I have had a hard time working up this, as the two and a half hour meeting on Thursday night seemed to be so much of the same conflict, same discussions, same end result.For a fact-based account and podcast, see CvilleTomorrow.There was no question and answer session, as those questions posed were directed at the BoS; when given the opportunity to stand and respond, Crozet’s Supervisor chose to remain seated.The best way to summarize the meeting is to say that little was said or presented that helped to alleviate or mitigate the uncertainty that exists. To paraphrase one of the commenters (listen at 8:00 of this podcast) When questioned, the County gives the pat answer of “well, it’s in the Master Plan” yet, Wickham Pond is shown as an environmental set-aside on the Master Plan map … why was this taken from five by-right units to 107 units, the answer the planning department gave was “the master plan is just a guide …… we need a firm plan.”It is hard to answer clients’ (and my wife’s and neighbors’) questions about the future of Crozet’s growth as no one seems to really know…. From a recent (and on-going discussion) with someone who is seeking to relocate to the CharlAlbemarle area from NoVa: If C’ville continues to try to imitate No VA (i.e. concerns centering around Crozet development, developers squeezing in as great a density as permitted—well there goes the QOL and the neighborhood). Again, I reiterate, it’s the “country” of Charlottesville with the little flair of charm, artsy craftsy, good restaurants, etc. created by UVA in downtown and “clean,pure wine country, that is C’ville. If you haven’t been to NoVA lately—come and see us—particularly at rush hour. You’ll get a jolt of reality and what you DON’T want to see happen to C’ville along with all the apparent wishful thinking of many of your folks in the real estate/development industry who seem to be chomping at the bit to try to ignite.Well said.
Browsing Category Politics
A novel idea
A politician who is beholden to others rather than his own ego and hunt for power.Coburn is the most dangerous creature that can come to the Senate, someone simply uninterested in being popular. When House Speaker Dennis Hastert defends earmarks — spending dictated by individual legislators for specific projects — by saying that a member of Congress knows best where a stoplight ought to be placed, Coburn, in an act of lese-majeste, responds: Members of Congress are the least qualified to make such judgments.I wish there were more of them.
VPTC Economic Development forum
CPN has the podcast of yesterday’s forum.
Another Albemarle Place update
CvilleTomorrow has another excellent update on the plodding path of Albemarle Place.I may be ignorant here, but this seems to be a partial reason for its non-approval so far:Buildings are being proposed that would exceed the 90’ height limit for residential/mixed use at this location … The applicant expressed frustration about the challenge of getting approval, all at once, for all aspects of a massive urban project like Albemarle Place. …
Morning reading
Spread of the “Urban Village” conceptTransfer of Development rightsPolitics in a nutshell:”What I’m saying is, don’t be bellyaching about ‘we’ve got all this new money and we want to cut rates to reduce the amount of money,’ and then not talk about services,” he said. “We all do it, and I’m saying I don’t have to worry about it this year, so I’m going to raise hell about it.”Translated: Now that I’m not running for re-election, I can do what I think is right. Sometimes politics/politicians make me sick. Why not do what’s right to start?
Stay ’til you have a solution!
The Washington Post reports this morning that Gov. Tim Kaine … will force the issue by calling a special session or extending the current one, which is scheduled to end March 11.”I’m not going to walk away without a deal,” Kaine said. “If something doesn’t get done, I’m going to stay until it does.” I admire his conviction. Transportation woes have long been talked about, teeth have been gnashed, and talked about some more.
February Forum watch is posted
This month’s Free Enterprise Forum watch is now online. This is an excellent resource for information on the region’s more pressing issues regarding growth, development and more. You can check it out at their website. The issues facing our region are not isolated to one particular locality, be it Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, et. al. – they are regional issues; the FEF does a great job of consolidating this information.