I get these emails from Albemarle County, I guess because I’m now on the CCAC and I’m glad I do — better to know know what’s happening in our community. Not every announcement is a “big” one, and often it’s the aggregate of the small ones that matter.
Every week, I skim them for Crozet-focused things. Two of note in the past two weeks:
(I’ve re-ordered the snippets I copy/pasted below; both files are at the bottom of the post; I encourage people to click through and read/learn/digest for yourselves)
PROPOSAL: Special use permit for a manufactured home park.
PETITION: A request for a special use permit under Section 18-16.2.2 for a manufactured home park on a 14.94-acre parcel. The property is currently a non-conforming manufactured home park with 73 units. The proposal seeks to bring the property into conformance and to request an additional 14 units for a total of 87 units at a gross density of 5.82 dwelling units/acre. Associated with this request are several special exceptions to the manufactured home park special regulations outlined in Section 18-5.3.
CAC/County staffing and operations, Emily Kilroy and Serena Gruia
Crozet Trails Crew, Terri Miyamoto
via email from CCAC Chair Joe Fore
The Crozet Community Advisory Committee will meet this Wednesday, November 9, at 7 pm in the large meeting room at the Crozet Library. I have attached the agenda and the draft minutes from our last meeting. (If you can arrive a few minutes early to help set up the room, it will help ensure that we can start promptly at 7.)
We will have two scheduled presentations. First, in a fitting follow-up to last month’s discussion about our internal operations, we’ll discuss CAC operations and staffing with Emily Kilroy and Serena Gruia from the County. Second, we’ll hear from the Crozet Trails Crew about their recent and future projects.
We’ll also consider a resolution to let the committee meet virtually in a way that complies with state law. I’ll circulate a copy of that proposed resolution before the meeting.
Lastly, I wanted to pass along an update regarding the White Gate Farm/Montclair stream, shared by Eric Schmitz (who joined us for our September meeting). The environmental consultants hired by the County have confirmed that there is, indeed, an “intermittent” stream, which is entitled to protection under County ordinances. Frank Pohl, the County Engineer, issued the attached letter, agreeing with that determination and noting that the stream and the corresponding stream buffers will be added back to the County’s maps.
Attachments
Update: here’s the draft language for the virtual meeting proposal (tl;dr – only three meetings a year are allowed)
I received the following via email (the bolding is mine)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has prepared a Draft Supplemental Watershed Plan-Environmental Document (Draft Plan-EA) for the Rehabilitation of Multiple-Purpose Structure No. 1 of the Beaver Creek watershed (Beaver Creek Dam) located in Albemarle County, Virginia. NRCS and the Project Sponsors invite you to review the Draft Plan-EA and provide your comments, questions and/or feedback regarding this supplemental watershed plan.
The formal comment review period will conclude on December 19, 2022. Please direct all questions and comments to J.R. Collins of Schnabel Engineering, LLC by e-mail at [email protected], or hard copies to:
Schnabel Engineering, LLC 12301 Research Blvd, Building 4, Suite 150 Austin, TX 78759 Attn: J.R. Collins
For more information, please visit www.rivanna.org. We look forward to receiving your feedback.
“And then there’s Election Day, with the Congressional races the major item on the ballot in Virginia. No matter how that race turns out, many people may begin to think about running for office themselves. In a year from now, three seats on the Charlottesville City Council will be up for election, as will the Rivanna, Scottsville, and White Hall seats in Albemarle County. The world always turns, and so does local government. “
…
In the second request Albemarle Supervisors will review today, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville is seeking $80,000 as a local match through the Affordable Housing and Special Needs Program of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
“This funding would support the construction of four homes purchased by the families at or below 60 percent of the area median income,” reads the October 12, 2022 request letter.
These homes would be at either the Lochlyn Hill subdivision on the city border or at Old Trail in Crozet.
There’s a lot more here; our community’s education is important. (bolding below is mine)
22-476 – Board-to-Board (October 2022)
In another key academic category, 64% of all ACPS graduates received an Advanced Studies Diploma, which is earned each year by graduates who take the most rigorous academic courses. The statewide rate was 53%.
School division graduates in individual student demographic groups also did well in comparison to their peers across Virginia. Among Hispanic students, students with disabilities, students from economically disadvantaged homes, and English Learners, on-time graduation rates in the division were higher in each group than the average rates across Virginia. Among Black students, the division’s on-time graduation rate matched the statewide average of 90.3%.
Individual school highlights include Monticello High School’s 93.3% on-time graduation rate for Black students; Western Albemarle’s rate of 92.9% for Hispanic students; and the 95.1% on-time graduation rate for students with disabilities at Albemarle High School.
The division also had a lower dropout rate than Virginia’s average for all school divisions. Led by a rate of less than one percent at Western Albemarle, the overall dropout rate for the division was 3.9%, compared to the statewide rate of 5.2%.
ACPS also released the college readiness scores for its graduates who took SAT tests earlier this year. Research shows that students who meet or exceed this College Board benchmark have a strong likelihood for success in credit-bearing college work. Better than eight out of 10 seniors (85%) in the school division met the College Board benchmark, compared to 83% of seniors in Virginia and 68% of seniors across the country.
Next year, the school division will be expanding its career readiness program offerings to all students in grades 10-12. The division is providing open admission to any sophomore, junior or senior in career learning communities. Each career learning community represents professional areas with the highest potential for high-quality job opportunities, both locally and nationally. They are based upon state research and division surveys of middle school students over the past four years.
Albemarle panel to review Misty Mountain camp expansion
The Albemarle Agricultural and Forestal District Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. in Room 246 in the County Office Building at 401 McIntire Road. They will consider an addition to the Hatton AFD, review the Blue Run District, and get briefings on two special use permits near AFD’s. (meeting info)
The first special use permit is for Misty Mountain Camp Resort to expand by 53 campsites to a total of 158, permit 19 cabins, and to be able to rent out cabins year-round with a 30-day occupancy limit. The Board of Supervisors will make the final decision by the AFD is being asked to weigh in on whether the expansion would be contrary to the purpose of the districts. (staff report)
In the second, Pippin Hill seeks a special use permit to expand a historic structure called Crossroads Tavern at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Plank Road. (staff report)
Location map for Misty Mountain Camp Resort (Credit: Albemarle County) ((Jim – And Sean Tubbs))
I think it would be useful to search Albemarle County agendas and meeting minutes for matters that affect Crozet. Weekly. Anyone interested in helping me do this? Please contact me.
Example: I heard that the Greenwood cell phone tower was approved, but I haven’t made time to seek out those meeting minutes, and with limited local journalists, I think we the community need to take on some of this research.
Crozet Trails, Bluegrass, Diapers, 5K … all to support one of the best things in Crozet that benefits us all – the Crozet Trails, and the Crozet Trails Crew!
All-New Fun This Year!
Later start time: 10 a.m. Sleep in and relax before you come
Family Fun Run and Diaper Derby: Fun for the whole family
Bluegrass Music: Stick around for the music and fun after the race
Starr Hill Brewery: Try an autumn flavor from our neighborhood brewery
Help support our work providing trails for Crozet!
The twice-a-year “one of the great things about Crozet” is this weekend.
via press release
CROZET, VA Over 120 Artists and Exhibitors are coming back to Crozet Park for the 42nd Annual Crozet Fall Arts and Crafts Festival! Recognized as one of the region’s leading fine arts and craft shows, the Crozet Arts & Craft Festival will be held rain or shine Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th from 10 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday. The event is family and pet-friendly.
Top artists from across the country vied to be a part of the 42nd bi-annual Crozet Art & Craft Festival on Columbus/ Indigenous People’s Day weekend. From a large pool of creative candidates, a panel of talented and professional artist jurors chose the best in each arts category. Many new artists will join the seasoned and returning favorites of the past. This year’s exhibitors will bring to Crozet an array of stunning jewelry, trendsetting apparel and leather, magnificent artwork, photography and exceptionally crafted glass, ceramics, sculpture, and more. Festival guests will find something for almost every taste and pocketbook, ranging from affordable gift giving to heirloom investments.
The festival’s fine arts and crafts will be complemented by a variety of types and styles of popular local musicians playing throughout the weekend.
Saturday Oct 8
10a – 10:45am Skyline Country Cloggers 11:15 – 12:15p Gina Sobel 12:45 – 2:45 Zuzu’s Hot Five 3:15 – 5:15 Farm Use String Band
Sunday Oct 9
10a – 11a WAHS Jazz Band 11:30 – 2p Swansong 2:30 – 5:00 Sweet Potatoes
An appetizing selection of Food Trucks will be complemented by beer from Starr-Hill Brewery, Devil’s Backbone, cider from Blue Toad, and a selection of local wines.
The children’s area includes beloved musical guests Kim and Jimbo Cary, Bounce Play n Create, The Bluebird Bookstop, art activities, and more!
Festival patrons can enter to win amazing original artwork in the festival raffle.
The Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival takes place at Crozet Park. Located just off the Route 64 bypass, take exit #107 west of Charlottesville. Crozet Park is a beautiful, community-owned non-profit park and the beneficiary of the Art Festival.
You can help with Crozet Trails by joining in our primary fundraiser!
Don’t miss it, whether you know you can run that 5K in 20 minutes, or you’re willing to stroll along the beautiful trail, dog on leash and coffee cup in hand.
DATE: Saturday, October 29 TIME: 10:00 a.m. LOCATION: Claudius Crozet Park Registration now open
Registration is $20 ($25 day of race) and all runners get a race T-shirt. The Course starts in Crozet Park and continues on the Crozet trail system to the east of the Park (rustic trail, so plenty of roots, rocks, and ruts), and finishes back at Crozet Park. Online registration ends Thursday October 27 at 5 p.m. In-person registration starts at 9:00 a.m. the day of the race.
FUN RUN!
There will be a shorter course (the 1K family fun run) in addition to the 5K. Registration is $15 (on-line and in person, same cost) and all registrants get a t-shirt (but no timing or places are awarded). Kids under 7 years old can participate in the Family fun run for free if they are accompanied by a registered participant.
Monthly Meeting Thursday, September 22We welcome anyone who is interested in getting involved, or just learning about, the work (and fun) of the Trails Crew! If you’re new to Crozet, and haven’t yet found the trails, here’s your chance to meet some great people. Our next meeting will be Thursday, September 22, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Community Room (formerly the Radio Building) at Claudius Crozet Park.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to get involved in Crozet, and want to do something that’s fun, rewarding, and sociable, our meeting is a great place. We don’t care if you’ve never come before, we’d love to meet you now. Our agenda this month will include planning some winter projects (and socials!), finalizing what we need for the 5K on October 29, and discussing options for our dream of a Lickinghole Creek bridge.
Directions: Enter at the main Park Road entrance to Claudius Crozet Park (1075 Claudius Crozet Park, Crozet). Take the first left to go around the pool then drive through the parking lot behind the pool. The Community Building is the small white building at the far side of the parking lot. Enter through the door on the parking lot side. If you drive, please park inside the park — not along Hilltop or Indigo — leaving the places closest to the building open so the basketball hoops can be used, and enter through the door next to the equipment shed.
Call to Order & Agenda Review (3 minutes) Joe Fore, CCAC Chair
Approve Meeting Minutes (2 minutes) Joe Fore, CCAC Chair
AC Parks & Green Systems Presentation (60 minutes) •
Tim Padalino, Chief of Parks Planning
Countywide Parks & Rec Priorities and Projects
Parks & Rec Projects in the Crozet Area
Committee business – (25 minutes)
• In-person meetings procedures
Next Meeting: tentative October 12, 2022
Much of the parks conversation will likely have already been covered by Sean Tubbs, but the CCAC discussion will naturally be more focused on Crozet – likely the redevelopment of Crozet Park, Old Trail park development, and anything at Mint Springs (I can’t think of anything).
