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CoWorking Comes to Crozet

The CoWorking idea has been around for a long time, and I asked in 2018 if CoWorking could work in Crozet. (and in 2010)

Well .. CoWorking is coming to Crozet.

via email from Arin Sime (edited slightly by me)

The Coworking office is finally complete this month!  I’m going to invite people to start co-working in October, and I already have a nice list of people waiting to sign up when it’s officially open, but I’d welcome a few more before capping the membership for a while.


I’m having an open house next Tuesday, September 24th, from 4:00-6:00pm for anyone to stop by who’s interested in co-working.  The address is 5405 Ashlar Avenue, Suite #201.  That’s in the new Old Trail Heights building, across the green space from Grit cafe.


Anyone who has questions is welcome to email me at [email protected] or call 434 226 0878.

Pictures courtesy of Arin Sime

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Bike Paths, Big YMCA, Master Plan

This is an exciting post, because I didn’t write most of it. Thanks to Neve Gallagher for going to the 12 September 2019 CCAC meeting, tweeting it, and writing the following. My .02 on the Crozet Park proposal, and the bike path: Need more bike paths. If they are going to expand Crozet Park, doing so without commensurate infrastructure (bike paths, sidewalks, roads) and without actually talking to neighbors, is negligent.

The community involvement in the Crozet Master Plan has exceeded the CCAC’s expectations. They had ordered pizza for 75 people and over 120 came, on Monday September 9th, to give their input. The CCAC is looking community involvement and presenting varying opportunities for it, since the Master Plan is, ultimately, for the people. 

There is a play-by-play on Twitter of the CCAC meeting if you’re looking for in-depth coverage of the meeting. 

Highlights

  • Crozet Master Plan Update
    • More community involvement than expected
    • Opened up the floor  for input on the following questions:
      • “Did anything surprise you about the workshop, on Monday September 9th?”
      • “What worked well?”
      • “What should we continue doing or what should we start doing?”
    • Majority response was that there were ample opportunities for community input & involvement and this was greatly appreciated
  • Barnes Lumber Development Road/ Bike Path Discussion
    • Doug Bates presented the initial road plan and the revised road plan to the floor, asking for opinions on the revision.
    • The general consensus was that the bike path was a better option than the bike lanes on the roads. Why?
      • A bike path is more family friendly & appealing to the typical Crozet local
    • A concern that has gone into the planning of building these roads with VDOT is the potential for this to turn into a high speed road; Frank Stoner assures that they are looking at ways to prevent this
      • Talk of raised intersections to prevent high speed traffic
  • Claudius Crozet Park Facility Proposal
    • Drew Holzwarth reviewed the Crozet Park Facility plans, explained the reasons this facility was a necessity and how, as a town, plan to pay for it
      • Holzwarth referenced past Crozet Park projects that were great successes due to high community involvement in fundraising. 

This month’s CCAC meeting had an overall theme of community involvement. Without the community input these plans will go through, building will commence and citizens of Crozet will be displeased with some aspect of the design. The CCAC is offering ways to get the community mobilized and easily put in their two cents. I suggest we all take these opportunities presented to raise our concerns and collaborate to allow the plans for Crozet to reflect our community.  

Continue reading “Bike Paths, Big YMCA, Master Plan”
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Crozet Master Plan, Sidewalks, Buses | Albemarle County BoS Agenda are interesting

It’s instructive to read Albemarle County Board of Supervisor agendas. Look at the agenda, and search “Crozet.“

The next regular meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors is Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at 1:00 p.m., in Lane Auditorium of the County Office Building, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

  • Dig into the timeline for the Crozet Master Plan. Maybe consider going to a meeting, as this is where the Plan is shaped (better now, than after everything has been decided).
  • The Quarterly Transportation Plan update is interesting as well.
    • “Crozet Square – engineering and design phase are well underway and construction is planned to begin late 2020/early 2021″
    • “Crozet Express Transit Service – Staff continues to work with JAUNT on the development of the proposed express commuter transit service between Crozet and Charlottesville. The Board has identified funding for the service and draft routing and schedule has been developed. Staff is currently identifying stops and securing agreements to allow the service to make those stops.”
    • “Tabor Street, High Street, and Hilltop Street Sidewalks – The consultant’s evaluation on these improvements have provided information that is being evaluated for a potential Transportation Alternatives application in 2019.”
    • “Barnes Lumber – Staff continues to attend meetings with County officials, VDOT, and developers of the Barnes Lumber related to the Library Avenue Extension Project, the proposed rezoning of the property, and necessary traffic analysis and improvements. Preliminary designs for the Library Ave connection and general road system are currently in review. Staff expects a ZMA application for the development project in the coming year. Weekly team member meetings are held and (sic)”
    • Lots of speeding concerns across the county, including 250 and Park Ridge Road. And people are confused at the Airport Road roundabout. How?! It’s been there for years.

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Crozet Fire Department & Crozet Neighborhoods

The Crozet Volunteer Fire Department is trying to collect contact information for Crozet neighborhoods, and asked for my help.

Here’s a spreadsheet with the Crozet neighborhoods. If I’m missing one or some, please let me know. I’ll try to update it as responses come in.

And here’s a google form where you can input relevant information (name, contact information, website, etc)

*note. I’m a Realtor, and I won’t use this information in any way; I’m just a conduit.

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Crozet Park’s Massive Plans

Crozet Gazette have a great article on the Park’s plans. *

Crozet resident and park board member Drew Holzwarth unveiled big plans for Claudius Crozet Park at the August 21 Board of Supervisors meeting, launching a push for a major expansion to existing facilities in the park. “There is a critical need for additional indoor recreation space in the county, and this is an opportunity for us to build a truly transformative facility for county residents,” said Holzwarth.

The proposed expansion envisions a new 47,000-square-foot facility, to include a multi-purpose gym, fitness and wellness areas, an indoor track, a community room, a stay and play area and more. The Claudius Crozet Park (CCP) board hopes to fund the $6.5 million project via a public/private partnership with Albemarle County, in which the county would contribute $2.4 million over the next two years.

The CCP board’s plan would build an indoor recreation space with a footprint slightly larger than the Brooks YMCA in Charlottesville that will serve all ages.

From the Crozet Gazette

*speaking as a neighbor, I remember a time when developers would talk to neighbors. Disappointing.

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Downtown Crozet Redevelopment Moving Forward

Alison Wrabel (one of the only reasons I subscribe to the Daily Progress) writes: (read the whole thing)

The first phase of the redevelopment of the former Barnes Lumber site in Crozet was approved Wednesday.

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a rezoning of about 6.24 acres of the site from heavy industry and commercial to Downtown Crozet District to allow for mixed-use development.

Developer Frank Stoner, with Milestone Partners, did not have a formal presentation but thanked the board, county staff, the Crozet Community Advisory Committee and the Downtown Crozet Initiative for their input and work over the years.

“We’re in our fifth year of this project, and I can honestly tell you we wouldn’t be here today without all the people I just mentioned,” he said.

The redevelopment of the Barnes Lumber site has been included in the Crozet Master Plan. A proposal was submitted in 2010 but did not move forward. Crozet New Town Associates purchased the property from the bank and reactivated the rezoning application in 2014 for the whole property.

In 2017, the rezoning request was modified to focus on the first phase of the site — the 6.24-acre portion — including a proposed civic plaza.

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10th Annual Crozet Trails Crew 5K

Crozet Trails signage

via email

The 10th Annual Crozet Trails Crew (CTC) 5K Race and Kids Fun Run is open for registration.

It’s the race where everyone wins. Participants get to compete on one of prettiest greenways in Albemarle County, and CTC uses the registration fees and other donations to expand and promote Crozet’s trail network. Recent improvements include stabilizing soft spots with crushed stone, a new stairway to access the Creekside trail head, benches and a tunnel under the new Eastern Avenue extension.

When, Where and What Time


October 12th at Crozet Park.


The Kids Fun Run begins at 8:00 AM followed by the 5K race at 8:30 AM. At 9:30 AM we will award medals and hand out raffle prizes donated by big-hearted Crozet merchants. We would love to have you join us. It is $20 to register on-line and $25 in person.

Visit crozettrailscrew.org or RunSignUp for more details and to register.

The outdoors are at your doorstep – we hope to see you on October 12th. Thank you for contributing.

Terri Miyamoto, President

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Stream Quality In Crozet?

From a Nextdoor post by Thomas Adajian:

(posted with permission)

The VA Virginia Department of Environmental’s official rating of some of our local streams might be of interest to Crozet residents who hike the greenway (and those who don’t). Especially in the  light of accelerating development. 

Lickinghole Creek is on the DEQ “Impaired Waters List for 2018” list.  See link, p. 24.

Its official rating is  “impaired.”  It’s officially a “High” priority for a TMDL, although there is none currently.I believe it’s been on the list since 2010. (A TMDL establishes the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed in a waterbody and serves as the starting point or planning tool for restoring water quality.  See https://www.epa.gov/tmdl.

Lickinghole Creek’s official  DEQ categorization is Virginia Category 5A. That means  “a Water Quality Standard is not attained. The water is impaired or threatened for one or more designated uses by a pollutant(s) and requires a TMDL (303d list).”

 Mechums River, into which LIckinghole Creek feeds, has the same rating ( p. 24). It’s  been on the list since 2004.

Here’s the link.

A useful comment about anonymous reporting

https://portal.deq.virginia.gov/prep/Report/Create

Try link above for anonymous reporting, folks. You can even upload pictures. If the source of muddy “sludge” in our stream is a construction site, it’s a big problem. The sites are supposed to follow the state erosion and sediment guidelines and when done properly, sediment laden runoff should not flow off site. Please report these incidences- either the state or the County will come out to inspect and address the guilty party accordingly, having them install the proper controls to prevent harm to our streams.ThankReply

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CCAC Recap – August 2019 | Crozet Connect, Master Plan, Resolutions

Crozet Connect is a success so far, and it’s fantastic. Crozet Master Plan will be updated, and it’s a 15 month process.

Read all the tweets if you’re interested (and you should be; this stuff affects all of us).

A few highlights

Downloads

CCAC_MeetingSlides_20190814Download
Albemarle-Long-Range-Plan-8.4.2019Download
Crozet-Elementary-Resolution-Draft-8.9.2019Download
Continue reading “CCAC Recap – August 2019 | Crozet Connect, Master Plan, Resolutions”
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Downtown Crozet Redevelopment Gets Planning Commission Approval

Finally, Downtown Crozet is closer to being redeveloped! After 50+ community meetings, and remarkable persistence by the developer, things seem to be moving forward. A hotel in downtown Crozet is much-needed.

First

Read Allison Wrabel’s story in the Daily Progress, not just the snippets I’ve pulled. (bolding mine)

The Albemarle County Planning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval of a rezoning of about 6.24 acres of the site from heavy industry and commercial to Downtown Crozet District to allow for mixed use development.

…

The current proposed project would include commercial and retail space, a hotel and approximately 52 residential units in its first phase.

…

Possible issues staff cited were increased traffic and increased demand for parking. A potential impact on schools, particularly Crozet Elementary, also was a concern, but that was not as high of a concern yet, as only about six elementary school students are anticipated to live in the residential part of the project.

Remember how some people thought that Old Trail was going to be a retirement community? Me too. 🙂

Second

Note that the County have been “discussing parking” in Downtown Crozet forever. (bolding mine)

In addition to action on the Old Trail rezoning, The Planning Commission specifically requested that the Board address the following issues related to Crozet as a whole:

–          The parking restrictions in the existing downtown Crozet area should be reviewed and potentially studied for revision to allow the Crozet area to better support its businesses that exist and could come.

–          Put all of the County resources possible towards getting Jarman’s Gap Road higher on the VDOT list of priorities. 

–          Have staff work with the schools and applicant to talk about interconnectivity on the trails and traffic.

–          The Board should direct staff to work at making sure the downtown Crozet improvements are actually done.  

From the 2005 Summary of the Old Trail rezoning