Charlottesville Tomorrow has the report and podcast of the MPO’s creation of a Regional Transit Authority…. By “regional,” they mean “Charlottesville” and “Albemarle” and not “UVA.”… They are the only ones who can build a damn road. Why aren’t they at the table?Julia Monteith, Senior Land Use Planner, representing the University of Virginia … indicates the University is taking a wait and see approach since past attempts to have a regional authority have not moved forwardYou can’t blame them. To be a true regional system, it would have to include the other members of the MSA. Look at where the workers come from – 6,000 from Fluvanna…. 2,100 from Waynesboro area.But hey, it’s a start.
Browsing Category Politics
A few things this week
Thursday: Fundraiser for Dick Mountjoy of WINA. If you can, come. Monday: A hearing regarding the future direction of CTS bus service. I vote for them not stopping at two locations on Emmet Street South during rush hour.Tuesday and Thursday: Mountaintop Protection, Phasing and Clustering hearings at the Albemarle County Office Building. More here, and here. It’s important to evaluate all sides’ opinions and determine from there which you feel is right.If you cannot attend these meetings, listen to the Podcasts provided by Albemarle County! Then email or call your (or all of them) Supervisor. If you choose not to voice your opinion, don’t complain.
Paying for Infrastructure
A couple of items:From the WP:”I think we’re finally coming to a place where growth is sustaining growth,” Fitch said, explaining that housing developers seem increasingly willing to pitch in to compensate for the stress on infrastructure caused by new residents. Centex’s contribution would amount to nearly $74,000 per unit, more than double what Fauquier County usually receives from a developer.But development specialists say the unusually large promise of cash highlights a disturbing trend in Virginia’s booming housing market. Developers eager to plant new homes in exurban locales are building roads, establishing parks and offering money — all in an effort to appease increasingly resistant communities. The result, the specialists say, is more expensive homes.Regarding the Annadale development in Orange:Recently, Silver dropped the density to 290 units and raised the proffers to $25,000 per home to make the project more favorable to the supervisors. It worked.Albemarle’s proffers have traditionally been far less.
Friday Links – 07-14-2006
As the week winds down for most (I am gearing up to continue showing throughout the weekend), these are a few stories worth reading, each of which relates in some way to the CharlAlbemarle region’s real estate market.Ardell at RCG has two outstanding posts -Negotiating Fees with the Buyer ClientIf wishes were horses, beggars would ride – a call for civilizing the process of the real estate transaction.Thinking Entrepreneurially about TransitCoolTown Studios has this:53% of 24-34 year olds would choose to live in transit-rich, walkable neighborhoods, less than 25% of middle-aged Americans are interested in living in dense areas. Source: CNU- Demand for housing within walking distance of transit will more than double by 2025. Properties within a 5-10 minute walk to a train stop are selling for 20-25% more than comparable properties further away, and going up. Source: Center for Transit-Oriented DevelopmentWhat’s a government to do when their massive annual raises stagnate?Bankrate.com under fireOnline home valuations are useful, but …The desk-top appraisal said the home would be worth $400,000, but the drive-by and on-site visit lowered it significantly, to the $305,000 to $320,000 ballpark, which Mr. Hagar said would be the most accurate for our purposes.Have a good weekend!
Geocoding public notices
A recent discussion at realcrozetva got me thinking – how difficult (read: how much would it cost?) would it be to geocode public zoning notices?A common question asked of me is – what’s going to happen to that field/woods/old house?… My second response is (by way of risk management and a need to be the “source of the source” rather than the “source”) is to direct my clients to the appropriate locality’s zoning department. Even zoning departments, however, cannot see into the future or guess with 100% accuracy as to whether a certain project will be approved or not. Albemarle’s Zoning Notice search page is detailed, but they charge a separate fee for GIS data.The City of Charlottesville’s new website is terrible, but I finally got here.Fluvanna has a nice GIS implementation.Great post on geocoding at RCGWhat if the a potential buyer or resident was able to do a proximity search from his or her address and search for zoning notices? Look at any and all zoning/public notices within a 2 mile radius of his home or business?… While we’re at it, why not provide crime data in an open format that is accessible and usable?I was smarter, I’d figure out Yahoo’s Geocoding API. It looks straight-forward and simple, I just can’t put it together.
Local Government and real estate
Those who attend public hearings and forums such as Boards of Supervisors and City Council meetings and who are able to maintain their attention span should be commended. So much that impacts our quality of life, and thereby the real estate market happens in these meetings. Consistency. Stepping into one meeting and immediately understand the context in which discussions are being held is a near impossibility. There is a reason that many of the attendees either are paid to attend, have vested interests or are retired – the meetings are mostly dry, intricate conversations between folks who have intimate knowledge about local government. My favorite part of yesterday’s BoS meeting was when a member of Staff referred to Code section “ten dot three dot three dot two.” The various organizations that track local government, such as the FEF, CvilleTomorrow, PEC et al provide invaluable services to the community.These meetings are vitally important. If no one listens or pays attention, who will know when politicians sacrifice their integrity?
Crozet’s growth pattern
Will the County listen to the people who signed a petition asking for a population cap?I am dying to see Old Trail’s promised affordable housing:“We do embrace affordability,†Beights said. He said affordable housing fitting the county’s current definition could start in the $180,000 price range and move up well over $200,000Will Crozet have 12,000 or 24,000 residents?This will prove an interesting exercise in integrity, politics, whether the elected officials listen to their constituents and whether much can be done to prevent growth.