Take the time to learn about the contracting Downtown Crozet area.
C-Ville has a detailed report as well.
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Crozet Zoning update
I’m still working my way through this one, but Crozetians should take the time to read the whole thing. A few quotes jump out from some of Crozet’s respected leaders:
Sandy Wilcox of the Downtown Crozet Association said he was upset about the way the process was turning out. He said the idea of reducing the size of the downtown had never been discussed during meetings between property owners, staff and consultants. He also said he was confused by why the lumber yard was taken out.
“The idea that we had in there was for everything to be the same so there wouldn’t be a wild card out there that we don’t know what is going to happen,†Wilcox said. He added that he felt blind-sided by the staff’s report and that his trust in the process is broken.
The complaints kept coming.
Mack Lafferty, a member of the Crozet Community Advisory Committee, said he felt blind-sided. Another member, Mary Rice, encouraged the Commissioners to walk along Carter Street before following the recommendations.
Mike Marshall, publisher of the Crozet Gazette and chair of the CCAC, said he was shocked that staff issued a new recommendation before the work session.
If they’re concerned, so should we be.
Thank you from Ann Mallek
Dear Crozetians,
I am honored by the confidence voters have in me and will work hard to earn it every day. I also invite all residents to continue our conversation about ideas for solutions, concerns which need to be addressed, ways to build a sense of community and common purpose here.
We are all working to one goal, a great quality of life for us and our next generations.
Residents, please don’t be strangers. You have my number.
Ann Mallek
Ed Note: I published this for Ann at her request. My thanks to her for reaching out and participating.
49% Turnout in White Hall District!
Congratulations to Ann for a well-run, hard fought race. Now the real work begins. 🙂
Thank you for your service to our community.
The past four years have brought significant changes to Crozet – and these changes were demonstrated in today’s vote. Thanks also to those who voted – just over 49%! A huge turnout for an off-year election.
Seeing the ramifications and analysis to come will be very interesting.
No competition for school board in White Hall
Barbara Massie Mouly, the White Hall representative for the School Board, is running for re-election. Who knew?
Elections should always be contested.
One wonders whether she would consider blogging from the School Board seat.
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.
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.
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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Another White Hall forum.
At Charlottesville Tomorrow, co-hosted by the Free Enterprise Forum. This time with a transcript and audience questions!
Crozet BoS Candidate funds update
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.
Where are the bike lanes?
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.
As well he shouldn’t have.
{democracy:5}
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?
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