Crozet's community blog
This might mean a little, a lot or nothing at all.
Ann Mallek has raised three times as much in Crozet as has incumbent David Wyant. Have the demographics changed that much in four short years? Mr. Wyant has raised eight thousand dollars more than Mrs. Mallek and has nearly twice as much on hand, but this race should be interesting.
Everybody would do well to see where candidates’ money are coming from at Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP)’s site. It’s fascinating.
Not including bike lanes is a serious flaw in the design of an “improved” Downtown Crozet.
“Where are the bike lanes?†asked one man. There are none planned, answered the consultant.
“Would people have to bike on the sidewalk?†Experienced bikers often ride on the street, explained the consultant. The man didn’t seem satisfied.
For a local government with such a great recent track record of embracing green initiatives and active lifestyles, this is a shame.
Whom should we contact at the County to express a desire for bike lanes?
Also, per David Wyant: “We want a walkable, bikable community.” – 1:01 of the White Hall Forum.
Update: Here is some of the relevant Code regarding riding bikes on sidewalks.
Update 2: From Jack Kelsey,
Thank you for your inquiry and the web-links. In response to your September 25th email, we recognize that this street corridor is really constrained with some existing features that are very important to Crozet residents. Our primary challenge during the design process is going to be achieving a balance of the improvements to: accommodate the needs of all users (vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and future transit); aesthetically enhance this main thoroughfare of the Downtown; preserve existing unique features and characteristics of Crozet Avenue and Crozet; increase vitality and economic benefit to downtown business owners; and try to provide environmentally sensitive solutions to stormwater management within this constrained corridor.
At this point we have not made any absolute decisions as to design elements, but as a starting point we are using the Crozet Master Plan, Historic Crozet Streetscape Enhancement Project grant application, and the County Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities plans as our guidance. That said, bicycle lanes are being provided on Jarmans Gap Road and the new Main Street. In the event that the constraints do not allow for the provision of bikes lanes, we will plan for an alternate means to provide bicycle access and interconnection. Â
Through our design and public involvement process we will be welcoming the residents’ input as we work together to achieve the needed balance and help those involved and impacted by this project to find some benefit.
Sincerely,
Jack M. Kelsey, PE
Transportation Engineer
Department of Facilities Development
Update 3: From an unsolicited email from Ann Mallek:
In the UNJAM 2025 long range transportation plan which I have worked on since 2000, the focus is on multimodal, or all forms, of transportation infrastructure. For the first time more than ten percent of the federal funds are to be used in transit improvements.
The stipulation was made that all new roads in subdivisions should be wide enough and properly striped for bike lanes, and that as existing roadways were improved, they were to be brought into conformance by adding striping where width allowed and adding paved shoulder or separate paths where needed.
As the supervising authority over VDOT’s road projects, it is up to the Board of Supervisors to make sure about those details, as projects are approved and also as the projects are built out. While visiting in the neighborhoods recently, I have learned about poor follow up on project implementation. In one area a house has been constructed on top of a filled in storm water detention pond lot and the water has all been diverted into a pipe and dumped into the field across the street, where it impacts that owner’s basement.
Details are important, from the planning aspect or the follow through. We cannot look away once a decision is made. The community is counting on enforcement of all provisions of permits.
Ann Mallek
Candidate for Supervisor, White Hall district
Regarding Ann’s email – it’s reassuring that one of the candidates for this year’s election is reading and contributing to the discussion. Thank you.
Regarding the sidewalks, it appears that if there’s room, they’ll put in the bike lanes. What we seem to have here is an instance of the County being between a rock and a hard place. People want the bike lanes, but they also want the front porches saved. Read about the petitions to save the Barbershop’s front porch here, Cocina del Sol’s porch here and September’s Crozet Gazette (PDF). There’s always more to the story, and I am grateful to those who have chosen to contribute to the conversation. Would it be fair and accurate to say that we might have to choose between bike lanes and front porches?
Technorati Tags: albemarle, bike lanes, crozet, politics, transportation
I just noticed that the County has redesigned their comprehensive site for Crozetians. Check it out.
Cvillenews asks the question today. I’ve pondered doing a story about incorporation but want to research it (and try to get some UVA law students to help). There are a couple of reasons that Crozet doesn’t incorporate, and three of those are that
1) We’d have to pay separate taxes to the town
2) We’d have to hire our own police force with said taxes
3) Everybody wants everything but doesn’t want to pay for it.
Maybe we can talk about it this evening at tonight’s Town Meeting at Western Albemarle High School. The fun starts at 7 and (is scheduled to) ends at 9.
The town meeting will also serve as the kick-off for the Downtown Crozet Streetscape Project Phase 2, which will focus on pedestrian-friendly improvements like sidewalks, landscaping, and lighting along Crozet Avenue to Tabor Street and will begin construction of New Main Street to provide access to the new Crozet library.
Thanks for the incomparable Charlottesville Tomorrow you can listen to last Thursday’s Crozet Community Association forum with challenger Ann Mallek and incumbent David Wyant.
Growth, infrastructure, transportation – issues that are pertinent to all Crozetians and Albemarle County residents – it’s all there.
Listen at Charlottesville Tomorrow or CvillePodcast.
This year marked a significant departure from the previous years’ Carnivals put on by the Fire Department, not the least that the Downtown Crozet Association’s sponsorship of the Fireworks.
Let the Fire Department know how they did at their online survey.
Seriously. It’s official!
More at Old Trail Living and the HooK’s blog.
When the company first considered adding a grocery store to Crozet all those years ago, it was going to be a Food Lion, says Boninti. But as Crozet’s demographics have changed with more upscale developments like Old Trail, Grayrock, and Waylands Grant, the company opted for a Harris Teeter instead.
Even more at three previous stories at RealCrozetVA.
Technorati Tags: crozet, harris teeter
Listen to the podcasts at Charlottesville Tomorrow. This election, more than nearly any other in recent memory, is crucial.
This is a perfect opportunity for someone to write a story about the meeting.
From the CCA email:
This meeting has been extended one hour to allow time to hear the latest version of the downtown rezoning proposal; to conduct Association business; and to hear both candidates for the White Hall seat on the Board of Supervisors. There is another important meeting scheduled the following week on September 20 at WAHS where the County will give an overview of all the projects and plans that concern Crozet. The high school presentation is co-sponsored by CCA, the Crozet Community Advisory Council, and the County of Albemarle. We have combined the rezoning presentation with our regular meeting on the 13th in order to spare all of us yet a third meeting in September regarding Crozet issues.
CCA AGENDA
Note: Change in meeting times. We begin 30 minutes earlier than usual.
6:30 – Pre-meeting–Room is open for inspection of new downtown Crozet re-zoning maps and descriptions & dialog with presenters.Â
7:00 – Meeting opens with County consultant Ken Schwartz & others presenting revised re-zoning plans for downtown Crozet and fielding questions.
8:00 or so – Community Association business. “Good Neighbor Award” to be presented to Meg West (in absentia) for her outstanding art in our community. Other business to follow.
8:30 or earlier – Fifteen minute presentations by David Wyant and Ann Mallek of their platforms as candidates for Albemarle Board of Supervisors. Order of speaking to be determined later. First speaker will be allowed 5 minutes to respond to second speaker. Q & A permitted from the audience as time allows.
9:30Â Â Adjournment.
Floyd Fest. Merle Fest. Charlie Poole Festival … Crozet Music Festival?
We are peaceful, music loving people and we’re grateful to live in such a beautiful area with so many amazing musicians.
The Festival will be Family Friendly. We’re hoping for lots of kids and adults should be aware of that and behave accordingly.
No bad behavior will be tolerated, and if you have to ask what we mean by that, you probably should find something else to do that day.
That said, we want everybody to have a rip roaring good time. Live music excites us, fills us with joy, and makes us dance
and jump around, all of which is cool.
Write it down – 20 October 2007.
It’s a no-brainer. Simple as that. With the music and energy in the Charlottesville area, why not?
“There’s more good talent here than there should be for a town this small,” says Savage. “It’s great to play local music, because it stands shoulder to shoulder with everything else we play.”
The event is the result of at least five years of effort and now he has the backing of a veritable “who’s who” of local music.
Where did it all start? And from where is the new momentum coming? In the organizer’s words:
First, I met Terry Allard. She took to the idea immediately and has been extremely helpful with ideas, contacts, and positive energy to make it happen. If any of you are not familiar with her work, please check out www.terriallard.com, she regularly sells out local engagements around the Charlottesville area and beyond. She and her husband run Reckless Abandon Music from their house in Batesville.
Next was Musictoday coming to Crozet. I first met those guys years ago when they started operations on Preston Avenue in an old mechanic’s garage, then followed them to the old Dettor Edwards property in Ivy. I called over there a year and a half ago as it became evident that they were moving the whole operation to the old Conagra factory, and the operator put me in touch with Del Wood, who it turned out is the CEO of the whole business. Heidi Sonen and I went to meet with him, he loved the idea of a festival in Crozet, and has been incredibly generous with his time ever since to answer my questions and assist in any way I asked.
On the topic of local fests, Feedback got word that the folks out in Crozet have their own in the works. Bill Rossberg, the event’s organizer, tells us that the first Crozet Music Festival, scheduled for October 20 at Crozet Park, will be an all-day affair filled with live music, food, drinks and more. They already have some big names on the bill (Terri Allard, American Dumpster, Alligator), and, with proceeds from the event benefiting the park, Feedback (who has a soft spot for such things in his western Albemarle County heart) can tell this will be a fantastic shindig.
Kudos to Crozet Park for allowing this. Now is the time for Crozet Park to flex its muscles, build its infrastructure and prepare for the forthcoming competition from Old Trail, their pool, their fitness facility and the like. Competition is a great thing, so long as it’s embraced by both contestants. Witness what is happening in Charlottesville’s radio scene for an example of how not to embrace a competitor.
Technorati Tags: crozet music festival