From today’s DP article by David Hendrick – Fabienne Swanson, manager of the nearby Fabulous Foods, also expressed guarded optimism about impending change.”I do have to say I’m looking forward to growth and some of the changes,” Swanson said.  “I really hope they think about the roads before they allow all the growth.”If only they would listen to the people …

Albemarle County has updated their Crozet site.  Check out the agenda for tomorrow, the infrastructure update and more.  Based solely on the agenda, I think the County may be continuing the disconnect that currently exists.  Is the planned population for Crozet 12,000 or 24,000?  Without addressing this, I think that Crozetians are going to be less able/willing to move forward.  Who wants to work with someone they don’t trust?

An effort is being made to request the County to review its Master Plan for Crozet.  You can sign the petition here.The petition reads:Citizens of Crozet diligently worked thousands of hours over two years with Albemarle Count planners and and consultants to design a Master Plan that would create a Crozet of 12,000 residents.  In good faith, Crozetians negotiated with Albemarle County leaders for a Master Plan in which the maximum population of Crozet was publicly and repeatedly projected at 12,000 total residents.  This projection would quadruple the size of Crozet.  Now the County says we have it wrong!  The County says the plan calls for a population in the Crozet Growth Area as high as 24,000 residents!  The want Crozet to grow to half the size of the City of Charlottesville.The County currently has a credibility problem.  They certainly have some ‘splainin’ to do.

Albemarle County’s website has an updated notification system for Crozet’s Master plan.  Go here to sign up.  One thing that irks me is that they require registrants to state whether they are residents of Albemarle.  I would be interested to see an option for how many are natives of Albemarle.  Their A-Mail is one of many efficient features of their extensive website.

Lots to discuss!From the DP: The county’s Comprehensive Plan designates Crozet for growth.  The county’s Neighborhood Model illustrates what growth should look like.  The Crozet Master Plan, painstakingly developed with residents’ involvement, describes how growth should occur specifically in and around Crozet.  Individual rezonings and similar board decisions implement all those plans.Residents believe the Master Plan should be the ultimate guide.  But they are not sure the Board of Supervisors is following that vision.Adding to the confusion is the difficulty of measuring growth.  Master Plan figures predict a maximum population of about 12,000 in 20 years when the area is fully “built out.”  Supervisors and county staff suggest a population of 24,000.  And an analyst at the Piedmont Environmental Council says the number could go even higher – up to 33,000 people.And Charlottesville Tomorrow is following the story.

I heard a rumor or two today about a couple of chains that may be making their way to the Crozet area.  How would that change the Crozet area?  Currently we have been able to maintain a “small-town” feel, with local restaurants, dry cleaners, pharmacies, etc. What impact would large-scale national chains have on Crozet?  What, if anything, could be done to prevent or encourage these types of stores to come?  Would anybody care?

Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog has a good post about the County’s recent transportation strategy meeting.

Current “advertisement date” for construction is December 2008Accelerated action on preliminary engineering for two NEW streets in the Crozet Master Plan: Eastern Avenue (between Routes 240 and 250) with a bridge at Lickinghole Creek and a new Main Street starting at Crozet Avenue.  The goal with both streets is to work with property owners to get alignment established and to complete engineering design of the bridge (current estimated cost is $6 million for the bridge)Change is upon us. Get Ready.

With this little corner Starr, Starr Hill’s brewing operations announce their Crozet presence.

There is a great story by Chirstina Ball in The HooK about their continuing growth and accolades.But local master brewer Mark Thompson, owner and co-founder of The Starr Hill Brewing Company, is making such a slight impossible.  Thompson, who’s from Virginia but studied the art of brewing out west, is still beaming from yet another sweeping victory at the 2005 Great American Beer Festival….  Going head-to-head at the 2005 competition were no fewer than 1,672 beers from 466 breweries.Starr Hill garnered a gold medal for its Dark Starr Stout and two silvers for its Mojo Lager and Amber Ale.  Last year both the Mojo and the Starr Hill Pale Ale took the gold.Thompson’s vision for this new location includes a tourist-friendly tasting room as well as a roof deck offering views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.

Brent, ACSA’s Executive Director – To facilitate orderly development as envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan, many millions of dollars have been invested in establishing the water and sewer infrastructure in Crozet.  In addition to developing the utility backbone for future development, the authority is committed to maintaining the reliability of service to existing customers in Crozet.  A $1.7 million project is currently under construction to replace existing water lines in the downtown area and residential areas north of downtown.  There are no requests for water or sewer service or complaints of inadequate service in Crozet that have not been dealt with by the service authority.It just seems like there should be problems created by the growth in Crozet.