Engaging with Albemarle County
An easy way to learn about and engage with Albemarle County - Engage Albemarle. Here's an interesting topic: The Comprehensive Plan is Albemarle County's most important document regarding growth, development and change. It establishes government policy to help guide public and private activities as they…
City Council Think the Flats are Too Big
Unsurprisingly, Charlottesville's City Council is expressing concerns about the size and scale of the just-opened Flats at West Village. The thing is huge (particularly from the back). I'm curious to see how quickly the place gets leased out.
Fry’s Springs Downzoning Proposed Again
The perils of zoning rear their heads in Fry's Springs. The Charlottesville City Council has agreed to consider a request from the Fry's Spring Neighborhood Association to study rezoning of three streets. “Essentially, they are asking for the properties on Stribling, Crestmont and Shamrock to…
Changing the Proffer System in Albemarle County
I can't argue with any of this. I'd say that there has to be a balance between new homes paying their way and existing homes paying their way. "I think the presumption of the policy is that the county needs an additional means of collecting…
A Stark Look at Urban Planning in Charlottesville and Albemarle
What do most people think about when they think about "Charlottesville"? The Downtown Mall? It's in the City. Monticello? That's in the County. So's the Rotunda. And John Paul Jones Arena. Know what doesn't get shared effectively or efficiently? Planning how to get from Darden…
Downtown Charlottesville Redevelopment Planned
Growth within Charlottesville City limits is going to get even more dense in the future, and not just along West Main Street. It's long been said that the area south of the Downtown Mall is some of the best real estate in the City of…
Do You Know What You Don’t Know about County Public Meetings?
What happens in public hearings affects darn near everyone. So much happens in Albemarle County Board of Supervisors meetings that the public doesn't find out about - and then get up in arms about, or support - until it (whatever it is) is too far…
A Big Shift in Albemarle County’s Board of Supervisors
A lot of money was raised and spent in these elections. The Albemarle County elections last night brought about a resounding change on the Albemarle County Supervisors. Gone are Rodney Thomas and Duane Snow; in are Brad Sheffield and Liz Palmer. For what it's worth,…
The Walkable City – Achievable in Charlottesville?
What would it take to make Charlottesville and Albemarle truly walkable? People who live in areas that are walkable are happier, leaner, have more money for leisure, spend more time with their families … is that really achievable in the Charlottesville area? The answer is…
West Main Street – The Solution to UVA’s Housing Crunch?
That's what it's seeming like, and the Charlottesville City Planning Department is starting to realize the ramifications of being said solution to UVA's growth. Charlottesville Tomorrow reports (read the whole thing): Several members of the Charlottesville Planning Commission said Tuesday they leaned toward not approving…