Author: Jim

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For those who have missed the recent give-and-take between Wyant and Mallek

Both links are PDF’s –

David Wyant accuses Ann Mallek:

If my opponent was your Supervisor, we would have seen a 30% average increase in property taxes.

Ann Mallek responds.

Maybe the time has come to give White Hall their own seat and Crozet their own seat.

If nothing else, vote!

Update 31 October 2007: The Daily Progress has a story.

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Planning Commission Worksession Crozet Downtown Zoning next week

Take the time to exercise your voice and opinion on how you want Crozet to look in the next two, five and thirty years.

For those who don’t receive Albemarle’s excellent A-Mail:

The Planning Commission will hold a worksession on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, at 4:00 p.m., to review and discuss the Crozet Downtown Zoning project, with a focused discussion on a recommendation for a single Downtown Crozet Zoning District and the zoning regulations to be established for that district.

Topics will include: building setbacks, building height, land uses, the requirement for mixed use, parking requirements, sidewalks, landscaping, and buffer/screening requirements.
Click here to view the Planning Commission Agenda.

There will be an opportunity for public comment. If you are unable to attend the meeting and would like to send the Planning Commission your thoughts about the Crozet Downtown Zoning Project, please complete our email Comment Form in the “What’s New” box on the Master Planning webpage.

The regular Planning Commission meeting will follow at 6:00 p.m. The Planning Commission meets in the Lane Auditorium located in the County Office Building – McIntire Road.

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“A victory for Crozet”

From today’s C-Ville:

“It’s a victory for Crozet,” says Atwood, clearly buoyed by the conditional approval. The county is currently looking at changing the zoning in downtown Crozet to encourage mixed-use redevelopment. “We’re taking the old bones of a town and recreating them. They’ve always been talking about redoing Crozet, and it’s time to do some work there. It’s a community that really wants their identity back.”

Redevelopment – good or bad?

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Crozet Music Festival – What did you think?

What were the highlights? Lowlights? What can be done better next year? Favorite performance?

As the DP noted:

But from Seth Johnston’s point of view, things were moving along well. Johnston, who plays with The Rogan Brothers band, said the perils of putting together a music festival are enormous, “like invading Normandy, when nothing goes right.” He was impressed that short, 30-minute-or-so sets were moving along rapidly and organizers seemed to have pulled it off with aplomb.

“Charlottesville needs this,” said Johnston, standing near the beer truck and wearing a green velvet shirt and black cowboy hat, beer in hand. Several musicians said there is no similar venue or festival in the area and the event fills a void.

“All these local bands need to have an outlet like this,” Johnston said. He said local talent is impressive. Ian Gilliam, who played at the event, is a Stevie Ray Vaughan-like guitarist. Young rock bands are coming out of the woodwork, he said.

That the thing happened at all makes it an unqualified success. Next year will be better.

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Albemarle County to dedicate trail system at Mint Springs Park in Crozet

In an attempt to better the community and change this perception:

Mint Springs Park is a forgotten county park, Trails are not too long, but has tons of vertical to wear your legs out – much more than Walnut Creek/O Hill! Trails are unfortunately not always well maintained – more riders needed! The trails all essentially start at the lakes and go up to the top of the mountain – there are 4-5 different routes up, all for intermediate riders, a few for advanced only. GREAT terrain, just needs better maintanance.

From an Albemarle County release:

Over five miles of improved trails now available to the public.

Albemarle County will dedicate an improved and expanded trail system at Mint Springs Park at a ceremony open to the public on Saturday, October 20, at 10:30 am at the park in Crozet.  The trail system, which encompasses over five miles of various types of terrain throughout the park, has been improved and expanded thanks in large part to the hard work of a variety of volunteers including high school and middle school groups, UVA interns, a Crozet Trails crew, and the Charlottesville Albemarle Mountain Biking Club, among others.

New features of the trail system include a large color kiosk that displays all the trails, improved trail marking signs that make it easier to traverse the trails, and full color maps that are available online or in person at the park.

The ceremony will feature Sally Thomas of the County Board of Supervisors; David Wayland, a lifetime Crozet resident whose earliest memories include stories about the park property; and representatives from the County Parks and Recreation Department who will lead guided tours of the trails after the formal ceremony is finished. 

“We are very pleased to be presenting this enhanced trail system to the public as a wonderful amenity in the western Albemarle County community,” said Parks and Recreation Director Pat Mullaney.  “The Mint Springs trails provide citizens with the type of recreational option they ask for most frequently, and they fit very well with our commitment to both environmental stewardship and an active, healthy lifestyle.”

This is going to be a busy weekend in Western Albemarle … Crozet Music Festival, Batesville Festival, Mint Springs dedication …

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