Author: Jim Duncan

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WAHS with a Cause

via email. Great to see this kind of motivation from our kids.

The Western Albemarle High School Leadership Program is putting on the first ever “WAHS with a Cause,” which is our community service day.

In the past, Western Albemarle has put on service projects, but they have been contained within our school. The goal of WAHS with a Cause is to get our entire school involved in civic engagement not just in the school, but within the entire Crozet/Charlottesville community. We would love both monetary donations or supplies. Additionally, if you are aware of a local organization that could use a group of volunteers, please contact [email protected].

Thank you so much,

WAHS Executive Council

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CCAC – January 2019 | Transportation Update

#CCAC0119

CROZET COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Crozet Library

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Introductions and Agenda Review (Allie Pesch – CCAC chair)

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Western Albemarle Transportation Updates (Kevin McDermott, Albemarle County Transportation Principal Planner – 45 min)

4. Items Not Listed on the Agenda

5. Announcements

6. Future Agenda Items:

– February 13, 2019: Western Albemarle Feeder Pattern School Capacity and Enrollment (Rosalyn Schmitt, ACPS Chief Operating Officer)

– Feb/March? Improvements and traffic flow changes coming to The Square (NIFI project status update)

Note: CCAC will meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month going forward

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Homestay (AirBnB/VRBO/etc) Regulations in Albemarle County Changing

A reader messaged me:

Hi Jim- Not sure if this is appropriate for the RealCrozet page or not, but if you think it is, would you be willing to share the link where county residents can share comments about the proposed Homestay changes, please? I feel like, given the lack of hotels in western Albemarle and the amount of tourism here, this should be on residents’ radars more than it currently is. Thanks!

Here’s the link to comment to the County of Albemarle with your thoughts on the proposed Homestay regulations.

There was a well-attended roundtable at the County on 8 January 2019.

Learn the background here (and consider subscribing to the Daily Progress)

Why do I bang the “pay money for local media” drum?

Watch this. Seriously. Watch it. 

 

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2018 Through the RealCrozetVA Lens

Here’s to 2019, with a look at 2018.

I encourage you to spend some time reviewing, and learning about our growing area.

 

What follows is a snip of some of the highlights of 2018, as seen through the RealCrozetVA lens. The blog is the home of everything – and it’s searchable, and archived; the RealCrozetVA ecosystem includes Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I know this; the archives on the blog provide a valuable historical archive for the past decade+ in Crozet.  Reminder: Facebook is evil, and I suspect I won’t be using it in 2020. (and yes, I know FB owns Instagram)

As I made my way through the year in review one thing is clear – a lot of the stuff happening now started months and years ago (see: NIFI, Adelaide, the Vue, transportation).

 

As a reminder, I’m a Realtor. My career and profession is representing buyers and sellers. I write/manage RealCrozetVA, now entering its 12th year, as a service to the Crozet community, and because I think RealCrozetVA comprises a “good thing.”

January (19 Posts)

Beaver Creek Reservoir in Crozet

February (8 posts) 

March (13 posts)

Railroad Ave

April (13 posts)

Coming 2026 *photoshopped, but still.

May (6 posts)

Walk or ride; it’ll be faster, better for you, and for your neighbors

June (7 posts)

July (10 posts)

Crozet Crosswalks

 

September (7 posts)

Road from Mint Springs
Road from Mint Springs

October (9 posts)

One of the few no-rain-or-snow-or-mist we had

November (9 posts)

December (8 posts)

 

 

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December 2018 CCAC Wrap-up, Chesterfield Landing growing

Here are the tweets from last night. It was a good discussion; I encourage you to dig in and read them all.

 

 

A couple of the tweets, though

Some of the tweets

  • Currently, they could do about 12 units. Want to rezone to get about 23
  • Lots of questions about what the homeowners’ expectations were about the future growth of the neighborhood
  • Schools are overcapacity, “Audience – currently Brownsville site says capacity is 715 and they are at 830. (I think I heard that right) “
  • Me: trying to figure out if they are upset about not knowing more houses are coming to the growth area, or that the rezoning is for ~2X as many homes as allowed by right?
  • If You Don’t Own It, It’s Going to Change
  • Me: As a Realtor, it’s hard hearing these kinds of conversations. People buy with certain expectations; it’s tough when those aren’t met.
  • Neighbor – you say you’ll preserve trees and such. Where?

    A: shows the picture that they’ve already said is a very preliminary representation.

  • CCAC member to buyers – did you all look at the master plan before you bought?

    one neighbor – I talked to the builder & they said probably not.

    another – we thought there’d be more houses, but absolutely not 23 houses

  • Neighbor – now, our neighborhood blends right now, but the new phase won’t look anything like what’s there now. The new houses will be so much smaller & won’t fit in. How will you integrate it so it *looks* like part of our neighborhood ?
  • Talking about lot sizes, houses sizes, house values. CCAC member saying smaller houses = lower value.

    Me: so what?

 

 

Continue reading “December 2018 CCAC Wrap-up, Chesterfield Landing growing”

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25 MPH on Crozet Avenue

Recently, you might or might not have noticed that the speed limit on Crozet Avenue changed, from Oak Drive (sort of near the cemetery) to Parkview Drive (Western Ridge). There didn’t seem to be any official announcement, and I’ve gotten a bunch of questions about it, so I asked VDOT, and they quickly responded. I added the link to the code below.

VDOT recently extended the 25 MPH speed limit on Route 240 between Oak Drive and Parkview Drive.

A speed study was conducted in mid-September as a result of a citizen request to the Albemarle County Police Department. VDOT traffic engineers analyzed the results and determined the road met the requirement of Virginia Code §46.2-874 to set the maximum speed limit at 25 MPH due to the density of the commercial and residential development and the multiple pedestrian facilities and crossings along Route 240.

The speed limit extension was approved and implemented in mid-October. The changes are intended to slow traffic down to improve safety for everyone including pedestrians and bicyclists. There are advanced warning signs of the 25 MPH speed limit near Oak Drive and Parkview Drive to notify drivers of the speed limit before it begins.

VDOT traffic engineers recently reviewed the signing plan for the extension and will be installing an additional 25 MPH sign on westbound Route 240 near Union Mission Lane.  (near Starr Hill)

Now … about bike lanes and sidewalks …

 

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Steve Landes Town Hall – 29 December 2018

Update: Postponed.

CROZET – Del. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, has postponed his Saturday town hall meeting due to a hospital stay, according to a release from William T. Wrobleski, Landes’ communications director.

“Delegate Landes has postponed the December 29th Town Hall Meeting in Crozet,” the statement said. “Delegate Landes had an adverse allergic reaction requiring admission to the hospital. Unfortunately, he will not be discharged prior to the scheduled meeting. The Crozet Town Hall will be rescheduled as soon as possible.”

Yes, it’s an advocacy post (via email), but that’s ok.

State delegate Steve Landes (R-25) is holding a town hall listening session in Crozet at the Crozet library on Saturday, December 29th at 10:00 am.

Suggestion: bring signs that just say 78%. That’s the percent of Virginians who support a Constitutional amendment to create an INDEPENDENT Commission to draw voting boundaries. (See the full survey here)

Let’s tell Landes and our other representative not to block the right of the PEOPLE to decide how we want our political districts determined!

If you go, take a photo with your smartphone and post it to our BRAG Facebook page.

Thanks — this is the time when everything helps.

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CCAC Meeting – 19 December 2018

Last one of the year.

CROZET COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Crozet Library
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Agenda

1. Introductions and Agenda Review (Allie Pesch – CCAC chair)

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Proposed Phase III Chesterfield Landing Rezoning Request Presentation and Discussion (Kelsey Schlein, Shimp Engineering – 45 minutes)

4. CAC Chair Meeting Report (Allie Pesch — 5 minutes)

5. Items Not Listed on the Agenda