Category: Politics

Posted on

Summary of Last Night’s CCAC Meeting – 15 August 2013

Lamentably, I had to leave about 30 minutes early.

Click through, scroll to the bottom and read the tweet summary I put together if you’re interested. Schools, Crozet Library, a Crozet crime update of sorts, infrastructure concerns and more.

Importantly:

Continue reading “Summary of Last Night’s CCAC Meeting – 15 August 2013”

Posted on

CCAC Meeting – 15 August 2013

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – these meetings are one of the best ways to know what is happening in Crozet.

via email –

CROZET COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Meadows, Crozet (5735 Meadows Dr.)

Thursday, August 15, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tentative Agenda

1. Agenda Review. (Meg Holden – CCAC chair)

2. Approval of Minutes from June 19, 2013 meeting.

3. Project Updates/Information: • Update on Library Fundraising (Bill Schrader) • Update on streets cape • Anything on plans for pedestrian crossing signal at Clover Lawn/Harris Teeter

4. Beth to report on PTA meeting with Barbara Massie Mouly and education boards long range plans.

5. Feedback on planning commissions public meeting to hear public comment on the Comprehensive Plan held on July 23.

6. Discuss trying to get Barbara Massie Mouly to attend one of our meetings and topics we would want to discuss with her.

7. Wrap up on Independence Day Celebration (Mike Marshall or Tim Tolson if present, if not, one of the group who attended the celebration can report)

8. Items not listed on the Agenda

9. Announcements.

10. Future Agenda Items.

Posted on

10 Questions for WAHS’ New Principal – Dr. John Werner

WAHS has a new principal for the first time in several years. Dr. John Werner will take the reins at Western Albemarle High School this fall, starting this summer. I asked for some questions from the crowd and received quite a few great questions that ranged from what’s his vision for WAHS to how he’s planning to address the achievement gap.

Questions hère, Answers after the break. Thank you everyone for the questions! I really appreciate your input and hope that as a community we can work to make WAHS (and Henley, Brownsville & Crozet) the best schools around. **

You’ll note that when I categorized this post it’s categorized under Crozet, Schools and Politics. Sadly, (my opinion) school administration is at least equal parts education and politics. Continue reading “10 Questions for WAHS’ New Principal – Dr. John Werner”

Posted on

Crozet Community Advisory Council Meeting – 19 June 2013

Anyone interested in live-tweeting this meeting? I’ve found the information for those unable to attend is invaluable.

via email –

Please note that the June meeting of the Crozet Community Advisory Council will be held at the County Office Building at 6:30pm on Wednesday, June 19, 2013. The meeting will begin with a joint Advisory Councils meeting to discuss proposed changes to the critical slopes regulations in the Development Areas and we will follow that meeting with a short regular meeting of the Crozet CAC, the draft agenda for which is attached.

(draft agenda)

1. Agenda Review(Meg Holden – CCAC chair).
2. Approval of Minutes from May 16, 2013 meeting.
3. Project Updates/Information:
• Update on Library Fundraising (Bill Schrader)
• Update on streetscape
• Anything on plans for pedestrian crossing signal at Clover
Lawn/Harris Teeter, approve a resolution to request some action
regarding a safer solution for this crossing area
• Plans for Crozet Independence Day Parade, Celebration and Fireworks
on July 6.
4. Turning lanes on 250
5. Extreme jeep driving on Bear Creek Rd.
6. Items not listed on the Agenda
7. Announcements.
8. Future Agenda Items.

Continue reading “Crozet Community Advisory Council Meeting – 19 June 2013”

Posted on

Storifying the CCAC Meeting – 16 May 2013

Crozet Community Advisory Council Meeting - 16 May

I’m glad I went and live-tweeting the Crozet Community Advisory Council meeting last night; the interaction on Twitter highlighted how important it is to have outside voices paying attention but also that outside people are paying attention. I pay a lot of attention to what’s happening in Crozet – both because I love it and live here, but also so I can better advise my clients. Had I not attended and tweeted last night, I wouldn’t have known about a lot of the stuff listed below. Suggestion: look at the highlights, click through to read the entire Storify then get involved.

Highlights –

– Someone is apparently interested in the Barnes Lumberyard

– 1306 and 1278 Crozet Avenue are going to have some sort of infill redevelopment (nothing showing yet at Albemarle’s County View)

– Funding has temporarily fallen through for Claudius Place

– Crozet schools are on their way to getting crowded – see the tweets.

– I’m still baffled that no one thought Old Trail would have kids (apparently someone thought it’d be all retirees)

– Crozet Fireworks – 6 July

– Meeting on 19 June to discuss Critical Slopes proposed changes. (this is a potentially big deal).

  

Continue reading “Storifying the CCAC Meeting – 16 May 2013”

Posted on

Crozet Community Advisory Council Meeting – 16 May 2013

Anyone up for writing a story or live-tweeting this meeting? I’m curious to hear about what the Blue Ridge District Advisory Team is … and also, who’s up for helping pull off the Crozet Fireworks?

via email –

CROZET COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Meadows, Crozet (5735 Meadows Dr.)
Thursday, May 16, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tentative Agenda

1. Agenda Review. (Meg Holden – CCAC chair)
2. Approval of Minutes from April 18, 2013 meeting.
3. Public Comment.
4. Project Updates/Information:
• Update on Library Fundraising (Bill Schrader)
• Library…plans for unused space
• Blue Ridge District Advisory Team
• Any news on development of Barnes Lumber Company property
• Update on streets cape
• What do we know about re-zoning request at 1306 Crozet Ave.
• Present growth issues concerning our schools
• Anything on plans for pedestrian crossing signal at Clover Lawn/Harris Teeter, 2 deaths, approve a resolution to request some action regarding a safer solution for this crossing area
• Plans for Crozet Independence Day Parade, Celebration and Fireworks on July 6.
5. Old Business • Ombudsman – members of CCAC and the role they will play for the council
6. Items not listed on the Agenda
7. Announcements.
8. Future Agenda Items.

Posted on

CCAC Agenda – 18 April 2013

This should be an interesting meeting … lots of stuff to talk about. As always, anyone up for live-tweeting this meeting or feel like earning the adulation and gratitude of the Crozet community by writing a story?

The Meadows, Crozet (5735 Meadows Dr.) Thursday, April 18, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

4. Project Updates/Information:

• Update on streetscape (Lee Caitlin and Trevor Henry)

• Update on Library Fundraising (Bill Schrader)

• Library: how will downstairs be used and do we have plans for old library as of yet?

• A plan for Oakley property (Charles Shrek)

• Any news on development of Barnes Lumber Company property

• Discussion of Comprehensive Plan Planning Commission Hearing (Ann Mallek and Tom Loach)

• Discussion on Satellite Waste Convenience Centers (Ann Mallek)

• What do we know about re-zoning request at 1306 Crozet Ave.

• What did we learn from Brownsville PTO meeting that may be relative to growth and development(Beth Bassett)

• What can we do to expedite getting some sort of pedestrian crossing signal at Clover Lawn/Harris Teeter, 2 deaths, can we form a resolution to request some action regarding a safer solution for this crossing area

• Plans for Crozet Independence Day Parade, Celebration and Fireworks on July 6.

• Information on Proposed Dog Park (Kim Guenther)

Full agenda (pdf)

Posted on

250 West Needs to be “Retrofitted”

Sunday’s Daily Progress editorial notes:

U.S. 250 in the Crozet growth area needs to be retrofitted to accommodate the kind of traffic generated there — including pedestrian traffic.

But the issue goes deeper than that — all the way to the growth pattern that created the problem in the first place.

Within two years, two pedestrians have died near the Blue Ridge Shopping Center, on one side of the highway, and Clover Lawn Village, on the other.

These developments — along with nearby subdivisions — were approved to locate along the highway, which made a certain sense at the time by allowing traffic to take advantage of existing infrastructure.

But the growth then altered the highway usage. Traffic increased — especially vehicular traffic, but also pedestrian — and U.S. 250 went from being a through highway to serving as a local road.
The two uses are profoundly incompatible.

It’s baffling that we’re (meaning: the County) seemingly surprised that approving growth without complementary infrastructure leads to disaster. If we plan to bring more people, common sense dictates that we have a plan for them to move about.

Points for teaching me the term “stroad” –

A STROAD is a street/road hybrid and, besides being a very dangerous environment (yes, it is ridiculously dangerous to mix high speed highway geometric design with pedestrians, bikers and turning traffic), they are enormously expensive to build and, ultimately, financially unproductive.A STROAD is a street/road hybrid and, besides being a very dangerous environment (yes, it is ridiculously dangerous to mix high speed highway geometric design with pedestrians, bikers and turning traffic), they are enormously expensive to build and, ultimately, financially unproductive.

Thanks to Robert for pointing me to this editorial.

Update – Some good comments at the RealCrozetVA Facebook page …