Postponed by last week’s snow, repair crews are planning to take to Crozet’s streets Wednesday and Thursday to work on water supply lines.
Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority and Faulconer Construction crews will work on the line on Route 240 near Park Ridge Drive, officials said.
The work will require flaggers at the site to help direct traffic around the crews, and traffic will be shifted into the painted median to help minimize delays.
Construction is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. each day.
Big Sick (and More!) at Crozet Library
Libraries are Awesome. (note: this blog post should print out nicely, if you’re inclined)
We are gearing up for some more great programs at the Crozet Library – come see what January and February have in store for you!
First off, come see The Big Sick for our Night at the Movies at the Crozet Library – tonight 1/22! It’s an awesome comedy, and we’ll be serving up fresh popcorn and drinks for your entertainment needs. As, always, all programs here are FREE. So bring a friend, and make a night of it.
Big news this January: You can now sign up for programs online. Just go to jmrl.org, hover over programs, and click adults (or just click here). If you want to see only programs at Crozet, you can use the check boxes on the left. Just click the green Sign Up button next to the event you want to register for. If an event doesn’t have a button, check the listing; it’s likely open to walk-ins (no registration required) or registration hasn’t started yet. You’re still welcome to call, email me, or come in person if you prefer, though!
In this new year, I’ve got a Reading Challenge 2018 list if you want to expand your horizons and read outside of your comfort zone. No prizes involved, just good old-fashioned reading-for-yourself challenges. Pick up the list the next time you’re in the Library.
Here are upcoming events for the next few months to get onto your calendar:
A Night at the Movies
Monthly on Mondays at 6:30pm*
Join the Crozet Library for a night at the movies with theater-style popcorn and drinks. Refer to ratings for age restrictions.
January 22: The Big Sick [R] (2017)
February 26: I’m Not Racist..Am I? [NR] (2014)* FILM STARTS AT 6PM. Discussion to follow.
March 26: Loving [PG-13] (2016)
April : The Zookeeper’s Wife [PG-13] (2017)
May: The Circle [PG-13] (2017)
?
Health Literacy Apps
Monday, January 29 at 6:30pm
Learn about the latest health literacy related apps for your mobile device or tablet. Try out some health apps on the library’s iPads, or bring your own device to get help downloading apps. Registration requested. Ages 14+
Monday Night Book Group
Monthly on Mondays at 7pm
Join this informal group for relaxed and stimulating book discussions. Newcomers always welcome.
February 5: The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
March 5: What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander (Same Page Community Reads)
April 2: The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
May 9: Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
A Valentine for that Special Someone
Wednesday, February 7 between 3-7pm
The countdown to Valentine’s Day has begun. Come into the library and make a special something for your special someone. Supplies will be available to create a unique handmade valentine. All ages.
Tape Resist Paint Party
Monday, February 12 at 6:30pm
Using a tape-resist technique, you’ll create fantastic geometric designs on canvas using any color palette you choose. No artistic skills required and all materials provided. Ages 14+. Required registration starts January 29.
Live Poets, Too
Second Mondays at 7pm
February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14
Bring several poems to share, either of your own authorship or another’s, then sit back and enjoy listening to the language of the poet. Optional writing prompts provided upon group interest. Ages 18+.
Zumba for Older Adults
Friday, February 23 at 10am
Zumba is Latin-fusion dance class with easy-to-follow moves. Jennifer Homan will lead this introductory lower-intensity class that will get your heart pumping, improve your range of motion, and your coordination. No registration required.
Family Zumba Workout
Saturday, February 24 at 2pm
Zumba is a Latin-fusion dance class with easy-to-follow moves. Jennifer Homan will lead this family-friendly class for all ages that will get your body moving and your heart pumping. No registration required.
I’m Not Racist…Am I? Film & Discussion
Monday, February 26 at 6:00pm
Join us for an important community discussion following the screening of this documentary about 12 NYC teenagers who spend a year talking and learning about racism. The discussion will be led by trained facilitators and is in partnership with Beloved Community Cville. Ages 14+. No registration required.
Questions/Curious about the Crozet Real Estate Market?
If you are curious about the market, and googling isn’t doing it for you, come talk to two experts about the Crozet real estate market.
Questions about the Crozet real estate market? Curious about the new construction or resale market? Stop by NestWest in Piedmont PlaceThursday from 5 to 7, grab a drink Blue Ridge Bottle Shop, a bite from Morsel Compass, dessert at Crozet Creamery, and chat with David & Jim!
NestWest is right next to Over the Moon Bookstore & Artisan Gallery!
Results of the Crozet Survey in 2017
If there’s one broad, irrefutable conclusion to draw from the 2017 Crozet Community Survey it’s that the people who live in the Crozet area really, really like living here. They treasure the history of the area and are complimentary of many different facets of present-day life in Crozet. Yet the survey also reveals that local residents recognize, quite clearly, that the area is rapidly growing, and with that come both opportunities and challenges.
Notes From a Crozet Coffee Conversation
Ongoing series continues. A few notes I took that are relevant to Crozet, but don’t necessarily have a topic other than “relevant to Crozet.”
In the context of, ” why can’t Albemarle County control growth”?
- A few things came up in conversation
- Dillon Rule
- “… Dillon’s rule limits the powers granted to local governments to those expressly granted by the state, implied by the state, or essential to a locality. More importantly, Justice Dillon ruled that if there is any reasonable doubt whether the state has granted a power to a locality, then it has not been granted. Simply put, towns and cities derive their authority from the state. “
- Albemarle County’s Land Use Law Handbook – a fantastic resource.
- Adequate Public Facilities legislation
- A sample, failed bill from 2008.
- Adequate public facilities. Allows any locality to adopt provisions in its subdivision ordinance for deferring the approval of subdivision plats or site plans when it determines that existing schools, roads, public safety, sewer or water facilities are inadequate to support the proposed development. Such deferrals cannot extend beyond 12 years. A locality may also consider the adequacy of public facilities in the preparation of its zoning ordinance. Amends § 15.2-2242, § 15.2-2280, of the Code of Virginia. Read the Bill »
- A sample, failed bill from 2008.
- Impact Fees
- A bill in the 2018 General Assembly
- Impact fees for residential development. Repeals provisions that limit existing impact fee authority to (i) localities that have established an urban transportation service district and (ii) areas outside of such service districts that are zoned for agricultural use and that are being subdivided for by-right residential development. The effect of the repeal will be to make the existing impact fee provisions available for use by any locality that includes within its comprehensive plan a calculation of the capital costs of public facilities necessary to serve residential uses.
- Proffers
- These used to be something somewhat useful to extract some costs to allocate towards paying for growth. Proffers ceased in 2016.
- If interested, read some of the proffers news at Charlottesville Tomorrow.
- Read this whole thing from 2016.
- A new law recently enacted by the Virginia General Assembly, which goes into effect July 1, 2016, will dramatically change the way cities and counties address re-zonings for residential projects.The law, known as Senate Bill 549, was signed by Governor McAuliffe in March. It restricts both the subject matter and manner in which localities may accept proffers in residential zoning actions. The new law is causing local governing bodies, such as the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to revamp their policies on proffers – policies that had become fairly objective, even lending some predictability for investors and developers in recent years.
-
- What are proffers? Proffers are essentially conditions that apply in a rezoning that are intended to mitigate a new project’s impacts to public infrastructure or facilities. For example, if a new development were projected to increase traffic at a particular intersection, a new traffic signal or lane widening could typically be expected from the developer of that project. Other frequent examples include improvements to schools and fire stations. Under current law, proffers have been used to help improve local transit, even to promote affordable housing. Proffers can be in the form of direct cash contributions, or physical improvements installed by the developer itself.
- My opinion: in many ways, Albemarle County makes the development process onerous, expensive, and way too time consuming for the rezoning/former proffer process. In doing so, many developers go the path of least resistance – by-right – and often, that end result is not what is best for Albemarle.
- Related story: County development areas attracting growth, but homebuilders see room for more
- And this: New proffer era has begun for Virginia localities
- A bill in the 2018 General Assembly
- Richmond Sunlight
- Fantastic site to track what’s going on in the Virginia General Assembly; track our Delegate, Steve Landes, and our Senator, Creigh Deeds.
- VPAP
- See who’s giving our elected representatives money, and a whole lot more information.
The Series
- The Beginning – A Conversation with a friend over coffee
- Prologue – Support local journalists & journalism
- How Much Money for Infrastructure Has Crozet Gotten?
- Crozet Population Numbers Keep Growing
- Crozet Acronyms – What do They Mean?
- Crozet Water Supply
- Notes from a Crozet Coffee Conversation
- Ongoing Crozet Projects of Note
- Getting Involved in Crozet – Where to Start?
- … I don’t yet know …
Fire Behind Westlake & Western Ridge Last Week
via email (my apologies for taking so long to post)
by Spencer Elliott
I was returning home at around 10:30/10:45 and noticed a glow in he woods between two houses, which I thought peculiar. It looked like a fire, but at first I was in disbelief. It took only a moment more for me to realize it was in fact a fire. I immediately rushed into my house to tell my parents, and we then called 9-1-1 to alert them. Giving them directions was difficult because the fire came from the clearing behind western ridge, which is undeveloped land.Here are a few pictures, not that they’re amazing quality, but its what we were able to capture.
Water Line Work Being Done 16 Jan in front of Western Ridge
via email:
Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, along with Faulconer Construction, will be performing water line repair work on Tuesday January 16, 2018. The repair will take place on Route 240 near Park Ridge Drive in Crozet, VA and is scheduled to begin at 8:00 am. Traffic control will be present and will consist of a lane shift into the painted median, to minimize the impact on through traffic, however speeds may be reduced in the work area. Work is scheduled to end at 4:30pm and the normal traffic pattern will be restored.
Continue reading “Water Line Work Being Done 16 Jan in front of Western Ridge”
CCAC Meeting – 17 January 2018
Make 2018 your year to get involved in Crozet. #CCAC0118
CROZET COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Crozet Library
Wednesday, Jan 17, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Agenda
1. Agenda Review (Dave Stoner – CCAC chair)
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Crozet Survey Results Presentation & Discussion (Crozet Survey Committee – Shawn Bird, Tom Guterbock, and Tim Tolsen – 90 min)
4. CCAC Discussion follow-up: WAHS Wireless Tower SUP (tentative – possibly push to Feb)
5. Items Not Listed on the Agenda
6. Announcements
7. Potential Future Agenda Items
a. Feb – Albemarle County Stormwater Utility Plans (Greg Harper, Env.
Services Chief)
b. Feb – Western Park Master Plan Update (Bob Crickenberger, Albemarle
County)
c. Feb – WAHS Wireless Tower SUP supplemental information (ACPS,
Milestone)
d. Mar – Follow-up discussion on Crozet Survey and Master Plan Update
e. Mar – Crozet Drinking Water Infrastructure Plan Update (Mr. Mawyer
ACSA/RWSA)
f. Mar – Officer Elections
g. TBD – Old Trail Historical Recap
h. TBD – Albemarle County Economic Development Authority Invite
This will be the first meeting I’ll recap without the use of Storify; I’m not yet sure how I’ll do that. Suggestions welcomed.
Getting Involved in Crozet – Where to Start?
Being a Citizen Takes Effort. And Sacrifice.
I was talking to an acquaintance about public meeting attendance, and she recounted how she had attended meetings for years. Her husband would come home from work to watch the kid, sometimes, they’d get a babysitter, she’d forego other opportunities, in order to be a participating member of the community. She, and her family, sacrificed to be citizens.
…
If you do go to that one meeting because it directly affects you? Go to the next one. And the next one, even if the material affects only the community in which you live, and not your particular back yard, or street.
Where to get involved in Crozet?
What interests you?
How much time are you willing and able to commit?
- Albemarle County always has committee vacancies
- CCAC – If I wanted to get involved, I’d go to three or four meetings, take a member or two to coffee, and ask questions.
- CCA – show up
- Planning Commission
- Board of Surpervisors
- PTO
- Meals on Wheels
- Local Food Banks
- Crozet Volunteer Fire Department
- A list from 2015 showing volunteer opportunities in Crozet
The Series
- The Beginning – A Conversation with a friend over coffee
- Prologue – Support local journalists & journalism
- How Much Money for Infrastructure Has Crozet Gotten?
- Crozet Population Numbers Keep Growing
- Crozet Acronyms – What do They Mean?
- Crozet Water Supply
- Notes from a Crozet Coffee Conversation
- Ongoing Crozet Projects of Note
- Getting Involved in Crozet – Where to Start?
- … I don’t yet know …
Crozet Real Estate with David & Jim – Start of 2018
We went for a shorter, tighter segment this time. What do you think?
Mark your calendars – 18 January from 5 to 7 at the Rooftop. Come talk about the Crozet real estate market with David & Jim.
Read all of the real estate posts here on RealCrozetVA.
Transcription is in the works; I’ll update this post then.
Legal Disclosure: David and I are real estate agents with Nest Realty in Charlottesville.
Quick data points from our notes
* 150M vs 129M
* 313 vs 282 up 11%
* New construction – 113 vs 90 – up 26%
* Resale market – pretty flat 200 sold in 2017 w/ 61 DOM vs 192 in 2016 with 57 DOM
* 55 sales over 1 acre vs 52 – people want small yards
* 21 land sales
* 5 distressed
Tight inventory continues
New construction continues to do extremely well.
In Old Trail, in 2016 87 sold, and 2017, 80 sold
Fun Fact – 55 new construction sales in Old Trail both years
Fun Fact – Trails mentioned 5 times in 2007, 35 in 2016 and 40 times in 2017
December 2017 – 29 ratified contracts in 2017 vs 17 in 2016.
Transcript
Crozet Real Estate Market – Starting 2018
Jim: Hey there. Jim Duncan with Nest Realty.
David: David Farrell with Nest Realty, sitting here at Nest West.
Jim: Do a little bit of Crozet real estate. Looking back at 2017, Crozet had 115 million dollars of real estate sales, versus 129 million in the previous year.
David: It was a heck of a year, Jim. We had 313 sales. That was up 11% from last year — the most ever in Crozet. Remember we’re defining Crozet by the Brownsville —
Jim: And Crozet Elementary.
David: — and Crozet Elementary school district.
Jim: New construction?
David: Was also up. 113 new homes build in Crozet last year, up from 90 the year before in 2016, so that a 26% increase, new home constructions.
Jim: Heck of a year for new.
Resale, actually, was kind of flat. I think, driven by the new construction taking it. 200 sold in 2017 with 61 days on the market, and 192 sold in 2016 with about the same, 57 days on the market.
David: Still impressive though.
We had 55 sales on an acre or more. Those are typically a couple of the older subdivisions in town, but mostly properties outside of the area.
Jim: Right.
David: There were 21 land sales overall for the year, which is the same as in 2016\. The good news is, we only had five distressed sales over the whole year — short sale, foreclosures — there were 7 in 2016\. So we’re thrilled to see that.
Jim: That’s a great thing.
David: Good to see that figure drop.
Jim: Looking forward to 2018\. We’re going to have continued tight inventory. It’s going to be hard to buy a house for a lot of people. New construction is going to continue to kill it, I think.
David: Yes.
Jim: — but for those looking for stuff under 500 in Crozet…
David: It’s getting hard.
Jim: It’s going to be hard, getting harder.
David: Attached home in Old Trail or lock into a resale.
Jim: Yes.
Old Trail, 2016, 87 sold, and 2017, fewer — 80 sold.
David: I thought it was extremely interesting in Old Trail that 55 new construction sold in 2017; the exact same as in 2016\. So even though we see dirt flying over there constantly, the build-out rate seems to be around 55 — between 50 and 60…
Jim: Which is good. A good stable rate of new construction.
My fun fact for this one is that in 2007 in the MLS, trails were mentioned as a selling point five times; 2016, 35 times, and last year, 2017, 40 times. So huge kudos to the Crozet Trails crew for all that they do.
David: Great growing trail system.
Jim: Yes.
And, busy, busy December. In Brownsville and Crozet there were 29 ratified contracts in 2017, only 17 in 2016.
David: Pretty impressive.
Jim: Very.
David: Busy drinking beer around here also?
Jim: Oh, there’s lots of places to drink beer.
David: Third Thursday of the month, we’re going to be up at the Roof Top, so that’s Thursday, January 18th; we’ll be up there from 5 to 7 if you want to come talk about real estate. If you have any questions about heading into 2018, just stop by and have a beer, and we’ll be happy to chat with you.
Jim: If you’re thinking about selling your house, I think now is the time to start having the conversation about getting ready for the spring market, because it is really and truly right around the corner.
David: I’ve got listings coming on this week. I bet you do also?
Jim: Same too.
David: OK. I’m David Farrell of Nest Realty.
Jim: Jim Duncan of Nest Realty.
David: Good luck with your real estate in 2018.