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I took last week off from writing these blurbs for r/Charlottesville because there wasn’t too much happening. We’re still in a lull, but there’s always something happening and I slim this down from a longer newsletter I write. Fewer blurbs this week but please ask questions to get a conversation going.

SALES TAX REFERENDUM SEASON BEGINS
For years, only a handful of localities in Virginia have had the ability to hold a referendum to see if voters will support a sales tax increase to support school construction. Legislation to extend that to all failed to make it out of a divided General Assembly in 2022 and again in 2023. Democrats took both chambers that year and the last governor, a Republican, vetoed the legislation. Permission has been granted through the budget process and now we’ll see what localities give it a shot. Locally, Fluvanna Supervisors began the process of asking the Circuit Court on July 1. Louisa will take the matter up on Monday. (learn more)

CHARLOTTESVILLE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
The finishing touches are being made to Charlottesville Middle School, a $92 million project that saw the renovation of Buford Middle School into an expanded facility that can accommodate 6th grade. That’s just the beginning of a series of additional projects such as a new early learning center and renovations of the high school. If Charlottesville voters approve the referendum, that will be $15 million in revenue for school construction. WIll that free up spending for other projects? Lower tax rates? (learn more)

LOUISA ZONING CHANGE FOR SHELTERS
Technically the zoning code in Louisa County is called Land Development Regulations. About a year and a half ago I wrote a story for C-Ville Weekly about efforts to change them to allow churches and other places to house people without homes to stay overnight in cold weather. Last August, the Planning Commission recommended changes to create a “humanitarian shelter” use. Louisa Supervisors will take that up on Monday. 

Two smaller things:

• The Charlottesville Tree Commission will get an update Tuesday on construction of a pending development in Fry’s Spring even though they have no say on the matter. (learn more)
• The Louisa Planning Commission will continue discussing ways to slow residential growth at a work session on Thursday. (learn more)

Please ask questions. I can answer procedural stuff and do this work to share information. I want to know what people are thinking.

How do people find out more about what's happening at their local government meetings? A role of journalism is to provide a weekly guide of what’s coming up and that’s what I do each week both in a very-long newsletter and then again in a series of blurbs written for r/Charlottesville intended to whet your appetite. 

CHARLOTTESVILLE CLIMATE UPDATE
Charlottesville City Council will learn Monday that greenhouse gas emissions were up slightly in the latest inventory. Albemarle Supervisors had a similar presentation in May as I reported. Both have a goal to reduce emissions they control by 45 percent of 2011 levels by 2030. Then carbon neutral by 2050. There is a lot of activity happening. You can learn a lot from primary sources. (learn more in the newsletter)

WEST MAIN INTERSECTION CHANGES?
Charlottesville has received many Smart Scale awards over the past ten years but has yet to break ground any of them. VDOT asked them to stop applying for a while while they got their house in order. One story I wrote and then another a bit later. Though technically still deficient, VDOT has allowed the first application in years and its to reconfigure the intersection of West Main to make some of the movements one-way and to give more prominence to cyclists and pedestrians. (learn more in the staff report)

5th STREET / I-64 INTERCHANGE TOPS PRIORITY LIST
Albemarle will also endorse Smart Scale applications. Unlike Charlottesville, Albemarle has been able to complete several projects in part because VDOT handles most of the work to get right-of-way purchased, utilities relocated. Earlier this month, Albemarle Supervisors endorsed a priority list for both vehicular projects and bike/pedestrian projects. The top project on the former is conversion of I64/Fifth Street exit into a diverging diamond. It’s also one of the Smart Scale applications. (learn more in the newsletter)

ALBEMARLE FUND HOUSING FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES?
One of the biggest public campaigns during the most recent budget adoption in Albemarle was a push for more funding for the Albemarle Housing Investment Fund. Many wanted it Supervisors to provide $10 million a year and negotiations between Supervisors got it up to $7 million. But did they envision a program for county-employees to get assistance with housing? There’s some funds leftover from FY2026 and the recommendation is to fund a five-year pilot for down payment and rental assistance. (learn more in the newsletter)

EIGHT STORY BUILDING ON WEST MAIN GOES BEFORE BAR
The idea of the new Development Code in Charlottesville was to make it more predictable for builders to proceed with projects, but that’s not really turned out to be the case for many. Part of my mission is to write about how it all works out. That includes a proposed student housing building on West Main Street right next to the Standard (now Yugo Crestline). This time last year, LV Collective proposed an 11 story building. After a campaign from Westhaven advocates, the project is now down to 8 stories. The Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review has an official look on Tuesday. (learn more in the newsletter)

Perhaps you have questions about these things. I am always interested in responding as best I can. My hope is to get more people talking about these items as they affect the future of the community. My reporting seeks to document what I can and hopefully provide more people with a way in to how government works. 

Ask questions!

For the 20 years or so, I’ve been paying attention to the nuts and bolts of development issues around Charlottesville. It can take a long time for things to get done, and one of the hopes I have for local journalism is to get information to people. I spend every Sunday reviewing meeting agendas and write a ridiculously long newsletter. Then I do this tighter version for r/Charlottesville in the hopes you’ll ask questions! 

ALBEMARLE PC TO WEIGH IN ON GROWTH AREA FOCUS SPOTS
For 45 years, Albemarle has had rules in place that concentrate density in about five percent of the county’s 726 square miles. The latest Comprehensive Plan acknowledged that the locality’s ability to provide infrastructure for 50 “activity centers” is limited and so the number was reduced to about 22. Another change in the AC44 update is to do “activity center plans” but there are only enough resources to do one a year in the next three years. County staff recommend Rio/29, Hollymead area, and South Pantops as the targets. What will the Planning Commission say? What do you say? (learn more)

WATER / SEWER CAPACITY IN NORTHERN ALBEMARLE
Is Albemarle County prepared for the arrival of AstraZeneca in 2030? What about the residential boom that appears to be forming in the Hollymead Town Center Area? The Architectural Review Board on Monday will review a plan to build two above-ground water storage tanks in Hollymead. While this project is planned, this is now being accelerated due to “recent commercial development plans for the northern service area.” The AstraZeneca is going to wind through many more public policy discussions in the coming years. (learn more)

POWER AMENDMENT FOR FLUVANNA COMP PLAN 
The politics of energy generation and transmission are fueling the current political season in Virginia. The impasse over the state budget is over whether a tax credit for data centers should be ended. Meanwhile, localities in the path of the ValleyLink Transmission Line are doing what they can to try to stop it. Louisa County added language to their Comprehensive Plan to add a policy, and Fluvanna County are considering the same thing. First step is the Planning Commission on Tuesday. (learn more)

Other issues: 

• Louisa County is one of the fastest growing communities in Virginia and that’s become a concern for the Board of Supervisors. They directed the Planning Commission to find ways to slow the growth. (learn more)
• Would the Charlottesville Economic Development Authority have an easier time of telling the story of entrepreneurship if they televised their meetings? Read this blurb and tell me what you think.

 

I am well aware that culturally there is an aversion to paying attention to local government, an aversion shared by many editors I’ve worked with in the past.

Most of those jobs no longer exist anymore. I work seven days a week to share information with people who want to see the world through the lens of public policy.  After all, your lives are affected whether you pay attention or not. I'm here to help you with questions as we all go through this weird ever-shifting kaleidoscope.

How do people get their information about what’s coming up in local and regional government? Several years ago I started a newsletter to provide stories and every Sunday I write up a long summary of what’s happening because I believe as many people as possible should be informed about what’s coming up. Then I do a version for r/Charlottesville in the hopes of launching conversations and getting more people involved. Democracy needs participation at all levels. I am a one-person information outlet determined to spread the word. 

CHARLOTTESVILLE WATER/SEWER INCREASES
Do you know where your water comes from and do you know where your wastewater goes? If you live in the rural area, you are very close to the source and the destination. If you live in Albemarle’s urban areas or in Charlottesville, you’re paying rates that include the cost of building capacity and maintaining what is in place. City Council has a public hearing Monday night on a proposed increase to both rates and monthly service fees.  The average rate payer will see their water increase 15.61 percent and their wastewater rate increase 8.45 percent. A reason for the increase is to pay for capital projects being undertaken by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. (learn more in the newsletter)

169 PROJECTS ON ALBEMARLE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION LIST
Who decides what transportation projects end up getting built? That’s one of the questions that made me want to get into journalism in the first place. The answers depend on when you’re asking. On Wednesday, the Board of Supervisors will be presented with Albemarle staff’s list of 169 transportation projects as well as the reasoning and status of each one. This is a good point to jump on if you have a particular one you would like to see advance. This list is being presented as the county begins creation of a new Multimodal Transportation Plan as one of the big AC44 Comprehensive plan initiatives. (learn more at Information Charlottesville)

DARDEN TOWE PROJECTS
A lot has been happening at Darden Towe Memorial Park. Free Bridge Lane is now a permanent car-free promenade. The tennis courts are now pickleball only courts. New ADA-compliant restrooms are coming to a picnic shelter. A project to improve irrigation for the grass athletic fields is ahead of schedule. The city and the county co-own the 113-acre park and a joint governing committee will meet on Tuesday to get updates. (learn more at Information Charlottesville)

Just three blurbs today. If you want more, you can find the newsletter. Or just ask!

Please do ask questions. I’m here to point you in the direction of information and not to tell you how to interpret the information. I trust you can do that for yourself. 

This time around I’m in Pennsylvania for family stuff and I’m a bit distracted due to being away. There are also appear to be an inordinate amount of stories I need to write, and I can get back to that as soon as I come up with a highlight reel of upcoming meetings in local government for r/Charlottesville. More commentary after these blurbs:

NEW DESIGN FOR WEST MAIN BUILDING
A major theme of the city’s “new” zoning code was to eliminate the role that City Council plays in determining height and density. This has not proved to be a popular idea as groups like the Fifeville Neighborhood Association and the Public Housing Association of Residents have led campaigns against a seven story building in Fifeville and an 11 story building on West Main Street. A new version of the latter goes before the Board of Architectural Review on Tuesday and three floors have been removed. Will that satisfy concerns about the project’s effect on Westhaven? (read more in the newsletter)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CATALYSTS
One thing I note from social media is that many people have no idea of the role that economic development can play in shaping a community. Much of the building activity at the moment in Albemarle is in the area around Hollymead. The plan is for AstraZeneca’s factories to be up and running in 2030. That’s the biggest fish Albemarle County’s Office of Economic Development has landed so far, and the promise is 600 jobs. They’re not done yet, and want to do more. On Tuesday they’ll discuss “catalyst projects” but there’s no material available in advance. How important is knowing this information to you? (learn more)

FULL COURT PRESS IN CROZET FOR AN 18-UNIT DEVELOPMENT
In 2004, Albemarle County Supervisors adopted a master plan for Crozet. The idea was to recognize that the non-incorporated place could be one of the places where Albemarle County might locate density. Since then, development has occurred, but many residents believe the county has not held up on its promise of providing infrastructure. That makes every rezoning application a proxy discussion on that notion. A new version of an 18-unit community called Windy Knoll will go before the Planning Commission on May 26. The Crozet Community Association (not the Crozet CAC) will have a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss this. Meanwhile, a single rezoning at Hollymead Town Center could add as many as 2,400 units. 

ALBEMARLE HOUSING INVESTMENT FUND CHANGES
Albemarle County’s budget for FY2027 designated $7 million for the Albemarle Housing Investment Fund, a pool of money intended to provide additional funding to nonprofit developers as they work on various projects. Various advocates have pushed for $10 million, but some of the Supervisors have expressed an interest in revising the process while that discussion continues. On Wednesday they’ll discuss changes to the process such as moving up the timeline so it comes closer to the process to secure low-income housing tax credits. (learn more)

LOTS HAPPENING AT COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY 
The Police Civilian Oversight Board wants to change the body’s charge and wants Council’s input. City staff recommends no changes to the homestay ordinance. There’s a plan to put solar on top of Charlottesville Middle School. The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center wants to place new artwork made from the former Robert E. Lee statue in city parks. How many stories will be written? (read more in the newsletter)

Is this worth doing? Are we at a point where my journalistic ideology is hopelessly outdated? I don’t know. How long have I done this? I continue to believe that details are crucial to the future but I believe the audience of people interested dwindles with every passing week. The die was cast ages ago, my friends. It depends on all of us to ask for a re-roll. The game must continue to be played. Never give up.

I write today’s edition from Roanoke where the founder of an independent publication recently sold to a third-party. And then everyone got fired. There’s a big story to tell there.

But my self-appointed job is to write blurbs about what’s happening in the Charlottesville area and now glad I resisted that weird offer I got about six months ago to sell. I believe people want to know what's happening, so I try to do my best. After all, I learned it in Roanoke first.

Anyway, those blurbs for r/Charlottesville:

NEW IPP FOR CHARLOTTESVILLE?
In the last couple of years, the City Council and the Board of Architectural Review agreed to undo historic protections for property on Stadium Road to make way for the 12-story building known as the Verve. On Tuesday, the Charlottesville Planning Commission will be asked to give a recommendation for a request to grant those same historic protections for a property in 10th and Page. (learn more)

BOTANICAL GARDEN REQUEST
I confess this blurb is more of a request for more information about the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont’s application for a special exception related to critical slopes for their build-out. The Charlottesville Planning Commission will discuss that, too, but I’m interested to know how the garden is coming together. (same link to the CPLAN summary)

ALBEMARLE ZONING MODERNIZATION
My view is that the average person should know when the rules about the what, where, where, and why you can build are changing. Details that may seem obscure end up being incredibly important. I was able to cover the development of Charlottesville’s new development code, but suspect I won’t be able to do the same for Albemarle. I am hopeful others will, though, because the new Comprehensive Plan has suggested some changes will occur to promote new uses here and there. But what? Where? When? Who? Why? To what extent? (learn more) 

BOOSTING RESIDENTIAL IN FLUVANNA VILLAGES
One very bold question to ask of the future is: Where is everyone going to live? While Fluvanna County seeks to limit residential development in their rural areas, there are at least two areas where planners and elected officials may wish to adjust the rules to allow more density. On Tuesday, the Planning Commission will get a draft look at some ideas for both Columbia and Fork Union. Looks like this is the work of a UVA student group. Interesting ideas. (learn more)

STATE OF HOMELESSNESS REDUX REDUX 
Charlottesville City Council has had a lot of work sessions this year. I dream of a world where there are enough reporters to describe what they are told, and what their reactions are. After all, elected officials play an important role in directing what actually happens. But Council keeps having more work sessions, and I so want every single one to be written up by someone. Any UVA student group want to help take that on? (learn more)

One-liners:

• Albemarle will hold a community meeting for a proposal to redesign Charlotte Humphris park on Monday (learn more)
• Greene County Supervisors will adopt a policy to count school surplus funds as a revenue source for general government, an indication of what the county administrator says reflect a need for austerity (learn more)
• Nelson County Supervisors have a lot of stuff you might be interested in (learn more)
• Louisa County’s Planning Commission will be asked to make a recommendation on at least two policies to signal a desire for local control over land use policy related to electric transmission lines (learn more)

For anyone who made it this far - I took the train from Charlottesville to Roanoke today and it is a game changer. I'm so happy being here right now, in a place I've not spent an over night since August of 2002.

May all of us have the opportunity to revisit places where we were before, and reflect on who we might become.

I almost decided to write something else this week because I thought this would make a better longer story. I'm curious to know your thoughts about this area. I want to write more stories like this.

But I want to know if you've been on top of the bridge yet?

Every week there’s something coming up at meetings of local and regional government and I do what I can to write up what’s on offer. I write a long newsletter and then I do a condensed blurbs for the good people of r/Charlottesville. Please ask questions and share with others. 

SHELTER UPDATE
How much will it cost to upfit an office building at 2000 Holiday Drive to serve as a low-barrier homeless shelter? Charlottesville paid $6.2 million to but about four acres along the U.S. 250 bypass. In late March, City Council got a preliminary cost of about $8.6 million to run 80 beds with no definitive ask of the city yet. The elected officials will get an update at a work session Monday at 4 p.m. (learn more)

COUNCIL TO HEAR APPEAL OF BAR’S MARK DENIAL
A key feature of Charlottesville’s “new” zoning code adopted in December 2023 was to take away the role that the City Council plays in determining where height and density would go in a growing city. That was a key thrust of the Cville Plans Together initiative which came up with an affordable housing plan, a Comprehensive Plan, and a zoning code. That resulted in land along the railroad track in Fifeville being zoned to allow for a seven-story building student housing there. Plans for the Mark were filed last summer and opposition has been fierce Turns out there are levers for people to express their views and fight development through persuasion. Council has a role to play anyway on Monday night and I’m out of space to describe the specifics. (details here)

ALBEMARLE SUPERVISOR SUMMARY
Albemarle County has a population more than twice the size of the City of Charlottesville. I’ve written about its land use policies and budget but in certain weeks that the focus is on Charlottesville I don’t go into nearly as much detail. On Wednesday, the six Supervisors will learn about a plan to open up the Comprehensive Plan amendment process, how Climate Action implementation is going, and will hold a lot of public hearings including a rezoning for 153 units at 600 Rio Road. I really hope me or someone else writes up some of those stories so the rest of you can know what happened. (more on the meeting)

Smaller items:

• Charlottesville City Council will be asked Monday to move around money to cover potential cost over-runs for the current replacement of roadway for the Downtown Mall crossings (learn more)
• Albemarle’s Architectural Review Board will take up two projects including a Sheetz proposed at the site of a closed Red Lobster franchise at Fashion Square Mall (learn more)
• In Culpeper, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will hold a public hearing on the next Six-Year Improvement Plan and there are three projects in Albemarle/Charlottesville that will get funding. (learn more)

I could probably write more but I’ve been at it for almost twelve hours today. I love what I do and the more people who read, the more I want to work. That includes responding to comments.

I’ll note engagement here and in the newsletter is down of late and I understand that.

There’s a lot going in the world and there’s a lot more uncertainty than I can remember in my years. For me, I find doing the work to be grounding because I love where I live and I want it to be better than it was when I first showed up back in 2002.

I’ve been writing about this community for over 20 years now and these days I can’t tell if my continued reporting is due to inertia, a sense of duty, or an Olympian curse.

Either way, every Sunday I write a newsletter previewing upcoming meetings and provide context so anyone can begin the process of getting involved. This summary written for r/Charlottesville is intended to whet your appetite for the joy of civics. This is not intended for doom-scrolling. I want you to have hope.

WHITHER THE FUTURE OF OUTLYING BUDGETS
Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville have both adopted budgets for FY2027, but there’s still work to be done in Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. Each locality has a different political philosophy. The two more urban communities now have elected bodies that are much more comfortable with spending whatever money comes in to provide services. The others are more cautious and are more likely to adjust real property tax rates when assessments increase. Will that maintain over time?

• On Monday, Nelson County Supervisors will have to pick a new real property rate because there have been more challenges to 2026 assessments than expected. 
• Louisa County is now one of Virginia’s fastest-growing counties and over time may become more like Albemarle and Charlottesville but on Monday will adopt a FY2027 budget based on the same real property tax rate of $0.72 per $100 of assessed value. 
• Greene County Supervisors will have a public hearing Tuesday on a budget with a real property tax rate also at $0.72 per $100 of assessed value.

 

CRHA MEETING
In the last few years, the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners has presided over renovation of Crescent Halls as well as the entity’s first new subsidized units in a generation at South First Street. Charlottesville City Council has approved millions to help with financing and millions more will be expected in the future. CRHA is a public entity and well worth attention as new places to live come out of the ground. But is anyone paying attention? Here’s a place to start. 

STONY POINT ROAD CROSSWALK
I try my best to keep track of new infrastructure coming to the area and I’m always happy to be surprised. Last week I learned of a crosswalk planned for Route 20 at Riverside Village. That’s one of the best examples of mixed-use development in Albemarle County. As I type this, I’m uncertain about the funding source for this project, but the Pantops Community Advisory Committee will get a briefing on it Monday night at their April meeting. Learn more about this meeting here. 

FLUVANNA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SEEKS TO PRESERVE RURAL AREA
Imagine this place in 30 years. What’s it going to be like? Where will people live? The answer to that question will be influenced by the Comprehensive Plans adopted by each individual locality. Fluvanna County is currently updating their document two years after the last revision. On Tuesday the Planning Commission will take a look at the first new sections of the draft which contain a lot of goals and strategies to restrict growth. Learn more in this brief summary. 

MOBILE HOME PARK EXPANSION IN RURAL ALBEMARLE
Since the late 1970’s, Albemarle’s Comprehensive Plan has set up a dynamic where dense residential development is intended to be within growth areas under the scope of a master plan. On Tuesday, the Albemarle Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on an attempt to rezone a mobile home park just over the line of the Crozet Master Plan to add 49 additional units. Get more information.

*

I feel a bit of a Cassandra at times seeing where things might be going but aware that 2026 is a time when the minutiae of local government barely registers on the importance scale of the entire populace as a whole. How many people pay attention? One percent? Three percent? I do this work out of a hope that if I observe these things, other people might as well. And maybe that’s how I avoid my liver getting picked out by vultures.