Excellent story in today’s Daily Progress:A lack of supporting infrastructure and a major dispute over population figures has put Crozet at the center of controversy, with residents making sharp accusations that county leaders have misled them, misrepresented them or simply let them down.

Vito Cetta talks about affordable housing and CrozetThe 250/240 intersection is potentially dangerous and definitely inefficient.  Per usual, “spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Transportation …  says he’s not sure when decisions for 240/250 will be made, but says it’s a three-way decision-making process among developers, County planners and traffic officials…”  Don’t hold your breath.

A roundup of last night’s CCA meeting is coming, but I wanted to briefly note a couple of things:1) The attendance by the County was fantastic – Lee Caitlin, Rebecca Ragsdale, Tom Foley and Susan Stimart.  David Wyant was absent.  Thank you.2) About 35 -40 residents turned out – a relatively large number for a summer meeting.3) The Crozet Library project may have some interesting developments coming down the pike.  With a bit more investigation, I will write more.4) In discussing the perceived poor implementation of the Western Connector and the lack of bike lanes, it was said that – wait for it – “The sidewalks ARE the bike lanes.”  Crozet Master Plan is here.

Mark your calendars for this Thursday!  This “Growth Summit” seems interesting.  The more public involvement, the better.From the CCA’s listserv:We are scheduled to have the requested July meeting this week on Thursday at 7:30 at the Firehouse.  This is a special summer meeting called to address issues related to the rapid development going on around Crozet.  There will be a report from the Crozet Community Advisory Council, the Board of Supervisors’ appointed group that is asked to advise the BOS on Crozet concerns.  It has met three times and is asking for public input.  There will be discussion of a proposal to hold a “Growth Summit” in Crozet in September, where the general public, members of the BOS, the Advisory Committee, and others will address the build-out projections, the development of commercial space in and around Crozet, the re-zoning process, the protection of rural space, and other concerns.  People from other growth areas in the County would be invited to attend.

The zoning notices pop up all the time; keeping track of them is a difficult task.

The Crozet population matter comes to a head this Wednesday, 5 July.The full text of the proposed resolution.  One (sarcastic) question: why all the “Whereas'”?  From Crozet’s Community Association’s newsletter:This is the resolution that sets Crozet’s target population at 24,000, not 12,000.  (As of 2005, Crozet had a population somewhere between 3,500-4,000).  Because those links did not work in the last message, THE FULL TEXT OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND THE RESOLUTION ARE BELOW.  In January, the Board voted unanimously to affirm that 12,000 was not the ultimate target population figure for Crozet, but apparently they feel that that resolution was not strong enough, so this resolution is in front of them for a vote this Wednesday.  This would be a good time to speak up regarding what your thoughts were regarding the size of Crozet if you were involved in any Master Planning meetings or have read about the Crozet Master Plan over the years….  IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ABOUT THIS MATTER, PLEASE COME AT 9 A.M. AND SPEAK IN THE FIRST PART OF THE MEETING WHERE ANYONE CAN SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES ON ANY MATTER.

Maybe.  (as usual) CvilleTomorrow provides an outstanding summary of last night’s work session.  Read the whole thing.  Referring to Crozet Pizza and the neighboring businesses:All existing buildings would be demolished with this redevelopment proposal.Part of what makes “Crozet” is Crozet Pizza …  what will Crozet look like without its foundations?

Coming soon …  Crozet Station: A conceptual redevelopment project located in Downtown Crozet along the north side of Three Notched Road from Route 240/Crozet Avenue to the Crozet Shopping Center parcel.  The proposal is mixed use commercial and residential, including approximately 42,000 square feet of commercial and 72 residential units.  This is a pre-application submittal scheduled for a work session with the Planning Commission on May 23 30, 2006.  Staff contact is Rebecca Ragsdale.  Via Albemarle.org.  The sign has been there for some time announcing the impending development …  go to the Planning Commission to learn more.

There is no dearth of ways to get involved and learn more about the goings-on of Crozet.  Mark your calendars for this Thursday at 7pm.Our May Crozet Community Association Meeting is this Thursday at 7:30 at the Firehouse.  Please send me any items for the agenda you would like presented or discussed.  At the moment we have these items: a report from the newly formed Crozet Advisory Committee of the Board of Supervisors; announcement of a new newspaper serving Western Albemarle; a paid job opening; and several other matters.A new newspaper in Western Albemarle?

This outstanding report by Charlottesville Tomorrow shows what the County apparently is unable to accurately determine and/or admit to.  While nobody can predict accurately the speed with which those homes will be built and occupied, it is news that County staff are bringing this to the attention of the Board.  On paper, the twenty-year Crozet Master Plan approved in December 2004 has crossed the threshold of a population of 12,000 people.Go read the report, educate yourself and contact your representative in Albemarle County.