Second in a series of undetermined length, in which I am putting together information that will hopefully serve to inform, pique curiosity, and spur Crozetians to ask questions, and get informed and involved … for things that affect everyone’s backyards, not just their own.
If there are errors or things I’ve gotten wrong, please forgive me, and correct me.
This is the only post (so far) in which I’m throwing information out with little analysis or context, in the hopes that someone will see it for the first time, get curious, dig in, and ask questions. And maybe even post those questions here, or ask the school board (our rep is David Oberg), or the Board of Supervisors (Ann Mallek). Or, even better, have a conversation in person with a friend or neighbor.
My hope is that someone takes this as a prompt to find out more, and share with the community what they find, whether in a follow up post, or in the comments. These are ideas and thoughts, and not fully-fleshed stories.
If there are errors, please correct me. Questions, ask them.
I know that as more houses are built, and few bike/pedestrian/car/parking solutions are proposed or implemented, Crozet is going to have issues. Traffic is an issue.
Start with these PDFs
- Albemarle County’s Capital Improvement Plan Fiscal Years 2017 – 2011, Adopted in March 2017.
- And this – FY17_Adopted_Budget_P_Capital_Improvement_Program FY18_Adopted_Budget_P_Capital_Improvement_Program
- FY18_Adopted_Budget_P_Capital_Improvement_Program
Schools are getting a bit crowded
“When is WAHS getting the $10-20m. Update and expansion it needs?”
But …Â in July 2017
Work is underway to design new science labs and modernized classrooms for Western Albemarle High School and its Environmental Studies Academy.
A 10,000 square-foot addition to the school will include three new labs, an office and prep rooms with storage. Seven existing science classrooms and six more classrooms throughout the school building will be renovated.
The project is budgeted at approximately $5.5 million, and was funded through the 2016 bond referendum.
Looks like Western Albemarle High School has been allocated nearly $7M for the Environmental Service Academy, and Henley $2.5M for a new gym.
Crozet Elementary wants $6M for an addition, and Western wants $4.4M for an addition.
How much money has Crozet gotten for infrastructure? And how much do we need?
Discerning how much we’ve gotten is findable (below needs updating for 2017/18). How much do we need? I have no idea.
Crozet Infrastructure Needs
- I know that 250/240 is going to get a roundabout.
- I also know that the Eastern Avenue needs to happen, but it’s *way* down on the list.
- And that Tabor/240/Jarmans needs to be addressed.
- Park Road from Crozet Park needs bike lanes and sidewalks.
- And that in front of schools is an (avoidable at school times) issue. Will they add bike lanes and sidewalks?
- The schools are getting crowded.
- The Four-Way stop needs attention
- Getting out of Old Trail at school times is challenging
- The Crozet Trails need expansion, care, attention.
And that funding is always an issue. The bureaucratic wheels move slowly.
Smart Scale Funding – do you know how this works? Â Â It’s important. Here is a recent update from Charlottesville Tomorrow.
Sources of data:
- Albemarle County – Adelaide Study
- Albemarle County – Adopted Budget 2016 Capital Improvement Program (pdf)
- Charlottesville Tomorrow
Second in the series.
The Series
- The Beginning – A Conversation with a friend over coffee
- Prologue – Support local journalists & journalism
- How Much Money for Infrastructure Has Crozet Gotten?
- Crozet Population Numbers Keep Growing
- Crozet Acronyms – What do They Mean?
- Crozet Water Supply
- Notes from a Crozet Coffee Conversation
- Ongoing Crozet Projects of Note
- Getting Involved in Crozet – Where to Start?
- Â … I don’t yet know …
Looking at your list of “infrastructure needs”, it becomes immediately apparent that virtually the entire list is driven by population growth. Now I’m not anti-growth, I came here from away, (over 20 years ago), but my wife and I continually infused the local economy with all of our income generated from outside the county, (SS & pensions), and with no children or grandchildren in the county we make minimal demands on the local resources and infrastructure. We bought and live in a modest existing home, built in the sixties.
So while we do constitute population growth in the county I would describe it as “low impact” growth in our case. A stark contrast to a family that moves into the area from afar, buys a newly built home, (usually 50-100% larger than my home),(usually on former farm or forest), puts 2-3 kids into the schools and has two wage earners commuting separately, to jobs daily. These new residents represent a significant increase in demand for infrastructure and services. Don’t get me wrong I think growth is unavoidable and ultimately good for a community. BUT it must be smart growth and it must be “paid for”, as in proffers.
I do understand that there is a difference in the impact that commercial development has on a community compared to residential development. There may be some argument to be made for “working with” a business like Perrone Robotics that brings clean, long term jobs to the community. This is very a different kind of growth compared to building a bunch of houses that will result in large increases in demands for infrastructure and services. In my opinion with the exception of affordable housing, there should never be any waivers or relief from proffers on residential development.
Further I’m sure the data is available to determine the anticipated, long term, costs incurred by residential development. The county should be able to determine, with some accuracy what the increased demand for county services and infrastructure will cost on a “per bedroom basis”. If the market won’t support the increased price of a new home that has paid the required proffers, (as determined by careful cost calculations), then don’t build the house. If the potential buyer of a new home in the $500,000 price range can’t or won’t pay the extra few thousand dollars incurred by appropriate proffers then the developer overestimated the desirability of living here. Further county officials need to take those proffers paid on a per house basis and put them into a long term capital improvement account where they grow and accumulate until the time to build a new school or road or water treatment plant is needed, at which time the money should be there.
The only way to maintain our community as the desirable place we all came here for is to make sure all development is permitted in a “pay as you go” environment. Anything else will result in a degradation of quality of life and/or a financial quagmire in the future.
*Jim’s note: edited to add linebreaks