March 27, 2024: Construction has begun on first phase of Biscuit Run Park in Albemarle with fall opening planned
Plus: The City of Charlottesville is looking for another Planning Commissioner after one member resigned in protest of Council's 3-2 vote against a letter of support for a ceasefire in Gaza
March is coming closer to its conclusion but there is still so much that needs to be written! An adjustment has been made to the production schedule of Charlottesville Community Engagement to get these out faster in the hopes of being able to be more useful to more people. I’m Sean Tubbs, endlessly tweaking the algorithm that runs Town Crier Productions.
In today’s installment:
The City of Charlottesville is seeking a new member of the Planning Commission after one member resigned publicly in protest
Albemarle Supervisors learn that funding is in place to get more of Biscuit Run Park under construction
The deadline is April 1 to apply for rent and real estate tax relief for the elderly and disabled in Charlottesville
Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoes several bills related to firearms safety
First shout out: ReLeaf Cville
In today’s first subscriber supported public service announcement: ReLeaf Cville exists to reverse a worrying trend. Since 2004, Charlottesville’s Tree Canopy has declined from 50 percent to 38 percent. Two-thirds of the city’s neighborhoods are below 40 percent. ReLeaf Cville aims to change that through a series of tree plantings, preservation efforts, and education campaigns.
ReLeaf is a public / private partnership between the city tree Commission, the Nature Conservancy, City of Promise, Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, and the Van Yahres Tree Company. Their efforts are funded through donations so consider making yours today!
Habbab resigns from Charlottesville Planning Commission
A vacancy has opened up on the Charlottesville Planning Commission with a public resignation last week. After Council voted 3-2 against a resolution on March 18 calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Gaza, Commissioner Karim Habbab spoke at the second opportunity for public comments.
“Your vote and your reasoning, three of you, is pathetic,” Habbab said. “This is not a matter of policy but a matter of humanity. I feel sorry for you if you think this topic is too controversial for a local government to consider. We need to have the backbone to say killing innocent people is bad.”
The vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire dominated the March 18 Council meeting. Habbab was among several people who took to the podium to make a comment on the resolution which had been added to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting.
“Effectively immediately I am stepping down from my role on the City Planning Commission as I can not in good conscience continue to serve in my role with a City Council that cannot uphold the basic value of human life,” Habbab said.
Habbab joined the Planning Commission in June 2021.
The seats held by Lyle Solla-Yates and Betsy Roettger expire on August 31, 2024. Only applications for Habbab’s seat are being taken at this time and applications are due April 26, 2024.
The new vacancy is one of several current openings for which the City of Charlottesville is seeking new applicants.
“We believe it is not only the right, but the responsibility of interested and capable citizens to become engaged in local government policy by advising City Council on important community-related issues,” reads the latest press release on the topic. “Serving on a Board or Commission is an excellent way to make a personal contribution to Charlottesville’s growth and can be a rewarding experience for everyone!”
Here are the vacancies with deadlines of May 8, 2024:
There’s one vacancy for a member of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (learn more)
There is one opening on the Board of Architectural Review for the owner of a business or commercial property located in a design control district (learn more)
There are two vacancies on the Community Development Block Grant Task Force with one slated for a resident of the 10th and Page neighborhood and another reserved for the Ridge Street neighborhood. (learn more)
There are two open positions on the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund committee with both seats reserved for beneficiaries of affordable housing projects. (learn more)
There are two vacancies on the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority with one at-large position and one resident of public housing. (learn more)
There is one vacancy on the Historic Resources Committee. (learn more)
There are four openings on the Housing Advisory Committee, two of whom must be a current resident of subsidized housing. The notice does not specify what the other two slots are for. There were recently new appointees as I wrote about at the time. (learn more)
There are two seats on the Jefferson Area Board for Aging’s Advisory Council that need occupants. (learn more)
Four people are needed on the Local Board of Building Code Appeals. (learn more)
There are three seats on the Minority Business Commission. (learn more)
Charlottesville needs someone to represent the city on the Piedmont Family YMCA’s Board of Directors. (learn more)
Another two individuals are needed for the Piedmont Virginia Community College Board. (learn more)
There’s one vacancy on the Police Civilian Oversight Board for a community representative. (learn more)
The city is seeking one of its own employees to serve on the Retirement Commission as well as a retiree as well as a community member with professional money management experience. (learn more)
There are four seats open on the Social Services Advisory Board. (learn more)
There are four slots seeking applicants for the Towing Advisory Board. (learn more)
Until this moment, I’ve never thought about the Vendor Appeals Board which needs three seats filled. City employees cannot serve on this board. (learn more)
Albemarle Supervisors get an update on funding for Biscuit Run Park, other projects
Over fourteen years have passed since the Commonwealth of Virginia purchased about 1,200 acres from a private developer for the purposes of building a state park. When it appeared that state funding to actually build the park would be many years away, Albemarle County Supervisors agreed to develop the park themselves.
Albemarle Supervisors have spent this month reviewing the $629 million budget for fiscal year 2025 and this week got a status update on county funding toward moving the project forward.
“Biscuit Run is budgeted at about $9.2 million over FY25 and FY26 over the next two years and it’s going to include several elements first of which is that Route 20 entrance and trailhead to open the park and get us into the park,” said Ryan Davidson, deputy chief of budget in Albemarle. “And then we have the trail networks which includes three elevated boardwalks in the marshier areas. We have the athletic fields, the two athletic fields.”
Davidson said that amount also includes improvements on Hickory Street to support a trailhead from that direction.
Work on what’s known as Phase 1A of Biscuit Run has been delayed due to a variety of factors including COVID, according to the winter 2024 Facilities and Environmental Services report.
This afternoon, Albemarle County sent out a press release announcing they are planning for an opening this fall. The firm Haley, Chisholm & Morris has been hired to build the entrance road, a 75-parking space trailhead, and rest rooms.
“The contractor has begun work by marking out the site and transporting trucks and equipment to the area for the start of construction,” reads the release. “Following the tree removal, erosion and sediment control measures will be installed next week in preparation for earthwork. Site grubbing, involving the removal of trees, brush, and stumps, has begun and will continue in phases as work progresses over the upcoming months.”
Davidson said a theme in the FY25 budget is to move Parks and Recreation capital projects forward. Another $2.1 million project will see the grass fields at Darden-Towe Park rebuilt to better support athletic activities.
“One of each field will be taken out of use during the rehab process to minimize the disruption to recreational activities,” Davidson said.
The City of Charlottesville is expected to contribute a portion of the funds for this project based on a formula that governs their joint ownership of Darden-Towe. A request for proposals was issued on March 18 and bids are due on April 10.
The draft capital budget also includes $150,000 in FY25 for design of an urban pocket park and $1.5 million in construction for FY26. The location has not yet been identified but Parks and Recreation Director Bob Crickenberger said his department is going through a list of surplus county properties and other sites.
“We hope to complete that process soon within several months,” Crickenberger said.
Coverage of the Albemarle County budget will continue in future editions of the newsletter.
Deadline to apply for real property tax relief in Charlottesville is April 1
With an increase in the real property tax rate in Charlottesville highly likely this year, city officials want eligible households to know about rent and tax relief programs for the elderly and disabled.
Commissioner of Revenue Todd Divers appeared in a video description to describe who qualifies.
“If the applicant has paid rent for their dwelling during the previous year and was a resident of the city on December 31 of the previous year, or if the applicant or their spouse if they reside together are 65 years of age or older, or permanently and totally disabled as of December 31 of the previous year, and the dwelling for which the rental relief grant is sought was occupied as of December 31 of the previous year, as a sole dwelling of the applicant, then they likely qualify,” Divers said.
Grants of up to $2,000 are available.
Watch the video on rental relief:
There’s also a program for real property tax relief and a video is available for that, too.
Applicants have to be over the age of 65 or totally disabled as of December 31, 2023
Applicants have to live in the dwelling and they cannot own any other property
The combined adjusted gross income must be below $61,650
Net worth of the household must be lower than $125,000
To learn more and to apply for the program, visit the Commissioner of Revenue’s website.
Sponsored message: Buy Local
From Crozet to Barracks Road, the Downtown Mall to the Shops at Stonefield, and everywhere in between, Albemarle County and Charlottesville’s Offices of Economic Development encourage you to Buy Local as spring approaches.
Buying locally supports our neighbors and community members and makes a big impact for our local economy. Local businesses are more likely to reinvest in our community and their goods and services contribute to the unique character of our community.
Learn more about how you can support local business at ShowLocalLove.org and on social media:
Governor Youngkin vetoes 30 more bills, all related to firearms
The reality of a divided government in Virginia presented itself again yesterday as Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin dismissed 30 bills while signing another 31 into law.
“I swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of Virginia, and that absolutely includes protecting the right of law-abiding Virginians to keep and bear arms,” Youngkin is quoted in a press release sent out Wednesday.
“I am pleased to sign four public safety bills which are common sense reforms with significant bipartisan support from the General Assembly, and offer recommendations to several bills which, if adopted, will make it harder for criminals to use guns in the commission of a violent act,” Youngkin continued
The public safety bills Youngkin signed into law include HB36 and SB44 which will make it a Class 5 for someone who knowingly or neglectfully allows a child under the age of 5 to come into possession of a firearm. This passed the House of Delegates on a 55 to 43 vote and the Senate on a unanimous vote.
Another pair of identical bills signed is HB22 and S210 which would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of an “auto sear” which can be used to convert some firearms into weapons with automatic fire capability. That passed the House on a 89 to 2 vote and the Senate on a 27 to 13 vote.
Youngkin is suggesting amendments to the following:
HB861 and SB515 would have made it a Class 1 misdemeanor to knowingly take a firearm or other weapon into a hospital or other facility. The legislative information system doesn’t appear to have the full text of the recommendation at publication time, but the press release states that “the Governor’s recommendation focuses on criminals who transfer firearms to a person receiving mental health treatment at a hospital.”
SB363 would have made it a Class 1 misdemeanor to knowingly possess a firearm without a serial number and a Class 6 felony to knowingly sell firearms without a serial number of an altered one. The text of the amendment is not available but the release states “the amendment aligns the bill with federal law and federal definitions for serial numbers.
HB173 and SB100 would make it a Class 5 felony to possess or manufacture plastic firearms that would not be detectable by security screenings. From the statement: · “The amendment establishes a knowledge standard for manufacturing, importing, selling, transferring or possessing any plastic firearm and introduces mandatory minimum sentences for the subsequent use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.”
SB225 would require School Boards to develop policies to inform parents and guardians of their legal responsibility to store firearms safely. We’ve seen this before with HB498. “The amendment directs the Department of Education to convene a workgroup to create a comprehensive list of the parental rights and responsibilities and develop an efficient method for distributing such list to parents. The Governor previously offered the same recommendation for HB 498.”
Now onto the vetoes. This is not a complete list but the full list of veto statements is available here.
Both HB2 and SB2 would have banned assault firearms as well as certain types of ammunition.
“Virginia has some of the strictest gun laws in the country,” Youngkin wrote. “Unfortunately, the Commonwealth has reduced penalties for criminals, contributing to violent crime. Enhancing penalties for crimes committed with firearms will reverse this trend.”
HB454 and SB383 would have banned firearms or explosive materials in Capitol Square or any other building leased by the Commonwealth of Virginia. This legislation specifically address higher education institutions.
“While I am committed to ensuring well-secured and safe college campuses in Virginia, this legislation does not adequately consider the numerous variations in Virginia's diverse geographic, cultural, and societal norms across different regions of the Commonwealth,” Youngkin wrote. “The Boards of Visitors at Virginia's institutions of higher education already have the authority to regulate their respective campuses, including implementing firearms prohibitions.”
Other vetoed public safety bills:
HB585 would have prohibited home-based firearms dealers from operating new schools
HB797 would have altered rules for regulating permits for concealed handguns to eliminate references to the National Rifle Association or the United States Concealed Carry Association as groups that could provide necessary training. Youngkin wrote this would put too much burden on the Department of Criminal Justice Services to provide the courses.
HB1462 would have made it a civil penalty to leave a firearm in a vehicle unattended. Youngkin stated “the culpability is on the criminal who stole the firearm.”
Other bills that did not relate to public safety were also signed into law. Here’s some of what jumped out at me.
HB74 and SB644 would clarify that funding for secondary roads designated for paving unpaved roads can be used for other related purposes
HB522 would direct the directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to write up regulations related to the use of online advertising by to promote sales
HB282 would create a penalty for motor vehicle infractions in highway work zone with a minimum punishment for a first offense set at $300
HB1498 changes the term “adult day care center” to “adult day center”
Stay tuned for more information including HB805 and SB14 which would authorize all localities to hold a referendum for a sales tax increase that would fund school construction. Will Youngkin sign the bill after his proposal to bring a sports arena failed?
Today, the City of Alexandria announced they’ve suspended negotiations with Monumental Sports. Youngkin sent out this release shortly as that information was known:
"Virginians deserve better. A one-of-a-kind project bringing world-class athletes and entertainment, creating 30,000 jobs and $12 billion in economic activity just went up in smoke. This transformational project would have driven investment to every corner of the Commonwealth. This should have been our deal and our opportunity, all the General Assembly had to do was say: ‘thank you, Monumental, for wanting to come to Virginia and create $12 billion of economic investment, let’s work it out.’ But no, personal and political agendas drove away a deal with no upfront general fund money and no tax increases, that created tens of thousands of new jobs and billions in revenue for Virginia. I’d like to thank Ted Leonsis and the Monumental team, the City of Alexandria, JBG Smith and countless other partners for their professionalism, belief in Virginia and fortitude. Congratulations to Monumental for striking a great deal, I’m sorry you won’t be in Virginia," said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Will this affect the weight of his pen before the April 8 deadline to act on the sales tax legislation?
Stay tuned.
Reading material:
Twin Oaks Community warehouse destroyed in Louisa wildfire, CBS19, March 22, 2024
Louisa County teacher completes recreation of Jack Jouett's historic ride, Brenna Kiefner, CBS19 News, March 26, 2024
More homes away from home: Ronald McDonald House invests in Fifeville property, Sean Tubbs, C-Ville Weekly, March 27, 2024
654 seems like part of a countdown
I quite like this new set-up where I can concentrate on getting a print newsletter out while prepping for an eventual podcast version. This is going to change how I work, and I believe that’s for the better. Many of these stories don’t really work as audio pieces, and now I can let those go.
This is all in service to a new radio version of this work that airs on WTJU 91.1 FM on Saturday mornings at 6 a.m. and then gets archived on the Charlottesville Podcasting Network. I created that website back in 2005 as an experiment, and nineteen years later I’m still at it, practicing journalism on my own terms.
What are those terms? I find if I stop to write out my philosophy, I get bored and then feel a need to get back to work. There are so many things to pay attention to, and to write down what I can, when I can.
Thanks to paid subscribers, I’m able to do this, and I’m able to plan to keep it up for as long as I can. I believe this work is important, and that’s because over 600 of the 2,850 subscribers are paying something.
If you’d like to join them with a Substack subscription, Ting will match your initial payment. This partnership with Ting is an incredibly generous sponsorship, and you if you sign up for service and enter the promo code COMMUNITY you’re going to get:
Free installation
A second month for free
A $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall
