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.

The DepotLocated next to the existing Crozet Shopping Center, this plan features two office/commercial buildings and adequate parking.Wickham PondThis proposed Neighborhood Model Development is located adjacent to the “Highlands at Mechums River” in Crozet.Liberty HallThe neighborhood includes single-family homes, townhouses, and a commercial center.  (County review pending.)Everybody wants to build in Crozet.  Let’s see how Weather Hill does.  Getting a project approved and developed through Albemarle’s planning process is an achievement in and of itself.

Thanks to today’s DP article for this excerpt – Crozet was the first of the county’s seven designated-growth areas to be planned for pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use development….  According to the county’s plan, such improvements are supposed to be made simultaneously with development, and that’s the point of frustration for residents.“If they don’t use planning to cause development to happen the right way, it isn’t going to just happen,” resident Sandy Wilcox said.The plan specifically includes improvements to Jarman’s Gap Road, parking downtown, sidewalks and new connector roads.  So far, Crozet residents say, they’ve been left out to dry.Loach said the people continuing to speak out since the Old Trail decision are not reactionary, but defensive.  “It’s not fire and brimstone as much as it’s disappointment and betrayal.”The short story is that there is a tremendous amount of growth planned for Crozet with relatively few infrastructure planned to be provided.