility.Neighbors in nearby subdivisions believe their property values could be adversely affected (specifics not sited yet but I’m thinking traffic count and lights)…. This agent was going to say that property value is in the eye of the buyer and that the added facilities could just as easily attract potential buyers as dissuade them from buying- that it would likely not affect property values.Can anybody speak definitively to an increase in property values?… That [facility] is not appropriate around our place.”The reality is that this is a much-needed facility that will serve to enhance all property values by providing an asset that the community can use (assuming that in practice, this is the case).