Browsing Category Regional

Friday links 09-21-2006

Americans are short-sighted and tend to spend what they have.What will replace the gas tax?Smart Transporation Investments Virginia Roads: the Fast and the Furious – the upcoming Virginia Special Transportation Session brings the rumors, conjecture and speculation out of the woodwork.Basically – read Bacon’s Rebellion.Learn about the bills here.  I like the “most frequently accessed” option.Setting a maximum population for Albemarle.  I know one way to start with the reduction of the population – they could lead the charge out of Albemarle by moving and/or not having kids.  The debate will be interesting and enlightening, I hope, so long as vitriol does not take a front seat.  All sides could probably learn something from each other.I really like Trulia – I really do….  But come on – A quick MLS search reveals that the average sales price in the past 3 months in Charlottesville (the City of) for a single-family three bedroom home is over $300k.  At least they say this:Note: These market indicators are estimates based on properties currently for sale in Trulia’s database.  Your real estate agent may have more accurate or complete data available.

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Recycling poll

Recycling is hard to come by.  The City of Charlottesville offers recycling (navigating their website makes me just want to give up and throw it all away).  The County of Albemarle does not, but offers an informative page with drop-off recycling locations.I had no idea that our region was voted “most sustainable community in Virginia.The Daily Progress’ 2005 Welcome Guide has a recycling roundup.  So does the HooK.One would think that a seemingly progressive region as ours would be willing to financially support recycling.  Many of my clients, both existing residents and transplants, ask whether recycling is an option.  Until economics dictate that something is viable, it won’t be an option.  Check out the poll in the right sidebar; feel free to add an answer as an option.  I’m curious.

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Growth in Albemarle

Fresh off her recent accolades, Jessica Kitchin with the DP brings us two excellent stories this morning on Growth.  First up is an overview of where Albemarle County is today.  The second story is the first in a series of growth articles to come this week.  Albemarle is becoming much, much more segmented and defined as such by the various developments associated with those segments – Old Trail in Crozet, Biscuit Run to the (slightly) South, 29 North and Pantops Mountain.  One thing to be added (for now) is this -County officials have said the issue was merely one of miscommunication, and they hope that as the vision of the Master Plan plays out – and as they seek more funding to provide infrastructure – residents will find renewed faith.When government asks the public to have faith in their actions rather than form opinions based on their prior actions – watch out.There are so many desired and unintended consequences related to growth – it is excruciatingly difficult to manage them all.I am left with two questions – if we don’t grow, what happens?  And – what do we do and talk about after the growth?

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Whom should we tax?

Maybe we should tax those who have moved to the area in the past five years….  fix those roads!Bacon’s Rebellion responded to the RTD’s transportation poll last week.  The Daily Progress speaks this week (HT: CvilleTomorrow) about said poll and advocates specifically for a gas tax.  Growth affects everybody – those who live here, those who move here, those whose livelihoods depend on the real estate market …  Until we can trust our government to do what is right, no progress will be made.  Should we continue to allow our regional transportation needs to stagnate and deteriorate, our region (and Commonwealth) will slide in terms of our hallowed rankings and simply as a nice place to live.  The longer we wait to build vital infrastructure, the more this infrastructure will ultimately cost to build….  Those who delay are demonstrating negligence towards their constituents.

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Cable upgrades coming?

Will be finally get our HDTV?  Or extended cable internet access?  With the pending sale of bankrupt Adelphia, will the Central Virginia region finally see much-needed cable expansion beyond the City limits and the immediate urban ring?  If we do, at least maybe Doc will be happy about something.My clients now list high-speed internet access among their needs: water, electricity, a roof and internet access.  Adelphia’s languishing behind the advancement of competitors (not locally, they’re a monopoly) has harmed the expansion of internet access.  I would argue also that , the housing market to a certain degree has been impacted as has peoples’ ability to telecommute, thus having an impact on sprawl.  The other side of this, of course, is that currently people are forced to live close-in because of this limitation, thus artificially contracting sprawl (to a very minor degree).Who will we get?…  -OR-What if our region developed a wireless cloud?A 2002 quote:”We feel like this cloud will be just one more service we can offer to high tech industries that may want to relocate to Athens,” said Turner.If this is successful, couldn’t we do the same?Just a thought.

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Regional roundup

With every one of these localities moving forward with their own growth and comprehensive plans, doesn’t it make sense to have some sort of regional cohesion between the plans and planners?  What impact does TJPDC have?Albemarle assesses residents’ opinions – was anybody surprised by the answers?“We noticed a decrease in satisfaction rates [for transportation] between 2002 and 2004,” Allshouse said.  “We saw data line up that showed us transportation is becoming a more important issue, so the goals for [the 2007-10] strategic plan, which should be adopted in July, include expanding regional transit opportunities and accelerating transportation projects.”Louisa’s Comp Plan moves forwardWithout the infrastructure, Tingler said, planning will not be effective.  “If the county is concerned about bringing growth into designated areas,” said Tingler, “along with that goes modification to bring resources into those areas, water, sewer….  Fluvanna’s Comp Plan surveyNo details have been released regarding the results, but public concerns about “growth and taxes” are a leading theme, according to a planner who has seen a number of the responsesMadison County jacks up building permit fees “Last year was a tremendous year; it was so busy,” Grayson said….  CvilleTomorrow changes tack slightlyWatching how they balance this will be interesting.  CvilleTomorrow is one of the most valuable information assets our region has.  I personally hope that they use their influence for information dissemination rather than advocates for or against particular developments.

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