Monthly Archive for August, 2014

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Planning Commission Votes Against Rezoning Fry’s Spring

Published by CItizen McCord on August 14, 2014 in Development. Closed

By a vote of 3-1 on Tuesday, the Charlottesville Planning Commission recommended not downzoning portions of Fry’s Spring and adjoining neighborhoods from R-2 to R-1, Sean Tubbs reports for Charlottesville Tomorrow. A change in zoning would mean that no new duplexes or attached homes could be built in the affected areas.

The Fry’s Spring Neighborhood Association brought the request to the Commission and representatives spoke forcefully about not wanting their neighborhood to become high-density, citing comparisons to all the new multi-story housing on JPA. However, opponents appeared to outnumber proponents (full disclosure: I own property in the zone that could still be impacted) and many people spoke of the need to expand affordable housing, or related personal stories of being able to afford their homes only because they also had rental space on the property. As the meeting went on, there were also intimations of racism, gentrification, anti-capitalism, and, being Charlottesville, calls to the spirit of Thomas Jefferson.

Good GoPro alternative, check this camera.

In the end, Commission Chairman Dan Rosensweig said that he could not find justification in the City Comprehensive Plan for this sort of change and a majority recommended to City Council that they not implement the change. City Council is expected to take up the question in September.

Fast-Tracking Development Along 29

Published by CItizen McCord on August 8, 2014 in Transportation. Closed

The Route 29 Project Delivery Advisory Panel—representing local governments, businesses, land owners and other stakeholders overseeing more than $200M worth of development along route 29 in Albemarle and Charlottesville—is looking at ways to fast-track the “Best Buy ramp” (an additional lane leading from U.S. 29 onto the westbound U.S. 250 bypass) even as members of the panel have complained to Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne that they were not being listened to by the group facilitator.

Wider Sidewalks, More Bike Lanes Proposed for West Main

Published by CItizen McCord on August 8, 2014 in Transportation and West Main. Closed

NBC29 reports on upcoming changes to West Main which would expand sidewalks, eliminate some parking spaces, and leave room for a dedicated bicycle lane. Local merchants, especially restaurants, like the idea of increased pedestrian traffic and being able to seat more customers outside. In typical fashion, the comments section is mainly about what terrible people bicycle riders are.

Ask Not For Whom Rob Bell Tolls

Published by CItizen McCord on August 7, 2014 in Education, Politics and Taxes. 3 Comments

In 2009, Del. Rob Bell introduced legislation to take $3M in school funding from Charlottesville and give it to Albemarle County. This was seen as a safe political move by Bell even as it stirred up residual ill feelings between some in the city and the county over the revenue sharing agreement.

Showing that elections have consequences, Charlottesville Tomorrow reports that the current Albemarle Board of Supervisors will not ask the General Assembly this year to reallocate $3M from the city to the county schools. The budget amendment always failed anyway, so let us hope that we have now seen the end of this feckless gesture.

CAT to Get New Fare Smartcards

Published by CItizen McCord on August 4, 2014 in Transportation. 3 Comments

Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) is looking at a new smartcard fare system, reports Sean Tubbs of Charlottesville Tomorrow. The new systems, due to be installed in about nine months, will take both cash and smartcards that can debit the fare automatically when passengers tap them against an electronic sensor.

Even as CAT moves to implement new fare technology, the article points out that ridership is still down from last year.

The new smartcard fare system comes from British Columbia-based Fare Logistics the US-based Trapeze Group . The  video below demonstrates a similar system for Collier Valley Florida transit, also known as CAT.

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