Charlottesville City Council to review transit governance study; Goochland to defer action on Centerville Action Plan
This is an experimental newsletter which gives me cover this time around to dispense with an ornate introduction and to skip the “reading material” section this time around. I’ve got to step out quickly and if I don’t hit send now, it won’t happen!
More tomorrow from Campbell County, Cumberland County, Lynchburg, Nelson County and Prince Edward County!
Goochland Supervisors to meet to defer public hearing on Centerville Area Plan
The five-member Goochland County Board of Supervisors will meet briefly at 6 p.m. However, their only action will be to act on the deferral of a request from the county to add the Centerville Small Area Plan to the Comprehensive Plan.
“The Centerville Plan does not change the zoning of any property or existing ordinance provisions,” reads the staff report. “Rather it provides guidance for future ordinance changes, design guidelines, rezoning, and other land use decisions.”
The Planning Commission voted 3-1 to recommend adoption at its meeting on July 25.
There does not appear to be a reason for the deferral listed.
Halifax BOS to vote on support letter for water line extension to Virginia International Raceway
The eight-member elected body of Halifax County will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room at 1050 Mary Bethune Street in Halifax. (meeting packet)
There are three presentations.
One is an operational update on the Southstone Recovery Center. This is required by the conditional use permit for the facility.
There’s an update from Dominion Energy for the 10,136 customers in the county. This includes solar development and the presentation begins on page 62 of the packet. Dominion paid $2.86 million in property taxes to Halifax County in 2022.
There is a report on the Halifax County Quality of Place workgroup of the Chamber of Commerce.
There are three items under new business:
One is the consideration of a letter of support for a waterline expansion for the Virginia International Raceway. Danville City Council and the Pittsylvania Board of Supervisors have also considered such a letter. The letter will go to a request to Federal Economic Development Administration to close a $3.5 million to $4 million funding gap.
The second is an agreement between the Southside Planning District Commission and Empower Broadband. This will serve 1,943 households in Halifax County and the county will contribute $325,000.
The third is a report on monitoring of the closed county landfill from Dewberry Engineering. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has previously issued a corrective action after groundwater monitoring discovered “constituents” in excess of allowed levels.
After that there are several pending items of unfinished business with a lot of updates on various solar sites.
Council to learn about revenue sources for expanded transit in governance study update
The five member Charlottesville City Council begins their meeting at 4 p.m. with a work session on transit beginning at 4 p.m. followed by the regular session at 6:30 p.m. (meeting overview)
The work session could be an important one for the future of public transportation in the area. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission has been overseeing a study to look at the structure of how transit is currently provided in the area that will make recommendations for how it might be changed in the future to support expanded service.
That expanded service would be informed by a completed “Regional Transit Vision.”
“Led by the TJPDC and supported by the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and DRPT, the Transit Vision Plan established a unified vision for transit service in Region 10, which is made up of the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and the City of Charlottesville,” reads the hand-out for the work session.
The governance study is in the third of five phases. Providing transit service is not cheap, especially in an era where a shortage of drivers has led to frequent service disruptions on Charlottesville Area Transit routes. This step of the process will look at potential revenue sources to come up with an estimate of the total amount that might be generated.
A vision constrained by the reality of potential revenue sources has an estimate of about $35 million. The unconstrained vision where money is no object has an estimate of about $85 million.
The thing is, Charlottesville City Council holds most of the cards as Charlottesville Area Transit is a city agency. If there is to be a regional transit authority, will the City Council agree to give up control?
And will there be an update to Council on the status of the bus route changes that were discussed two years ago but never implemented? What role does the new CAT transit strategic plan play in all of these other studies? Who stays on top of this all? I try.
Here are some stories I’ve written on the topic of expanded regional transit:
Council briefed on proposed transit changes, June 2, 2021
Regional Transit Partnership talks park and ride, future bus type, and CAT changes, July 4, 2021
Regional Transit Vision plan update, May 20, 2022
Partnership briefed on potential vision for regional transit, June 1, 2022
Albemarle and Charlottesville officials weigh in on Regional Transit Vision, June 14, 2022
Public meeting tonight for Regional Transit Vision plan; Fluvanna and Louisa Supervisors briefed last week, June 23, 2022
Next steps for Charlottesville Area Transit route changes outlined at partnership meeting, June 24, 2022
Council considers spending $30K toward governance study; Jaunt hopes to play a role, September 23, 2023
Regional Transit Vision plan nearing completion, November 2, 2022
Governance study: A primer on regional transit systems, December 15, 2022
Two out of five phases completed for transit governance study, April 5, 2023
More planning in the works for Charlottesville Area Transit, July 9, 2023
Council will direct the Planning Commission to review future zoning code
Council will begin their regular meeting with a proclamation for the Soul of Cville festival happening August 11 through August 13 at the Ix Park.
“Soul of Cville seeks to reclaim the narrative surrounding some of Charlottesville’s darkest days by showcasing and elevating Black voices, art, entrepreneurship, music, food and more,” reads the proclamation.
The consent agenda is a list of items that Council will approve but aren’t scheduled to talk about unless one of its members pulls it for discussion.
Council will approve several minutes including the one for its July 5, 2023 joint meeting with City Council on the zoning code. There are 478 words describing a two-hour meeting. If you need more details, my story from the same meeting is much more informative though not official.
There’s second reading of an appropriation of $56,316.53 in insurance reimbursements for a variety of damaged city infrastructure such as poles. (staff report)
There’s second reading of an appropriation of $100,000 from the Virginia Department of Education for the Special Nutrition Program Summer Food Service Program. (staff report)
There is second reading of a transfer of $33,827.85 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the City of Promise to the city. City of Promise had been using the money for community resiliency activities at the Westhaven Clinic but a decision has been to return the funds to the city. (staff report)
There is second reading of an encroachment agreement with the owner of 1117 Preston Avenue as some of the infrastructure for a proposed 16-unit apartment building is within the city’s right of way. (staff report)
There is the second reading of an appropriation of $285,665 in funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation for a share-used path from Washington Park to Madison Avenue. (staff report)
Next, Council will officially start the clock for the Planning Commission to make a recommendation on the new Development Code that will include both the new zoning ordinance and the new subdivision ordinance.
“The Planning Commission will have 100 days from this referral to provide their recommendation back to the City Council,” reads the staff report. “The Planning Commission is required to conduct a public hearing on the proposed ordinance before providing their recommendations.”
The resolution states the clock starts at their regular meeting after adoption of the official referral. That brings us to Friday, November 16.
As of August 7, a consolidated draft of the development ordinance is not able for review. There will likely be substantial changes from the three modules that have been released so far. I’ll be publishing up what I can as soon as it comes out, even if this occurs on my birthday this week. The future of Charlottesville’s built environment hinges on the details in this document, affecting everyone who lives regardless of the attention they’ve paid to the Cville Plans Together initiative
Adoption of the new development ordinance is the third leg of the process which included an Affordable Housing Plan adopted in March 2021 and a new Comprehensive Plan adopted in November 2021.
This is where I turn to you and ask a question. Do you agree with this statement?
“There has been extensive community engagement over the entire time period of the Cville Plans Together process as well as specifically in relation to the Zoning Ordinance,” reads the staff report.
My audience is quite small at about 2,400 people. I know I’m not reaching everyone but in reporting recently for a C-Ville Weekly article on Dairy Market Phase 3, at least two people I asked said they had no idea the zoning ordinance is under review. My resources are limited but now is the time for people to know about what’s happening.
In the meantime, several land use applications will come before the City Council under the current rules. One of them is for the Salvation Army’s request for a special use permit for expansion of its shelter at 207 and 211 Ridge Street. The Planning Commission recommended approval on July 11 after a joint public hearing.
“The Planning Commission and City Council had a long conversation related to this project and the public good it provides,” reads the staff report. “Parking was the main topic as it relates to ensuring adequate parking is provided both during construction.”
After that, Council will have second reading of a request special use permit to reduce setbacks at the nine-story building previously approved at 218 West Market Street at the site of a 20th century shopping center that will be demolished. (staff report)
Last week, Albemarle County Supervisors got the semi-annual report out from the Land Use and Environmental Planning Committee. This is the closed-door successor to the open-door Planning and Community Council Committee that was disbanded in November 2019.
“LUEPC is intended to be a vehicle to collaborate and coordinate land use and development plans and projects and to consider environmental and infrastructure issues facing the community,” reads the staff report.
While perhaps not the intent, the body is also intended to be a place for collaboration to occur before items are ready for public review. The charter has been amended to make certain that what gets discussed at LUEPC stays at LUEPC until it’s ready for the public. I wrote about this on May 10.
There’s a lot in the semi-annual report to review and I’ve written up a lot of it. There is no greater factor in this region’s future than growth at the University of Virginia. What happens at LUEPC is one of the many ways to get information about their planning process. Here’s an outline of the report that might have made my third-grade teacher proud.
February 2023
The Virginia Department of Transportation gave an update on projects including the Hydraulic Road and U.S. 29 intersection, Albemarle County’s future roundabouts, the U.S. 29 / Fontaine Avenue interchange, and current studies underway. (report)
The University of Virginia presented a timeline for several projects underway as the Fontaine Research Park is expanded to include the Biotechnology Institute. (report)
Work on U.S. 29 / Hydraulic Road intersection to begin later this year, Information Charlottesville, March 21, 2023
March 2023
The University of Virginia hired the firm to review a funded project at the U.S. 29 / Fontaine Avenue interchange. (report)
UVA-commissioned study finds flaws in funded improvements to US 29 / US 250 interchange with Fontaine Avenue, Information Charlottesville, April 13, 2023
Albemarle County gave an update on the AC44 Comprehensive Plan process under review (report)
Albemarle County gave an update on its zoning modernization process (report)
Charlottesville gave an update on the first module of the zoning rewrite (report)
April 2023
The University of Virginia presented the results of a thermal energy study (report)
May 2023
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority presented a review of the community’s water supply plan (report)
The Smart Scale funded East High Streetscape project is in the right of way acquisition phase with construction expected to begin in late summer 2004. Those are two takeaways from the city’s presentation. (report)
The University of Virginia presented their Grounds Framework Plan, which serves as a master plan for the public entity’s future land use (report)
Grounds Framework Plan points way to future of UVA’s built environment, Information Charlottesville, June 18, 2023
June 2023
Council’s meeting ends with a quarterly update from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority and the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority. (report)
Louisa County BOS to consider rezoning for 25 units for Fluvanna-Housing Housing Foundation
The seven-member Louisa County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5 p.m. at the county administration at 1 Woolfolk Avenue in Louisa. They begin with a closed session and go into open session at 6 p.m. (meeting info)
The first item on the agenda is a recognition of the 2022/2023 Louisa County High School Girls’ Varsity Softball Team for winning the Virginia High School League Class 4 State Championship.
Then there will be a presentation from the Louisa Forward Foundation. That’s a nonprofit group created by the Louisa County Chamber of Commerce to promote economic, education, and community development.
Under unfinished business, there will be the resumption of a discussion about the Transportation Safety Commission’s consideration of road matters. A written update from VDOT’s Scott Thornton is here.
Under new business there are three items:
One is a request from the Louisa County Water Authority for $100,000 for repairs at the Lake Anna Wastewater Treatment Plant. (resolution)
The second is a resolution for a transit services agreement with Jaunt. Louisa County will pay $465,647 to Jaunt in FY2024. This is something to keep in mind when considering the transit government study. (resolution)
The third is for the purchase of a $350,000 ambulance for the Louisa County Department of Fire and EMS. Half of the cost comes from Virginia’s Rescue Squad Assistance Fund. (resolution)
There are six public hearings:
A couple seek a rezoning of 10.848 acres from General Commercial (C-2) to Agricultural (A-2) for the purposes of a family subdivision. (staff report)
The Fluvanna-Louisa Housing Foundation seeks a rezoning of 8.322 acres from Industrial Growth Area Overlay District to Resident General (R-2) for a multi-family complex with 25 units. (staff report)
The above also needs a special use permit. (staff report)
Oh, and a special exception, too, related to landscaping and buffering requirements. (staff report)
The county wants to give about a tenth of acre of surplus property on Elm Avenue to Region 10. (staff report)
There are amendments to the ordinance related to animals running at large. (staff report)
Okay, four items. Six public hearings.
For more details on all of this, check out Tammy Purcell’s Engage Louisa newsletter.
