Cville Tomorrow News

Public gets say on U.S. 250 interchange

10/30/09 * C-Ville Weekly [full story]

Charlottesville residents packed into CitySpace on the Downtown Mall to voice objections Thursday to a diamond-shaped interchange slated to be built at the U.S. 250 Bypass and McIntire Road.

The project aims to improve the existing at-grade intersection and reduce traffic congestion, but some residents say the change could cause environmental destruction and severely damage McIntire Park, and could possibly create more traffic.

Rich Collins, a member of the Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park, said officials have tried to create a rosy picture of what the park would be like after the interchange is built. However, he said that reality would include loud sirens and dangerous congestion for pedestrians.

Park activists rally to decry interchange

10/29/09 * C-Ville Weekly [full story]

The Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park and its supporters rallied Wednesday to denounce the Meadowcreek Parkway in advance of a public hearing today on the design of the parkway’s terminus.

“We don’t think this interchange is going to be built,” coalition member Rich Collins said.

The elevated, diamond-shaped interchange is slated to be built at the U.S. 250 Bypass and McIntire Road at an estimated cost of $32.5 million, primarily funded by federal dollars. Parkway opponents would like to see that funding reallocated to other projects.

Controversial dredging study gets go-ahead

10/28/09 * C-Ville Weekly [full story]

A controversial dredging feasibility study for the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir will go forward.

The board of directors for the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority authorized a $343,778 contract Tuesday for HDR Engineering to conduct the study in a 6-0 vote.

Officials called for the study to see if dredging and increasing conservation efforts would be less expensive than spending $142 million under the original water plan to build a higher dam at the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. Dredging has been an issue in the 50-year water supply plan for Charlottesville and Albemarle County, which was approved by the City Council and the Board of Supervisors in 2006.

Candidates for Albemarle County Board of Supervisors

10/27/09 * C-Ville Weekly [full story]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that the Charlottesville region has lost close to 8 percent of its farmland in only five years. Between 2002 and 2007, 56,836 acres were lost. Across Virginia, more than half a million acres were lost, making it the largest decline in the last 20 years.

What is the role of the Board of Supervisors in preserving rural land and what would you do, specifically, to protect it?

Candidates: Dennis Rooker, Madison Cummings, John Lowry, Duane Snow, Rodney Thomas, David Slutzky

Candidates for Charlottesville City Council

10/27/09 * C-Ville Weekly [full story]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2005, in Charlottesville 9,101 residents were living in poverty. That’s 23.7 percent of the total population.
 
What is the role of City Council in addressing this problem? Why, in your estimation, have past Councils failed to make strides in this area?

Candiates: Bob Fenwick, Paul Long, Dave Norris, Kristin Szakos, Andrew Williams

Lowry tops to lead Miller

10/26/09 * Daily Progress Editorial [full story]

The Samuel Miller District of Albemarle County has drawn three very different candidates. That’s given the voters plenty of opportunity to dig into the issues and weigh choices at this critical time for the county’s finances and future.

While recognizing the outstanding community service records of the other candidates, The Daily Progress gives its endorsement to John C. Lowry.

It’s Slutzky for Rio

10/26/09 * Daily Progress Editorial [full story]

This is one of the toughest election decisions this newspaper has ever had to face. No finer civic servant could be found than Rodney Tho-mas, a genuinely good man who has dedicated countless hours to the betterment of this community. Albemarle and Charlottesville are immeasurably better because of his efforts. The county Board of Supervisors could use his knowledge, compassion and insight.

But only one person can be elected from the Rio District. And we believe that person should be David Slutzky.  Yes, Mr. Slutzky is controversial. Yes, he makes false steps. Yes, he sometimes seeks to lead where few are ready to follow.  But he is a courageous man and a brilliant thinker. It is rare to find someone so willing to try new approaches at the risk of public misunderstanding and disapproval.

Residents, Supes alarmed at VDOT proposal for new road to Keswick

10/26/09 * C-Ville Weekly [full story]

A line on a map, representing a road not likely to be built for decades, has nonetheless become a political hot potato in Albemarle. When VDOT presented a study of 219 miles of the U.S. 29 corridor last month, local officials and residents bristled at some of its recommendations—including the notion of a new road connecting Rte. 29 at Culpeper with I-64 in Keswick. The so-called Eastern Bypass would ideally take pressure off busy 29.

The so-called Eastern Bypass was one of the recommendations VDOT made when it presented a study of 219 miles of the U.S. 29 corridor last month. The new road would connect Rte. 29 at Culpeper with I-64 in Keswick and would personally impact Megan Weary, who with her husband Rob owns Keswick’s Roundabout Farm. “It would take out a major portion of land we till currently, and…land we’re looking at for expanding tillable acres,” she says.

So far, though, the road has added more pressure than it’s relieved, in the form of public consternation and official pushback. Joseph Springer, a planner with Parsons Transportation (which administered the VDOT study), says he had received about 160 comments about the road as of October 13, the “vast majority” in opposition. Its route, as indicated on a VDOT map, would pass through two historic districts: Southwest Mountains and Keswick.

Financial hurdles fail to stop Crozet development plan

10/26/09 * Daily Progress [full story]

A plan that would refurbish business buildings in the heart of Crozet — connected to or within walking distance of new apartments — might begin within several months, despite major financial stumbles.

The project, covering territory between Crozet Great Valu and Dairy Queen on Crozet Avenue, is being called Crozet Station, and aims to revamp old business buildings and develop nearby homes, without destroying Crozet’s small-town atmosphere.

“We and Albemarle County and the United States need to learn how to redo old villages with good bones,” said local architect Bill Atwood. “We’ve been on hold a year because of the economy, and that comes strictly from the malfunctioning of the banking [and] financial system.”

Voter guides coming to city, county ahead of Nov. 3 elections

10/25/09 * Daily Progress [full story]

Voters in Charlottesville and parts of Albemarle County will receive free voter guides this week that provide in-depth position statements from candidates on important issues in each locality.

The guides are a joint project of Charlottesville Tomorrow and The Daily Progress.

The 12-page guides are scheduled to be mailed to households beginning Monday.