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…
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…
The Western Bypass is Apparently Dead. So What’s Next?
So says the Daily Progress. One decades-old question was answered with a resounding no. "A bypass is not something we would consider," Norfolk-based consultant Philip A. Shucet, the head of the advisory panel and former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation, told the board.…
Albemarle County May Increase the Property Tax Rate
Assessments are up. So might be the mil rate. From the Daily Progress: Recommended budget value: $349.3 million Increase over current year: 8.3 percent ($26.8 million) Proposed real estate tax rate: 80.8 cents/$100 assessed value Current rate: 76.6 cents/$100 assessed value Impact: The annual tax…
How to Pay for Albemarle County Schools?
It costs nearly $12,000 per year to educate a kid in Albemarle County Schools. This year, the County Schools are facing a proposed funding gap of nearly $7 million and the cry from many parents, administrators and citizens has been to “fully fund the schools.…
Will the Western Bypass Ever be Built?
Update 19 February 2014 - Looks like the Western Bypass might be dead. Who knows if and when the Western Bypass will be built? Know this - lots of people will show up to comment on it. Again. A vote on the resolution could follow…
Charlottesville City Police Ticketing Bicyclists
Police officers in the City of Charlottesville have doubled in the past two years the number of tickets they have issued to bicyclists, Charlottesville Tomorrow reports. First thoughts: - Good. As a bicycle advocate and rider, seeing cyclists cutting in and out of traffic, on…
Virginia’s General Assembly is Upon Us Again – 2014 Edition
Once again, the Virginia General Assembly will be in session soon. They'll be filing all sorts of bills from whether a meth lab house needs to be disclosed (they tried this one last year, too) to whether there should be an extended minimum clearance space…
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,…