Public hearing in Charlottesville for City Council appointees; Zion Town Center LLC seeks more housing from Louisa Supervisors; Halifax Supervisors to consider 80 megawatt solar project
The first of at least three newsletters for the Fifth District Community Engagement this week
This time around I have a look at what’s coming up in meetings on Monday, February 6, 2023 in the Fifth District. There’s a lot more coming up this week with meetings in Amherst County, Campbell County, the city of Danville, and Goochland County. Later in the week we have Hanover County and Lunenburg County. What else might I write about?
Stay tuned! For now, on with Monday. Readers of this newsletter are getting a look at meetings of elected officials in Charlottesville and Louisa County a little earlier than everyone else.
Charlottesville Council to hold public hearing on replacement member; will consider $500K for BEACON kitchen
Charlottesville City Council meets at 4 p.m Monday for a work session followed by a regular meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. (meeting info) (agenda)
There are two items on the agenda for the work session. In December 2019, the city’s preservation and design planner asked Council to use $9,319 from the city’s Small Area Plan fund to examine whether there were possible gravesites at Pen Park that had not been identified. The idea had been hinted at in a 2003 study of the Gilmer/Craven/Hotopp cemetery.
The city hired Rivanna Archeological Services to use ground penetrating radar at the site.
“Evaluation of the GPR data suggests the likelihood of 43 unmarked and unrecorded graves outside the walls of the three family plots, roughly in three rows and primarily to the east, behind the family plots,” reads a staff report dated November 22, 2020. “The majority lie outside the Gilmer and Craven sections. Both families enslaved individuals and the evidence suggests these graves are most likely those of individuals enslaved at Pen Park.”
Staff has been working with the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society to identify those buried in the hopes of getting in touch with descendants.
“The February 6 presentation will update Council on other family connections made and the ongoing research by the ACHS to identify the enslaved individuals and descendant families,” reads the staff report.
For more information, read Tamica Jean-Charles February 11, 2022 article on Charlottesville Tomorrow called “Forgotten no more: Descendants of family enslaved at Pen Park plantations visit their unmarked graves for the first time.”
For more, here’s a story from NBC29 that aired last year.
The second item in the work session will be an update from the United Way including a review of their strategic plan from FY23 to FY27.
“The over-arching goal is to eliminate barriers for minority and economically-disadvantaged populations and enable them to achieve financial stability and thrive economically,” reads a sentence in the presentation.
Goal 1 is to “help lift 1,800 families—including at least 630 families—out of poverty in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District by 2027.”
Goal 2 is to “increase by 10 percent kindergarteners from economically-disadvantaged families who pass development benchmarks by 2027; increase the number of Black kindergartners who pass by 20 percent.”
Goal 3 is to “Build a more connected community through a deepened understanding of race and equity.”
The report will present an update on whether the goals are being met.
In the regular meeting, Councilors will make a presentation to former Councilor Sena Magill and recognize this week as Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week. They’ll also issue a proclamation for Black History Month. Albemarle County Supervisors did the same at their meeting last week.
There are some interesting items on the consent agenda:
There is second reading of an appropriation of $500,106 in Highway Safety Improvement Funds for improvements at the intersection of 10th Street NW and Grady Avenue. (staff report)
There is the first of two readings of an appropriation of $229,803 from the Virginia Department of Transportation for the Safe Routes to School program. The grant requires a 20 percent match from the city, or $45,961. The city anticipates in-kind donations from the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club for fleet maintenance. (staff report)
There is the first of two readings of an appropriation of $61,500 for the Charlottesville Albemarle Therapeutic Docket program operated by Offender Aid and Restoration. “The program uses the power of the court to assist nonviolent offenders to achieve wellness and recovery through a combined system of intensive supervision, medication management, mental health treatment, and regular court appearances.” (staff report)
There is first reading for a special use permit for the new Bypass Fire Station as well as a critical slopes waiver. The Planning Commission held a public hearing with Council on January 10 and the PC recommended approval. (SUP report) (slopes waiver report)
There is the first of two readings on the appropriation of $7,743 from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to cover the cost of incarcerated people who are not eligible to live and work in the United States. (staff report)
Council will also hold the first of two readings to spend $3,800 in city funds on a market assessment of the three parcels along the Rivanna River off of East High Street. More on this in the next Charlottesville Community Engagement. (staff report)
I’ll also have more on the City Manager’s Report in the next Charlottesville Community Engagement. There’s a lot and we’re already at 800 words in this blurb.
The first public hearing is on a lease agreement for the Omni Hotel to operate an outdoor cafe. The lease for this purpose first began in 2010 with a five-year renewal that expired in January 2021. Since then, the lease has been month-to-month and a new one will soon be drawn up to cover a proposed expansion.
“The Omni Hotel has submitted an application to Neighborhood Development Services to revise the outdoor patio area,” reads the staff report. “Construction is expected to start in the summer and be completed by the end of the year.”
The second public hearing is for the re-precincting of the City of Charlottesville. To recap, the idea is to stop using Alumni Hall and the Tonsler Community Center and instead use Jackson-Via Elementary School and Charlottesville High School. About 40 percent of the city’s voters will have a new precinct if the plan is adopted. The comment period is still underway. (See also: Council to take first step on new precinct boundaries tonight, January 17, 2023)
The third public hearing is for the eventual selection of a replacement Councilor. Twenty people applied and Council cut the list to sixteen late last week. Here they are: (read my story)
Alex Bryant, former executive director of the Ix Park and former executive director of the Tom Tom Foundation (application)
Former City Councilor Kathy Galvin (application)
Current School Board member Lisa Larson-Torres (application)
Twenty-eight year Charlottesville resident Natalie Oschrin (application)
Former School Board member Leah Puryear (application)
Former City Councilor Kristin Szakos. (application)
The title of this item is “Accepting public comments on filling the City Council seat vacated by Sena Magill as of January 12, 2023.” How will this play out? It’s going to be interesting to watch. Public comments can still be made remotely.
But that’s not it for the meeting. Council will hold the first of two readings on an appropriation of $500,000 to the New Hill Development Corporation for their BEACON project to build a commercial kitchen.
“The Black Entrepreneurial Advancement and Community Opportunity Network (BEACON)… is a business incubator and accelerator to advance opportunities for Black entrepreneurs,” reads the staff report.
A location has been found at Kathy’s Shopping Center at 221 Carlton Road. The total project cost is $2.2 million and the staff report lists multiple other sources of revenue to date including two recent state grants. Read my story from December 29, 2022. Or my story from July 5, 2022.
The city’s economic development director is suggesting using $250,000 from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation and $250,000 from the city’s Strategic Investment Account.
In November 2019, Council allocated another $500,000 to New Hill for them to create a small area plan for the Starr Hill neighborhood. This wound up becoming a vision plan.
One question I have is how this made it through the budgetary process. While admirable, all other entities must go through a process to seek funding from the city.
The next item is for approval of a sign plan for businesses at 701 East Water Street. This is the office complex to the east of the Charlottesville Pavilion.
“The property owner would like to erect two directory signs at each entrance to provide more visibility for all the businesses in the 85,000 square foot office building,” reads the staff report.
There’s a technical reason why this has to occur. The property owner wants four signs. Staff recommends two.
This meeting keeps going. Council will hold first reading of a resolution to use speed cameras outside of two elementary schools.
“With the bus driver shortage and the need to expand walk zones for all of the city schools, many of the crossing guards have felt the need for enhanced measures to ensure the safety of the increased number of students walking to school along some of our busiest corridors,” reads the staff report from traffic engineer Brennen Duncan.
Take a look at the letter from the crossing guards for their perspective.
If Council wants to proceed, staff is recommending placing them on Monticello Avenue for Clark Elementary School, Cherry Avenue for Buford Middle School, and Cherry Avenue for Johnson Elementary School.
Finally, Council will hold the first of two readings on an appropriation of $237,000 for Charlottesville Area Transit to purchase new radio equipment. (staff report)
Halifax Supervisors to consider Sedge Hill Solar project, accept FY22 audit
The eight-member Halifax County Board of Supervisors will meet at 3:30 p.m. for a budget work session followed by a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. They meet in the county administration building at 1050 Mary Bethune Street. (meeting packet
There are two topics on the agenda of the work session. First is a presentation of the audit for Fiscal Year 2022 from Robinson, Farmer, Cox. They’ll also review budget requests for Fiscal Year 2024.
In the regular meeting, there are no public hearings. There will be presentations from Southside Behavioral Health, the Fire Commission, and an update from the Halifax County South Boston Public Library.
Under new business will consider a solar siting agreement with Pine Gate Renewables for the Sedge Hill Solar project. This is associated with a conditional use permit for the project, which is an 80 megawatt project on 1,061.4 acres off of Dudley Road. The Planning Commission recommended approval on December 20, 2022.
There’s another conditional use permit from Dean Jones of Jones Auction & Realty for a recreational vehicle (RV) lot with sixty spaces. The property would be purchased from Halifax County.
Supervisors will also consider an award of contracts to six firms for engineering services. They’ll also accept the audit they’ll have heard about in the budget work session. The Board will also consider a demolition permit for properties in the town of South Boston and discuss an agreement with the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund.
Supervisors end their day with a closed session for appointments, disposal or acquisition of property, and potential litigation related to non-compliance with a conditional use permit.
Louisa County to hold public hearing on Zion Town Center’s request for more residential units
The seven-member Louisa County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5 p.m. at the Louisa County Public Meeting Room in Louisa. They begin in closed session and them will hold an open session beginning at 6 p.m.
The first item on the regular session is a discussion of the Fiscal Year 2024 Operational & Maintenance and Capital Improvement Plan Budget.
The second item is for commercial entrances on family subdivisions.
The third item is a discussion of changes to Louisa County Code Chapter 14 - Animals Off Owners’ Premises.
“Currently, the only legal recourse a Louisa citizen harmed by trespassing livestock can take is to sue the owner or manager of the livestock for trespass, but the damages are limited to $20 for a first offense, and double damages for every subsequent offense,” reads the staff report.
There are further regulations in both Goochland County and Spotsylvania County.
The fourth item is a discussion of the effective date of a zoning ordinance amendment.
Under new business, Supervisors will consider a resolution for a budget appropriation for a match to the recent grant from the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program for the Shannon Hill Business Park. The grant was $11,590,000 and the county must make an equivalent match. The funding will be used to extend “wet utility” to the project. .
There is one public hearing. This is for a request from Zion Town Center LLC to increase the number of units allowed at the planned development already approved for their 113.825 acre site. Supervisors approved that project in August 2019.
“The major changes increase the allowable residential density from 599 units to 723 units, provide updated Architectural Guidelines, authorize density transfers of up to 10 percent, and prohibit an interparcel connection to the adjoining parcel east of the subject property,” reads the staff report.
Reading material:
Nelson today and tomorrow: Supervisors, commissioners continue comprehensive plan overhaul, Emma Martin, Nelson County Times, February 2, 2023
Supreme Court of Va. rules Hanover residents can sue over Wegmans warehouse, Sarah Vogelsong, Virginia Mercury, February 2, 2023
Virginia error causes $1.2M shortfall for Halifax County schools, Miranda Baines, South Boston Gazette, February 2, 2023