The Army Corps of Engineers has pulled the permit for a crucial bit of the Meadowcreek Parkway, Aaron Richardson writes in the Progress. Part of the city’s portion of the road—dubbed McIntire Road Extended—goes over a tributary of Schenk’s Branch, and putting a culvert for the road to pass over requires permission from the Corps. The Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park recently filed for a preliminary injunction against VDOT to prevent the culvert from being put in, arguing that doing so would violate federal law, because of the impact that it would have on the stream. The group is claiming victory here, saying that VDOT folded, knowing that they were in the wrong, and will now have to come up with a method of crossing the stream that doesn’t impact it (such as a bridge), which also has the effect of taking the Corps out of the equation.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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perhaps this is just a work around- I wouldn’t say this is over just that the stream in question won’t be used as a crossing.
I suspect the same. I viewed the permit pull as a tactical maneuver that said “Let’s remove the ammo from this part of the process, because we can and doing so simplifies matters,” not as a defeat per se.
Either VDOT/Army Corps of Engineers thought they’d lose, or they thought it would be faster to avoid the battle entirely. Possibly both.
Just another delay in a project that will be built anyway, just at a higher cost.
A higher cost here, a higher cost there and eventually a project gets shelved. I sure hope that happens with this one. Many thanks to the people keeping the pressure on!