As Crozet moves forward, what do we need? Chinese Food? Coffee Shop? Bakery?
What is our community missing that you would use today, if it were here? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.
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What do you like about your Crozet neighborhood?
We all like our respective neighborhoods – or at least most of us do, that’s why we live here. What do you like the most? What do you do on Friday and Saturday (or weekday) afternoons? What is your neighborhood close to? I would like to catalogue every neighborhood in Crozet, but know that the descriptions will be more vibrant, colorful and real if they are written by those who live in the neighborhoods. If you don’t feel comfortable writing the whole thing, send me your notes and ideas – we’ll work together to provide a picture of your home. Send me your pictures – they’ll help, too!
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On the Albemarle County School Budget
I whipped my last letter together in about 10 minutes before I went to my daughter’s soccer practice, and after reviewing it, I made some errors. Where ever I wrote BOS (Board of Supervisors), I meant the School Board. The BOS appears to be listening to the will of the people which is why there is discussion of a rate cut. I have no confidence in the school board, superintendent, or the downtown administration. By the way, I’m more than willing to pay more for school if there is accountability. There is no accountability here, just speculation and excuses with no data.
That being said, for the last few days we’ve been receiving these emails about supporting what I consider, ridiculous spending. I wasn’t trying to start some deep discussion or controversy over the subject, I was just curious if there were other recipients that disagreed as I did. Most times when there is discussion about school spending, it doesn’t get my attention. This one did. Doesn’t mean I’m wrong or right, just that I disagree. And if you’re going to send political email to my house, and you’re welcome to, if I disagree, I’m going to let you know.
So my message was quickly written and I need to clarify a few things. Recognizing that we have so many of our local teacher and administrators on this distribution list, I wanted to say that even though I think this spending is out of control and needs to be reigned in, I don’t think the problem is at the school level. Living with my wife, I don’t think too much of No Child Left Behind, but I don’t believe it’s the budget buster that is being portrayed here. I think the problem is all down town. I think we need more information on what goes on down town, who works down town, and what they do. It’s my opinion that this is where the waste is, but if anyone can get this information, please share it. How many failing teacher and administrators have they created new positions for down town? How much does the county spend on bringing in some specialist contractors to tell or teachers the new metho d they will be using to teach our kids?
I believe (and I admittedly don’t have the information because it’s not available) if we eliminated 50-70% of the people downtown, and allowed our teachers to teach, we would have smarter kids, a better environmental, and fiscally responsible education. To have the increases that we are having, something is wrong, and it’s not happening at the school level.
The other thing that bothered me is the intentionally misleading data that we have seen in these emails Then there’s the, I’m not sure what you would call it…..shakedown? They always say if they don’t get the money they want, they will have to cut teachers. It’s always the teachers that must go first. In reality, they have plenty of fat to trim down town and other places, but instead they throw this emotional blackmail at the parents.
I looked at the data again. It was a 63% increase in school budget from 2000 to 2007 with a 2% growth. I’m not saying anyone is not informed on their decisions. I just think that kind of increase is absurd, and NCLB and 2% growth doesn’t explain it. All I’m saying is we need to stop giving this irresponsible school board and superintendent a rubber stamp to whatever they want. I want a better explanation. I think we should call them on it.
By the way, none of this gets me angry and as far as the growth goes, I have participated in that process too, speaking at the Old Trail Planning Commission meeting, working on the Crozet Park Board etc..
My apologies to the superb teachers, administrators (local) and employees if I offended you. It was not my intention. Nor was it my intention to enflame anyone. I just wanted to see if anyone else was thinking the way I was. And you’re right Patty, I don’t need to sign the petition. I’ll just write directly to my supervisor.
ed note: The above is courtesy of Brian Campbell. This type of discussion is part of the reason that this blog was started. Please feel free to contribute to the conversation or submit stories candidly, not everything will be published, but please do contribute. Accountability and transparency qualify as “good things.” The more discussion and oversight by the citizens, the better.
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Road Closing in Crozet
Note: It’s only for one day. 🙂
VDOT ANNOUNCES APRIL 4 ROAD CLOSURE IN CROZET
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is planning a road closure on Route 810, Crozet Avenue, on Wednesday, April 4 as part of the sidewalk and streetscape project underway in downtown Crozet. The road will be closed on April 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to allow Faulconer Construction to install a cross pipe near the Rescue Squad approximately .10 miles from the intersection of Route 240. A detour will be in place during this event with signs directing traffic around the work zone. The detour will utilize Railroad Avenue west to Buck Road, north to St. George Avenue, then east back to Route 810 north of the project area.
The sidewalk project began on March 1 and is focusing on the area from the railroad crossing on Crozet Ave to the current Crozet Library on Three Notched Road. Stormwater improvements will be focused along Crozet Avenue from the Rescue Squad to the Dairy Queen intersection. Sidewalks and streetscapes are an integral part of creating a walkable and pedestrian-oriented downtown Crozet as envisioned by the Crozet Master Plan.Â
Updates on the project will be posted to the Crozet Master Plan website.
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Even more on Crozet recycling
From the CCA:
It is critical that we attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 4th at 6 PM to voice an opinion on the Recycle Center money staying in the CIP budget and that Crozet be the first selection for a center to maintain Crozet as a sustainable community.
Our arguments should be pointed towards:
1) Crozet has the largest population outside the urban ring around Charlottesville (in Albemarle County)
2) Albemarle County is committed to making Crozet growth area a sustainable community.
3) Environmentally speaking, Albemarle County is committed to protect the environment to guarantee a high quality of life for its citizens. Reuse, reduce, and recycle are the 3 R’s they should be promoting.
4) Anything else you can think of———-
Calendar
April 4 – 4:00 PM sign up to speak on the second floor sign up sheet at County Office Building. Even if you only say a canned speech, “I support the Crozet Recycle Center. Please listen to us. Short speeches are in order, but we need lots or one person making a speech and saying how many folks are there to support the Recycle Center and everyone who supports the concept stand and show an impact on the BOS by numbers of people willing to support.
April 4 – 6:00 PM BOS meeting on the second floor (most likely in the Lane auditorium) Public Hearing
April 11 – BOS set rate and approve budget with cuts etc
April—–May BOS discuss more of the budget allotments
June—-BOS finalize the allotments
July 1Â Money is available for the different departments as has been approved by the BOS
What has been done so far:
* Crozet Community Advisory Council (14 Crozet community members appointed by BOS have sent a resolution to the BOS to have Crozet selected)
* Mike Freitas (County public works director has spoken at the CCA and will be at the CCAC April 19th meeting to speak on recycling)
* Tabor Church has held two recycle meetings and has compiled a list of interested people on getting the center in Crozet (60 names)
* CCAC has a committee of 4 members working on how the community can help the county to make the recycle center fit the community needs.
Please plan on April 4th at 4 PM to sign up and 6 PM to speak.
Everything written here on realcrozetva about recycling can be found here.
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Great letter to the editor
In the Daily Progress. Read the whole thing.
Crozet was the same as it had always been, that is until recent years when developers came in and changed the entire area – just as they have done in other places that were labeled “the best place to live.â€
If they continue to remake Crozet, will the town have to give way to favored stores and businesses?
Are we to face even more taxes and regulations, crowded living, heavy traffic, and poorer schools as a result of this overgrowth?
Will this still be “the best place to live?â€
The people I see in Crozet do not have time to sit on benches. They like their independence and rural way of life. The real answer to our problem is reduction of the size, cost and scope of county government and the limitation of taxation.
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A brief history of Crozet Park
Courtesy of Brian Campbell. Thanks to Brian for this very informative comment, I thought it deserved its own post.
“Crozet Park was donated to the community some 40 or so years ago. I can get the exact date. It was specifically set up for the Crozet Community. It was not given to Albemarle County. As such, it was set up to be governed by a board to decide on it’s uses and operation. These board members are revolving and are elected with a typical President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Also, since we don’t operate under Albemarle County Parks System, we have a deed. Somewhere along the way, we established a good working relationship with the county. We don’t have the resources to take care of things like baseball and soccer fields, and the county needed these recreational resources for it’s citizens in the Crozet area. So we have a working agreement with the county. They supply and take care of all of the fields for the recreational programs, and we have the decision rights over what we want to have at the Park. The Park did build the pool and is in charge of it’s operation. We receive no money from the county for operation of the pool or any other activities. They just take care of up-keep of the hefields and grounds. The Park building is also owned by the Park. The actual programs are run by private non-profit organizations such as Peach Tree. This also helps us as we don’t have the resources to organize these programs. The Crozet Park Board consists of volunteers from the community consisting or groups that might have an interest in what is offered at the Park. This includes groups like Peach Tree, The Fire Department, The Lions Club, and we also have at large members, those that aren’t attached to an organization, but have an interest in how Crozet Park is run.
We meet the first Wednesday of every month to discuss the Park’s issues, and we’re always looking for new members. We like to have members associated with organizations or busineses, but we will take interested ordinary citizens as well. If anyone is interested in being on the board, they are welcome to get in touch with me. I hope this clarifies the Park’s operation some.”
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King Family Vineyards is “hikable”
Quick hit from a blog focused on Winehiker Witiculture, saying that King Family Vineyards is one of the “Top Ten Wineries where you can taste for free.”
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Recycling in Crozet Poll
With all the talk of recycling in Crozet and the discussion on the Crozet Community Association listserv, I figured I would post a poll here, hopefully for a centralized location for responses.
So, without further ado …
Update January 2019: the struck-through below used to be a polling plugin. It’s now defunct.
Please vote, tell and/or email your friends about this poll. For more information on what you can do to advocate for recycling in Crozet, read more here.
Asking for Recycling in Crozet – again
I know I’m not the only one in Crozet who recycles.
I know I’m not the only one who schleps a vanload of stuff to the McIntire Recycling Center each week (trying desperately to avoid Saturdays!).
And I know I’m not the only one in Crozet who wants a recycling center right here in Crozet.
The number one reason I want it, frankly, is to make my own life easier. But I feel strongly that more convenience would lead to more recycling by other people who need it to be more convenient, and so I see a benefit for the planet, too.
If you want a recycling center in Crozet, now is the time to be loud. Make yourself heard.
At the CCA meeting on Thursday, March 8, I was hoping the room would be packed with folks wanting to hear about recycling from Michael Freitas, the Chief of Public Works for the County. Only one person that I emailed showed up. She had emailed her entire neighborhood–225 families–and no one showed up. Maybe we don’t really want it in Crozet?
If you want a recycling center in Crozet and missed that meeting, know this: there is $250,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund set aside for recycling in Albemarle County. The money is already there. It’s for recycling. The County has a plan for 3 recycling centers in the County. Now the County just needs to decide where to spend that money. I don’t know what it will take to convince them that Crozet is the place, but we can start by letting them know the demand is here.
I admit: I thought I had already done this. I’ve emailed Mr. Freitas and asked all my Crozet friends to email him, as well. But the demand still is not clear, I guess, or the County would know what to do with the money.
I am getting the feeling that the County needs something they cannot ignore. Please call. Please email. Direct your voice to Michael Freitas, Chief of Public Works for the County (401 McIntire Rd Rm 224, Charlottesville, VA 22902-4579 ; 434- 296-5816. Please flood the County with the word that Crozet wants the money to be spent on a recycling center right here. Ask what we can do to convince them. I’ve asked, and I haven’t gotten any answer. Join me–make it impossible to be ignored.
From an email from Mr. Freitas:
There is currently $250K designated in the CIP for FY2008 (1 Jul 07 – 30 June 08) for the construction of recycling centers that would be located at various locations in the County (Crozet being one of the areas being considered). The CIP also identifies additional funding for follow on years. However, those funds would still need to be appropriated by the Board of Supervisors for each budget year before they can be obligated. As I mentioned during my talk on 8 March, during the current budget process the Board will be deciding if any initiative will have to be dropped from the proposed budget based on revenue projections for the upcoming year. In essence, based on other priorities, funding for the recycling centers, or other budget initiatives, could possibly be postponed if there are not revenues to support it. As a resident of the White Hall District, you should contact your District’s representative to the Board of Supervisors (Mr. David Wyant) to express your interest in this, or other budget items. With regard to location, specific sites for the centers have not been determined at this time.
Editor’s note: Thanks to Katrien Vance for the above article. As a Realtor, I can attest to the fact that more and more of my clients in the Crozet (and in the region) are asking for recycling services. Having recycling services that are readily accessible may increase property values. If the money is there, why not Crozet?
You may find your voice more efficiently expressed by emailing David Wyant, our Supervisor and Ann Mallek, who is running for the seat currently held by Mr. Wyant. Ultimately, County staff abide by the policies set by the Supervisors. Until the Supervisors set the policy, Staff’s hands are somewhat tied.
From Albemarle County’s proposed budget (PDF):
B. Recycling Centers: This project requests funds to construct recycling centers throughout the County. These centers will serve County residents and private haulers who choose to deliver recyclable materials including plastic, aluminum/steel, and paper. Areas that are being considered for recycling centers include Crozet, Scottsville, the Pantops area, and the Northern areas of the County.
There is a budget work session tomorrow, 14 March at 1pm at the Lane Auditorium and two more after that:
Budget Work Session #1 – March 12, 2007 – Lane Auditorium – 1:00 p.m.
Budget Work Session #2 – March 14, 2007 – Lane Auditorium – 1:00 p.m.
Budget Work Session #3 – March 19, 2007 – Room 235 – 1:00 p.m.
Budget Work Session #4 – March 21, 2007 – Lane Auditorium – 1:00 p.m.
What would the recycling center look like? Where would it go? Where would the funding for annual servicing come from?
In short, if you don’t speak up, you won’t be heard. If you don’t speak up, you don’t have any business complaining.