Supervisor Snow calls for study of light rail

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Monday, February 8, 2010

Albemarle County Supervisor Duane Snow has called for further study of a light rail system to connect Crozet, Charlottesville and the regional airport.

"It seems like there's money in the federal budget to explore something like this right now," Snow said at a meeting last Wednesday. "I think a light rail system in conjunction with the rails that are already there can be installed a lot cheaper than bridges or an extra lane of traffic."

Podcast produced by Charlottesville Tomorrow * Player by Odeo

Listen using player above or download the podcast: Download 20100203-BOS-Rail

Snow said the idea of was brought up by many citizens while he campaigned last year, and that he personally would prefer to take a train rather than a bus. He wanted to direct staff to explore potential funding opportunities.

However, the idea is not a new one in the community. The Board of Supervisors voted to endorse the concept of such a train last April.

Supervisor Ann Mallek said the CHART Committee has been studying the concept of rail between Staunton and Zion's Crossroads for a number of years, and has learned many valuable lessons.

"Light rail cars are not allowed to share the track with freight," Mallek said. She said the committee has been working with the Buckingham Branch Railroad to operate passenger transit using heavier cars, but the insurance premiums would be prohibitive at $600,000 a year. That would be in addition to any operating costs.

Download the 2004 study of light rail

The MPO Tech Committee prepared a report in 2004 which examined the possibility of a light rail network in Charlottesville

Supervisor Dennis Rooker said a 2004 study prepared by the MPO Community Mobility Committee  explored the possibility, but that in order to qualify for federal grants the community would need more people.

"You have to have very significant population density in order to make light rail anywhere near economic," Rooker said. He said the federal government is more interested in connecting major cities along the coasts, and would prefer that staff time not be used to explore the concept.

Supervisor Rodney Thomas, who served on the MPO Tech Committee as an Albemarle Planning Commissioner, agreed with Rooker about the area's lack of density but suggested planning for the future could begin now.

"Now is the time to start laying the groundwork for it," Thomas said. "I think it's something we really need to continue to look at [as a region]."

After the brief discussion at their meeting Wednesday, the board did not reach consensus to take any further steps to pursue passenger rail proposals.

Decision on Yancey Mills Business Park to wait until July

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Sunday, February 7, 2010

A proposal to bring 184 acres of western Albemarle land into the county’s development area to create an industrial park will continue to be considered as part of the Crozet Master Plan, despite the concerns of one supervisor who wants to expedite the decision.

"The problem I'm having is I'm not sure why it's taking so long for the Crozet Master Plan to be reviewed," Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd said. Boyd also said the county needs to foster more commercial activity in order increase county revenues.

Podcast produced by Charlottesville Tomorrow * Player by Odeo

Listen using player above or download the podcast: Download 20100203-BOS-Yancey-Mills

In August 2008, Will Yancey submitted a request to Albemarle to amend the county’s Comprehensive Plan seeking the ability to create a light industrial business park on mostly rural land that borders Interstate 64 and Western Albemarle High School.

The Planning Commission and staff have both recommended denial of the proposal, but the Board of Supervisors directed staff in December 2008 to evaluate the proposal as part of the revision of the Crozet Master Plan.

Community and staff recommendations on the revised plan will not come before the Board of Supervisors until July. In the meantime, the board heard a report Wednesday on the county’s supply of available industrial land that could be immediately occupied by businesses looking to expand or relocate here.

The report by business development facilitator Susan Stimart says that while there are 900 acres designated in the county’s Comprehensive Plan for industrial use, only about 100 of those acres carry the proper zoning and are available for development.

“All the measurements indicated that we have a shortage of light industrial and heavy industrial [lands],” Stimart said.

Stimart said the land is needed by companies that start here, but outgrow their existing location. She told the board the county will soon lose BOSS Medical Technologies to Fluvanna County because they could not find enough land that was affordable on which to build a new facility.

The report also states that most of the 900 acres are located along U.S. 29, which is not as desirable because of congestion and lack of access to Interstate 64. That view was also held by at least one supervisor.

“My view of light industrial is that it needs to be located in a usable place,” said Supervisor Rodney S. Thomas during the work session. “Let’s have [land] available so we can open the door for these people that want to come here.”

Stimart’s report included several recommendations. The first would protect land currently zoned for light industrial use by removing office and other uses from the zoning ordinance. The second would be to preemptively rezone land designated in the Comprehensive Plan as light industrial. Stimart said this would only be done with the permission of individual property owners.

The report’s final recommendation would be to allow additional uses in rural areas near interchanges with I-64 in both the Yancey Mills area and along U.S. 250 in Shadwell. This would require the creation of a “Light Industrial (LI) light” designation to allow storage yards and other uses that would not require access to the water and sewer system. Benish said it would take a year to develop ordinance language to bring the “LI-light” category before the board.

That timeline bothered Boyd.

“I can’t sit here and say that I think we need another year to jumpstart this economy,” Boyd said. He added that the “LI-Light” concept might prevent a fair hearing of the Yancey project, which offers a different vision of how Crozet’s interchange with I-64 might be configured.

“These people want to move forward with this project,” Boyd told fellow supervisors. “I think they deserve their chance in front of this board to do that.”

Benish said he did not think the community or staff would recommend the addition of the Yancey land to the growth area, but he said the board would have the final say.

Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker said the Crozet Community Advisory Council has been strongly opposed to the project. However, he added the board had the power to remove the Yancey proposal from the Crozet Master Plan revision process if it wanted to.

Benish said if the board did not want to wait until July to make a decision on the Yancey proposal, it needed to direct staff as soon as possible. That direction did not occur on Wednesday.

Thomas suggested the Yancey proposal continue as part of the Crozet Master Plan. Board Chairwoman Ann Mallek said that was essential, given the importance of trust between government and residents.

“The community put their heart into [the revision] and they believe it,” Mallek said. “I think that in all the various [magisterial] districts, people need to have confidence in the master planning process.”  Mallek said Crozet’s priority was to invest in its downtown area, and not to create new development areas on the edges.

Will Yancey, representing the Yancey family, said in an interview that he would be happy to have his proposal considered outside of the plan’s context, and he hopes supervisors would consider more than just Crozet when making their decision.

“Fundamentally, the lack of light industrial zoning is a county-wide issue that shouldn't exclude input from the broader community beyond Crozet,” Yancey said.

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST:

• 01:00 - Susan Stimart begins her report on the LI inventory   
• 04:15 - Rooker points out that the UVA Research Park is not being taken into consideration by report
• 05:20 - Boyd disagrees with Rooker's concern
• 10:20 - Benish explains why the research park wasn't deemed appropriate for the needs being assess in the LI report
• 11:10 - Rooker points to Fifth and Avon development as an example of why there isn't much demand for LI
• 12:50 - Thomas said he would prefer to rezone land to industrial to make it available
• 14:45 - Mallek asks question about potential industrial uses for small parcels
• 20:40 - Boyd said there a lot of reasons why the 900 acres in the comp plan aren't where the inventory is needed
• 22:35 - Stimart seeks feedback on the report's recommendation: maintain and allow ease of use for existing properties
• 26:15 - Discussion of whether land designed in comprehensive plan should be preemptively rezoned
• 28:00 - Boyd asks for information on companies that have been unable to relocate or expand in Albemarle
• 34:50 - Snow asks how much of the decisions is driven by property costs
• 38:00 - Benish seeks direction on staff recommendations
• 42:00 - Discussion of second recommendation
• 45:30 - Boyd expresses frustration
• 46:30 - Davis said a key first step will be to create a new zoning district  
• 50:30 - Mallek said Crozet community wants to focus light industrial uses on north side of Route 240
• 53:00 - Stimart asks for feedback on the LI-Light proposal
• 1:03:00 - Boyd says he has a problem with Yancey Mills proposal being held up, prompting discussion about whether it should be considered in Crozet Master Plan
• 1:05:15 - Benish describes how Yancey proposal was connected   

Watterson presents CTS route changes; Council skeptical of County service increase

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Thursday, February 4, 2010

The City Council has heard details of proposed changes to certain Charlottesville Transit Service routes, including a modification of Route 1B to serve the Mill Creek neighborhood in Albemarle County.  Council will decide on whether to implement the changes during their upcoming discussion of the budget for fiscal year 2011.

Podcast produced by Charlottesville Tomorrow * Player by Odeo

Listen using player above or download the podcast: Download 20100201-CC-Transit

On Monday, CTS Director Bill Watterson presented an annual report on the industry, including a look at how Charlottesville fares when compared to transit systems in other communities.  He attributed ridership gains to increased partnership with the University Transit Service, better marketing campaigns and the central role played by the Downtown Transit Station.

“What the Downtown Transit Station has brought to Charlottesville is a lot of order from what used to be chaos,” said Watterson.  In addition, Watterson said route transfers are much more efficient, riders have a comfortable place to wait, and real-time bus tracking information has also helped improve the ability of riders to use the system.

Download CTS Director Watterson's presentation in .PDF form

At the conclusion, he suggested making the following route changes:

• Route 1B/23: Route would be adjusted to drive down Avon Street Extended to Mill Creek, and then on to PVCC. Service on this route to the Belmont neighborhood would be reduced (revenue neutral).
• Route 2B: Route would be adjusted to serve Region 10’s new facilities on Old Lynchburg Road (revenue neutral).
• Route 3 & 6: Service would be increased to run every 30 minutes all day, and not just during peak hours ($55,000 in additional yearly costs).
• Route 4: Service would no longer travel on Jefferson Park Avenue in anticipation of JPA Bridge being closed late this year. Route would also no longer use Bailey Road/Prospect Avenue. (revenue neutral).
• Route 4: Service would be increased to run every 30 minutes all day, and not just during peak hours ($55,000 in additional yearly costs).
• Route 6: Service would transition to serve Prospect Avenue (revenue neutral).
• New Route would be created to serve Greenbrier neighborhood via Fashion Square Mall and Barracks Road ($195,000 yearly cost).

Click to enlarge

Mayor Dave Norris said he would like to be able extend transit to Mill Creek which could bring access to the Tandem school, Monticello High School and several apartment complexes. However he said he was concerned changes to Route 1B would increase service in Albemarle County at the expense of Charlottesville.
 
Watterson said the county is not in a position to contribute additional funding at this time.  He said Belmont residents would benefit through the increased headways on Route 3 and 6.

“There is no intent to be taking service away from Belmont,” Watterson said.  He did acknowledge that some residents of that neighborhood would have to walk further to a bus stop.

Norris said he was not satisfied, but would wait to hear more details about potential county funding.

“If the only way that we can increase service in the county is by decreasing service in the city, I don’t see us being able to defend that publicly in the City,” Norris said.

Watterson said when he comes back to Council, he would provide information for how much the cost for increasing the service on Route 1B would be for Albemarle County.

Click to enlarge

Councilor Satyendra Huja said service to Greenbrier could be done without additional cost by extending Route 9, which serves Charlottesville High School. Watterson said he was hesitant to change that route, which he said was put together up with input from the Greenleaf, Rose Hill and the Tenth and Page neighborhood associations.

“Each of them expressed what they would like to see connected,”  Watterson said. “All of those things have translated into higher ridership on Route 9.”  He added that if the Meadowcreek Parkway is complete, transit routes will be opened up in northern Charlottesville. 

Huja also said the incoming new president of UVA would present an opportunity to ask the University to consider a merger with the University Transit Service. Councilor Kristin Szakos said she would support a combined service, but urged the City to put pressure on UTS to pay its drivers a living wage.

Councilor David Brown pointed out that UVA has concerns about such a merger, but that he has been impressed by the efforts to increase the working partnership between the two transit agencies.

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST:

• 01:00 - Watterson begins his presentation, including a comparison of Charlottesville/UTS to peer communities
• 10:30 - Watterson describes why he thinks CTS has experienced ridership gains
• 11:50 - Watterson begins describing revenue-neutral changes
• 21:20 - Watterson describes new potential service to the Greenbrier neighborhood
• 24:00 - Councilor Kristin Szakos asks question about Greenbrier route
• 26:10 - Councilor Huja wants more service concentrated in the north of the Charlox`
• 29:10 - Councilor Huja calls for a new route to serve Greenbrier via University and Downtown
• 31:30 - Szakos asks if pressure can be put on University Transit System to pay their drivers a living wage
• 34:30 - Councilor David Brown explains why the University is concerned about merging services
• 39:30 - Mayor Norris expresses his concerns about proposed changes to Route 1B
• 43:30 - Huja says the transit charette should be held sooner rather than later
• 45:00 - Brown asks a question about time it takes for Route 1B to get to PVCC

City adopts goal of increasing “supported” affordable housing units

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Thursday, February 4, 2010

City Council has set an ambitious and potentially costly goal of having 15% of Charlottesville’s housing stock classified as “affordable housing” by 2025. However, Council opted to defer a discussion of how much the City could afford to spend to reach the goal until the upcoming budget discussion. A staff report projects the cost of meeting the goal could average as much as $1.7 million a year in City funds.

Podcast produced by Charlottesville Tomorrow * Player by Odeo

Listen using player above or download the podcast:

Download 20100201-CC-HousingGoals

The report on the city’s affordable housing strategies was recommended last year in a Weldon-Cooper study commissioned by Council to look for ways to make city government more efficient. City staff prepared the housing report with guidance from the Charlottesville Housing Advisory Committee. The 31-page document tracks how the City has spent $4.82 million over the past five years to bring 530 housing units within an affordable range to low income residents. 

Download the Affordable Housing Strategies report

A unit is deemed affordable if it costs its occupants no more than 30% of their annual income, and if those occupants earn less than 80% of the area median income. In Charlottesville, the average family of four has an income of $72,800. A household of four that only earns $58,250 is classified as low income.

The report cites a 2007 U.S. Census report that estimated almost half of the City’s households are spending more than 30% of their income on their home. The report also suggests the need for affordable housing will continue to grow. In 2003, there were 1,308 families waiting to be recipients of Section 8 vouchers. By 2009, that number had jumped to 2,629.

The report defines “supported affordable unit” as one that is subsidized by funds from the U.S. Housing of Urban Development, the Virginia Housing & Development Authority, the City of Charlottesville. The number also includes units that are guaranteed “affordable” by developers through deed restrictions, paid for with down payment or rental assistance, as well as tax credits that give incentives to property owners to keep rents within affordable range.

This chart from the report breaks down the many ways in which housing costs are kept affordable. Click to enlarge.

There is currently a total of 1,933 “supported affordable units” in Charlottesville, according to the report. That equates to about 10% of the City’s housing stock. In order to maintain that figure, the report says continued investment will be necessary. For example, 200 units at the Hearthwood complex could revert to market rate in 2011 because the tax credits used in their financing will expire. Melissa Celii, a grants coordinator in the City’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services, said the 12% target could be reached with an average investment of $1 million per year. The report estimates it would take $1.7 million a year to achieve the City’s adopted goal of 15%.  

During the Council’s discussion on the topic, City Councilor Holly Edwards said she supported the 15% goal.

“Housing is just as important as the other infrastructure that we invest in in our community,” Edwards said.  
However, Councilor David Brown suggested a 12% goal would be a good “reasonable number” to attain during a time of budgetary uncertainty.

“I think we should always be cognizant of not solving the region’s affordable housing problems by ourselves,” Brown said.

Councilor Kristin Szakos said could justify the higher goal because she said there were lots of people who would like to live in Charlottesville but can’t afford a place to live.

Since 2004, City investment has helped preserve 530 units, as broken down in this chart from the report. Click to enlarge.

Norris weighed in and said he would break the tie in favor a 15% goal, but was aware of the possibility of a tight budget.

“We’re entirely dependent on our financial ability to meet these goals,” Norris said. “We’re  not making any financial commitment at this time. It’s really a moral commitment and a strategic commitment.”

In fiscal year 2008, the City dedicated $2.15 million. In the current fiscal year, Celii said the City has spent $1.4 million, including $500,000 used to invest in Virginia Supportive Housing’s SRO project.

Council deferred discussion of the specific level of funding until the budget review begins in March.

County Supervisors concerned about city’s study of Ragged Mountain Dam

This article is an extended version of what appears in today's Daily Progress.

By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Thursday, February 4, 2010
 
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors raised concerns Wednesday about the Charlottesville City Council’s decision to study a new dam option for the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. County leaders said that could lead to delays and increased construction costs for the joint water supply plan.

That 2006 plan called for a new, higher dam at Ragged Mountain and a pipeline that would transfer water from the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to the more expansive Ragged Mountain site. The plan has come under fire by opponents who question its original $142 million pricetag and suggest such an ambitious plan would not be needed if officials considered dredging at South Fork as part of the solution.

Podcast produced by Charlottesville Tomorrow * Player by Odeo

Listen using player above or download the podcast:Download 20100203-BOS-dam-study

Thomas L. Frederick Jr., executive director of the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority, warned that the city’s study of a smaller dam expansion, one built 13 feet higher on the existing 1908 dam, could set back the schedule.

“City staff have suggested that, because of the procurement process they now have to go through … this particular evaluation may not be available until the fall of this year,” Frederick said. “We were teeing up the additional studies … to try to focus on making some decisions this summer on where we go with implementing the new water supply.”

Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd (Rivanna) asked if the community would lose a “whole season of dam building” if there was a delay in selecting a dam design past August.

Frederick responded that while some dam construction activities could be done any time of year, the actual construction, depending on how it is built, could be season specific.

Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker (Jack Jouett) said he also had concerns about the city’s proposal.

“You have got City Council maybe spending $150,000 on a study of that dam — and the delays and the potential missing of the favorable construction bid climate — all based upon doing some studies for something that may not even be feasible,” Rooker said.

City Councilor David Brown is the only member of council who was in office when the water supply plan was approved in 2006.

“I share some of the county’s concerns and I am still a supporter of the original plan,” Brown said in an interview. “I am concerned about tinkering with the plan with the expectation we will have fewer people using less water. I think there is a good chance we will have more people.”

View a 3-D model of the Norris Plan concept dam for Ragged Mountain in Google Earth. See more of Charlottesville in 3-D in Google Earth.

Mayor Dave Norris said it was “staff and key parties dragging their feet” that had kept the assessment of his dam alternative from moving forward sooner. Norris first outlined his water plan concept in February 2009.

His concept involves a combination of dredging the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, water conservation and raising the existing Ragged Mountain Dam by 13 feet. The exact amount of water such an approach would provide and its ability to be approved by state and federal regulators has yet to be determined.

“We have information that we need to get that could potentially save a tremendous amount of money and minimize environmental impacts,” Norris said in an interview. “If it takes a little bit of time and money, it is worth it. This project is now years behind the original schedule, so again I don’t think a few extra months will have any major impact.”

Supervisor Boyd said it was the county that would pay the price for any delays.

“I think the biggest burden of the cost of this new dam — because the capacity is going to be needed in the county where the growth is — is going to fall on the county,” said Boyd. “We can’t let the persons who [would pay] a small portion of this cost control what’s done and lose some tremendous opportunities here with the bidding environment.”

“I am concerned about spending more money,” said Brown when asked about investing in the new study.  “I am, however, really interested in getting the dredging study results first so we can make sure that we know exactly to what degree dredging [the South Fork Rivanna reservoir] could contribute to water supply.  We need to err on the side of having plenty of water rather than too little water.”

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST:

• 01:24 - Gary Fern, Executive Director, Albemarle County Service Authority begins his report with an update on the recent water main break near Piney Mountain.  Approximately 500,000 gallons of water were lost.
• 04:24 - Fern provides update on North Fork Regional Pump Station sewer project.  Expect to complete project by December 2011.
• 09:30 - Thomas Frederick, Executive Director, Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority, begins his report with an update on the Meadowcreek Sewer Interceptor.  Expect to complete project in Summer 2011.
• 11:40 - Frederick provides update on the RWSA Comprehensive Sewer Plan which was started in 2006.  He responds to questions about cost sharing between city, county, and RWSA for sewer upgrades.
• 20:10 - Frederick updates Board of Supervisors on current water supply plan studies.
• 25:50 - Supervisors begin questions about City of Charlottesville's plan to study raising Lower Ragged Mountain Dam by 13 feet.

Architectural Review Board voices concerns about Crozet gas station proposal

By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Tuesday, February 2, 2010

A proposed gas station on U.S. 250 in Crozet is coming under increased scrutiny by the public and the Albemarle County Architectural Review Board.

At its meeting Monday, the ARB told the applicant’s representative, Jo Higgins, that the Re-Store’n Station plan had not improved enough over the past year and still had a negative impact on the adjacent neighborhood and historic area of Free Town.

Albemarle County Architectural Review Board members (L to R) Bruce Wardell, Fred Missel, and William Daggett

“It is less worse than it was in the beginning, yet it is still not good,” said board member Paul Wright. “I think it’s too big and its scale is significant, and I think the site [plan] makes it currently unacceptable to ARB guidelines.”

“This is a very rural area of Albemarle County, this is not [U.S. 29 North],” continued Wright. “We shouldn’t stick a 29 North store on this specially designated scenic byway that’s different from almost any other road we have in the county.”

Jo Higgins speaking on behalf of Michelle & Jeff Sprouse for the Re-Store’n Station proposal

Higgins, a former Albemarle County Planning Commission member, first brought the Re-Store’n Station proposal before the ARB in February 2009. The 4-acre parcel owned by Michelle and Jeff Sprouse was previously the location of a small-engine repair shop and is zoned for highway commercial activity. It is located across the street from an Exxon gas station and next door to the Crozet Moose Lodge.“We are on our third visit to the ARB,” said a frustrated Higgins after the meeting. “We find there is inconsistency with respect to their review of this project.”

Higgins said she was “disappointed” with the ARB’s feedback and suggested the ARB was overstepping its mandate.

“There seems to be blurred lines between the Planning Commission and the Architectural Review Board, and there is no appeal process that works,” Higgins said. “We have proceeded diligently to present something we thought was appropriate for highway commercial zoning.”

While a gas station is allowed on the property by right, buildings along U.S. 250 require approval from the ARB, which is responsible for reviewing development projects in Albemarle’s road entrance corridors. Typically the ARB provides feedback on details such as the building’s appearance and orientation, landscaping, lighting and signage.

Higgins came prepared with a new plan that she expected would address the ARB’s past feedback on those aesthetic matters. However, Higgins became visibly frustrated as the ARB critiqued the project’s potential impact on Free Town and the difficulty of the site to accommodate additional parking and a conceptual future building addition.

Speakers during public comment included two Free Town Lane residents and two former county officials, all with concerns about the project.

October 2009 concept plan for the Re-Store’n Station

“Although the initial plan has been downscaled a bit, when you look at the other proposed site [for a second building] you are still looking at possibly 9,500 square feet of space,” Free Town Lane resident Jonathan Hunt told the board. “Although this is situated in such a way to minimize its impact on Route 250, it maximizes its impact on our neighborhood, the noisiest part of the service station is closet to our neighborhood.”

Kirk Train, an architect and former chairman of the ARB, spoke on behalf of Scenic 250, an advocacy group dedicated to preserving the rural and scenic character of U.S. 250 west of Charlottesville. He also encouraged the board to focus on the scale of the project and the lack of mitigation and buffers.

“I find the design mediocre, and we ought to accept better,” Train said. “We deserve, and 250 deserves, a better effort, a smaller effort on the site.”

Marcia Joseph, former chairwoman of the Albemarle County Planning Commission, asked the ARB to consider the additional 56 parking spaces that she said would be required if the second structure is built. She said that parking would consume areas now proposed in the plan as open space.

As they began deliberations, Chairman Fred Missel encouraged the board to find balance in its recommendations by taking into account that the proposal was by right and had been under review for the past year. However, he also said that the ARB’s purview included taking adjacent historic properties into consideration.

Over the past year, the size of the proposed gas station has decreased in response to county concerns. What was originally a 7,000-square-foot, two-story building is now a 4,750-square-foot building with a convenience store on the first floor and 1,000 square feet of office space on the second floor.

Wright said the public’s input at the meeting was a significant factor.

“We can go through weeks and never have [the public] come talk to us,” Wright said. “Just the fact that they are here and objecting to it, to me makes a great difference.”

“Now with my knowledge of the historical providence of Free Town, it has in fact impacted my view of this site from the very first time I saw it,” Wright said.

In the end, Missel echoed the conclusions reached by other board members.

“The scale of the development remains excessive and remains inappropriate in an entrance corridor adjacent to a historic district,” Missel said.

Michelle Sprouse said her goal was to get the gas station open for business by January 2013. No formal vote was taken by the ARB and the Re-Store’n Station plans are expected to be reviewed further at a future meeting. Higgins said she would come prepared to address the board’s latest round of feedback.

For Charlottesville Tomorrow's previous coverage of Free Town and development along Route 250 West near Crozet, see this article from December 2009: Amid growth in Crozet, Albemarle seeks to maintain US 250 as a scenic byway