Zoning discussion in Charlottesville; Comprehensive Plan open house in Nelson County
Another edition of an experimental newsletter about local government in the Fifth District
After writing one in the field, this time I’m writing one back in Charlottesville. That’s fitting, as both segments today are about the areas I write about in slightly more details as part of the Charlottesville Community Engagement. It’s likely I will cover one of these events in detail but rely on other reporters’ accounts for the others.
This is all work conducted under the banner of Town Crier Productions. That’s the business end for all of this reporting and the time for this work is covered by those who support me on Patreon. There’s no obligation to do so, but I won’t turn on paid subscriptions for this newsletter until I can add someone to the payroll to pay them to do the work.
Most of the work on Charlottesville Community Engagement is archived on a website I call Information Charlottesville. Thanks to support from the Patreon people I upgraded the website so I could add a more newsy theme. What do you think?
It is likely that I will eventually create a similar portal for the FIfth District. That’s a distant project, but one I can see coming to fruition. I’m very interested in all of the various connections between the communities in the Fifth District.
Now, with that in mind:
Charlottesville’s adoption of a zoning code that will eliminate single-family districts is scheduled to happen this fall and on Tuesday, the City Council and Planning Commission will discuss how those steps will fall into place.
Nelson County will have an open house on a Comprehensive Plan that seeks to build a future for a rural community in between two of the Fifth District’s three cities.
More articles from my colleagues in journalism
Planning Commission and Council to discuss how the Charlottesville Development Ordinance will be considered for approval
The clock is ticking for the Charlottesville Planning Commission to make a recommendation on the city’s Development Code. Earlier this month, the City Council officially referred the new zoning and subdivision ordinance to the PC. A week later, the city released the final draft of the rules which I’ve detailed in this article.
There are some other items to review on what may well be the final release of new information to the Cville Plans Together website. One is an affordability manual that is intended to govern how the city’s new requirements to provide below-market units will work. I have a story on that here.
Another is an eight-page Community Engagement report from February 2023 to June 2023.
“There were nearly 600 comments provided, with a range of topics,” reads that report. “This section contains a high-level summary of the most common themes from input received via all methods noted in the previous section.”
There is a spreadsheet that has several hundred comments from this period worth reviewing.
One omission from the final ordinance is the complete removal of the “Sensitive Communities” areas. I’ll be writing about that as soon as I complete this newsletter today. These were identified in the Comprehensive Plan but not specifically called out in the Affordable Housing Plan. The zoning code will offer no specific tools for how to prevent displacement.
Nelson County to host open house for Comprehensive Plan
How might decisions made by the Nelson County Board of Supervisors direct that locality’s future? That’s a core question behind the development of a new Comprehensive Plan.
“Planning will allow Nelson County to manage growth and capitalize on opportunities for our community,” writes Planning Commission Chair Mary Kathryn Allen on the website announcing an open house to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“The new plan will build on the 2014 Comprehensive Plan with public input, data collection, visioning, goal definition, and strategies to ensure that it all gets put into action,” Allen continues.
The draft for public review is available for you to read. The Berkley Group has provided technical assistance during the development of the document.
“Nelson is a welcoming community that values its natural resources, encourages economic growth, and provides excellent quality of life for all community members,” reads the vision statement of the draft plan.
“As we blaze a trail to the future, how do we preserve our rural character as we grow and evolve with our changing times?” the introduction continues. “How do we increase housing choices for different types of individuals and families?”
The plan notes that Nelson County is in between the cities of Charlottesville, Waynesboro, and Lynchburg which provide employment, shopping, and other services. The plan notes that growth in Nelson County is far behind the statewide average.
“Population projections forecast a negative growth rate for the County for the next 20 years,” reads a portion of chapter two. “The reasons for Nelson’s declining population numbers are multi-faceted and complex, but reflect the realities of an aging population and a locale which has not retained young people and families in recent decades.”
Agricultural production continues to decline and many employees of service industries commute into Nelson for work. Tourism has been the driving industry. The top employer is Wintegreen Pacific LLC and the third largest employer is Devils Backbone Brewing Company.
Reading material:
Short Pump's growth has reached the Goochland line. Where will it go next?, Eric Kolenich, Richmond Times-Dispatch (paywall), August 27
Danville police chief named finalist in Roanoke chief search, Chatham Star-Tribune, August 28, 2023
Democrat challenger announces write-in bid, The Gazette-Virginian, August 28, 2023
Bookmobile services expanding into Louisa and Nelson counties, Amaya Mitchell, WVIR NBC29, August 28, 2023
Tractor trailer problem on narrow road near Wintergreen almost entirely resolved, Felicity Taylor, CBS19 News, August 28, 2023
Amid 'brutal' housing market in Danville, extravaganza seeks to empower buyers, renters, Charles Wilborn, Charles Wilborn, August 28, 2023
Amherst County considering meals tax hike to help fund high school project, Lynchburg News & Advance, August 29, 2023