Meetings today in Bedford, Charlottesville, Halifax, and Louisa
Charlottesville considering paying $5.9M to buy floodplain in agreement to stop development
I’m running late today, so let’s get right to the newletter. It’s a busy time of year!
Bedford to consider increasing eligibility threshold for senior tax relief
The seven member Board of Supervisors in Bedford County will meet for a work session at 5 p.m. followed by a regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. (meeting portal)
There are three items on the agenda for the work session.
The first is a discussion for a request from the Bedford Regional Water Authority regarding the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds. The matter was last discussed on August 28 when the Board agreed to spend $2.25 million from the fund for new capital projects. The Authority had asked to be reimbursed for ones already under construction and have now submitted a new request to fund projects in FY2025.
The second is discussion regarding a loan application from the Literacy Fund of Virginia.
The third is a discussion regarding real property tax relief for senior citizens with low incomes. Currently 100 percent of the bill is exempt for qualifying households if the tax due is less than $500, and 85 percent if the bill exceeds that amount.
There’s a proposal to increase the threshold for eligibility for the first time since December 2012.
“The current total income level is $37,500, the net worth cannot exceed $100,000 (excluding 1 acre of land and dwelling), and additional income from relatives living in the dwelling up to $4,000,” reads the staff report. “It is recommended to increase these levels to $45,000 for income, $150,000 for net worth, and $5,000 for additional income from relatives.”
In the regular session, there are no public hearings or presentation. Under new business, there is a resolution to begin the process of amending the zoning ordinance related to site development procedures and short-term rentals. All the changes appear to be house-keeping.
Charlottesville to consider joining amicus brief arguing for Virginia to stay in RGGI
Charlottesville City Council holds its first regular meeting of November with a work session at 4 p.m. followed by a regular session at 6:30 p.m. Both are in City Council Chambers. (meeting overview)
The work session is another preparation for the upcoming development process for the FY25 budget. In all there are presentations on four departments. They are Neighborhood Development Services, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Utilities. (view the document)
There’s a detailed presentation from Parks and Recreation, which lists Riann Anthony as acting director. Did Dana Kasler leave?
There’s also a detailed presentation from the utilities department. Both identify staffing shortages as a major challenge.
There are two proclamations to begin the regular meeting.
Cynthia Richardson is being honored as the Virginia State Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coalition Peer of the Year (read the proclamation)
First Baptist Church West Main Street is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year. (read the proclamation)
Next up is the consent agenda:
Charlottesville City Council posts their draft minutes before they adopted, like most other localities I review in the Fifth District. Albemarle County does not. You can review the August 21, October 3, and October 11 minutes here.
There’s first of two readings on a resolution to appropriate $258,342 from a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for the Witness Assistance Program. (staff report)
There’s first of two readings of a resolution to appropriate $67,792 for the Albemarle-Charlottesville Therapeutic Docket. (staff report)
There’s first of two readings on a resolution to appropriate $30,000 from the Virginia Department of Education’s Special Nutrition Program to support afterschool programs run by the Parks and Recreation Department. (staff report)
There’s a resolution to bring Paynes Mill Road into the city’s street system. That means it will be plowed if it snows. (staff report)
There’s a resolution to adopt a mutual aid agreement between Albemarle and Charlottesville for fire and rescue services. (staff report) (resolution) (agreement)
After the report from City Manager Sam Sanders, there will be a presentation on the master plan for the Parks and Recreation Department that’s underway. The city has hired PROS Consulting to lead the work, as I reported on September 17.
This presentation takes place before Community Matters, the name given to the public comment period. Will public comment be taken virtually, or is that still on hold?
There are four business items on the agenda with two of them related.
Even though the Development Code is perhaps close to being adopted, landowners have continued to go through the existing process. The owner of 630 Cabell Avenue recently added 1,200 square feet to the property, enough to build more housing units. To do that, the section that was added needs to be rezoned to Residential-3 (R3). The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. (staff report)
Since taking office in January 2022, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has made it a top priority to withdraw the Commonwealth of Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Revenue from the sale of carbon credits goes to pay for two state programs. They are the Housing Innovation Energy Efficiency fund and the Community Flood Preparedness Fund.
“In Charlottesville, Piedmont Housing Alliance and the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority have been awarded nearly $10 million worth of RGGI money through the Affordable and Special Needs Housing program to renovate and build affordable homes in our region,” reads a staff report for a resolution for Charlottesville to file an amicus brief to support the Southern Environmental Law Center’s suit to stop the executive branch from leaving an entity they argue is mandated by state law. Read my August 25 story to learn more.
Next, Charlottesville will follow the example of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation and purchase land slated for development. Last November, that entity paid $4.3 million to buy 1.59 acres of land on Maury Avenue where Southern Development had planned to build 64 apartment units.
Now, the city has agreed to pay developer Wendell Wood $5.9 million to purchase nearly 24 acres of floodplain land that Seven Development had been seeking site plan approval to build 245 units. More on this in the story I wrote on Thursday.
Louisa County to amend performance agreement for Zion Crossroads development
The seven members of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5 p.m. for a closed session and convene in open session at 6 p.m. (meeting overview)
One of the first items of business is to approve the minutes from the October 16 meeting. These can be reviewed now before approval. (take a look)
There are eight items on the consent agenda, several of which have to do with capital projects for volunteer rescue stations. There’s also an amended performance agreement between the county, Crossing Pointe LLC, Get Active LLC, and GW & FW Holdings. Among other things, the new agreement would increase the tax rebate associated with the agreement from $250,000 to $500,000. (read the new agreement)
There are two presentations for information. The first is from the President of J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College. The second is a discussion on a through-truck restriction for West Green Springs Road.
Under new business, there is a resolution to disburse funds from a Virginia Department of Forestry Grant. Brackett’s Farm has applied for $4,577 and the Louisa County Cooperative Extension Office has applied for $10,400. (staff report)
There’s also a resolution to support a request from the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions for an additional $150,000 in the next biennial budget for each PDC. (staff report)
There are two public hearings.
The first is for a conditional use permit for a marina, recreational sales and service, parking, and outdoor storage. The Planning Commission recommended approval on October 12. (staff report)
The second is a conditional use permit for Everleigh Vineyards and Brewing Company to have a special occasion facility and outdoor gatherings. The Planning Commission recommended approval on October 12. (staff report)
Halifax County Supervisor to meet
The eight member Board of Supervisors in Halifax County meet at 6:30 p.m. in the County Administration Building at 1050 Mary Bethune Street in Halifax. (agenda packet)
There are two conditional use permits up for a vote. One is for a wedding venue and event space at 3091 Lower Liberty Road. The other is for a woodworking shop at 1087 B L Creek Trail.
Supervisors will end the meeting with a closed session to consider appointments as well as discussion of acquisition of public property.
Reading material:
Issue of solar still moving slowly in town of Halifax, Joshua Fitzwater, Gazette-Virginian, October 13, 2023
New Halifax County High School price comes in right on target, Miranda Baines, Gazette-Virginian, October 23, 2023
Bedford's District 6 supervisor candidates address issues at forum, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), October 28, 2023
Candidates for House District 53, two other state seats address issues at Bedford forum, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), October 30, 2023
Three companies address Bedford supervisors on broadband expansion efforts, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), October 30, 2023
Netflix documentary on murder case with local ties premieres Nov. 1, Gretchen Stenger, CBS19, October 31, 2023
Revised Tightsqueeze improvement plan approved, Chatham Star-Tribune, November 1, 2023
Department of Defense awards $12.7 million to IperionX in Halifax Co., James Dalpino, WFXR, November 2, 2023
Four Bedford County School Board seats on ballot Nov. 7 draw handful of candidates, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), November 4, 2023
Charlottesville poised to kill apartment development by Rivanna River, Hawes Spencer, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), November 6, 2023