May 7, 2025: PVCC Board to consider ending of theater major, other programs
Plus: Charlottesville City Council is briefed on need for new regional planning for future water needs
The first edition of the Cambridge Chronicle was published on May 7, 1846 and the second page contains these words: “A newspaper is truly, to a considerable extent, a chronicle of the times” and goes on to say that “it is difficult for the conductor of a newspaper to describe his plan.”
The same can definitely be said for Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and occasional podcast that seeks to serve the same purpose. I’m Sean Tubbs, and yesterday I updated the page where you can learn how to support my efforts.
In today’s installment:
The Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Board today will consider closure of several programs including a major in theater
More details on the need for a regional water supply plan to be created by October 2029
The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is briefed on a letter from the United States Transportation Secretary mandating cooperation with federal immigration officials and preventing the pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a community meeting Thursday for funded improvements on Avon Street Extended
Charlottesville City Council approves the use of eminent domain to take properties for two streetscape projects
Another ruling is made in the ongoing court case against Charlottesville’s new zoning code
First-shout: Bob Benetta at the WTJU Offbeat Roadhouse this Friday
Every Friday night at 8 p.m, Offbeat Roadhouse on WTJU invites a different musical group into your home for an hour long concert live from WTJU’s performance space. Each week there will be Blues, Folk, Jazz, and Roots acts from around the globe.
The Bob Bennetta Quartet (Bob Bennetta, piano; Tom Mix, clarinet; Larry Bisgaier, bass and guitar; Jim Hoe, drums) will pull into Offbeat Roadhouse Friday night, May 9, for a concert which will also be broadcast on WTJU. The band’s music is Bill Evans and Duke Ellington-inspired ballads, straight-ahead jazz selections, with occasional blues, and Latin-inspired jazz.
This is a free event, open to all. You can also listen to Offbeat Roadhouse on the radio (91.1 FM) or on-line, and even video stream it at WTJU’s Facebook page or YouTube channel. But concerts always sound better with you as part of the studio audience. WTJU is located at 2244 Ivy Rd in Charlottesville, right next door to Vivace. There is plenty of parking, both in their lot as well as the Sentara lot next door.
Want a sample? Scroll down to the bottom of today’s edition for a link to Bob Bennetta’s show on September 1, 2024!
PVCC Board to consider closure of theater courses, other programs
When the Piedmont Virginia Community College Board meets today, one item on the agenda is consideration of closure of several academic offerings. One of them is the closure of the Visual and Performing Arts: Theatre and Drama program.
“Despite past efforts to vitalize the program, annual enrollment has remained low—averaging approximately 17 students from 2019 to 2024— with fewer than five graduates per year, including only one graduate in 2024,” reads a March 31 letter from Kit Decker, the interim Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social Sciences.
The review of PVCC’s curriculum takes place every two years according to one member of the administration.
“All certificate and degree programs are reviewed on a rotating two-year cycle to ensure the programs remain aligned with student interests, transfer opportunities, workforce needs and the College’s mission,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Workforce Development Dr. Leonda Keniston in response to a query for this newsletter. “The Associate of Arts degree Visual and Performing Arts: Art Major and a Career Studies Certificate in Graphic and Media Arts are available.”
Decker noted that the theater program has lost $301,763.98 in the past three years and no longer meets the standard for continuation under PVCC’s strategic goals. Remaining students will have one year to finish programs.
The Health Information Management Certificate Program has had low enrollment and currently does not have a full-time coordinator. The staff report notes the Workforce Development Division has a similar non-credit program that leads to a similar certification.
“Discontinuing the HIM Certificate Program allows us to reallocate resources more effectively to areas of higher demand,” writes Nicole Winkler, Dean of Health and Life Sciences.
Another health-related program recommended for closure is the Mammography Careers Studies Certificate Program. There hasn’t been a new student since 2021.
“Regional labor market data and employer feedback suggest limited demand for entry-level mammography technologists, with most facilities preferring to cost-train existing Radiologic Technologists rather than hire new graduates from dedicated mammography programs,” Winkler writes in that memo.
Discontinuation of a major takes approval from the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia.
Other programs recommended for closure:
The Medical Administrative Support Assistant has low-enrollment and a similar program exists in the Workforce Development Division.
The same could be said of the Medical Laboratory Assistant Careers Studies Certificate, though this is also being recommended because a three-year grant with UVA Health ends this year.
The Medical Laboratory Technology Associate of Applied Sciences program is also recommended to be closed. Start-up funds were also covered by a grant from UVA Health.
Associate of Applied Sciences program in Information Systems Technology, Cloud Computing Specialization. There have only been two graduates since the program began in 2019.
The Web Technologies Certificate of Career Studies is also recommended for closure due to low enrollment
TJPDC has until 2029 to create regional water supply plan
If a lot of people are going to be living in the same space, you need enough resources to support that population. In the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, there are three different entities charged with storing, treating, and distributing clean drinking water for urban area.
A new update to Virginia code now requires those three to come up with a unified plan because the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality considers them all be in the same river basin.
“We are largely a part of the Middle James 1 Regional Planning Unit (RPU), which includes Charlottesville, Albemarle, Green, Fluvanna, Louisa and Buckingham counties,” said Ruth Emerick, chief operating officer of the TJPDC. “Nelson is in a different RPU and the kickoff meeting with DEQ was held about a month ago.”
Emerick said the process is still unfolding but the TJPDC Board of Commissioners were asked to adopt a resolution officially appointing the entity as the one responsible for putting together the plan.
“The final regional water supply plan is not required to be completed and submitted to DEQ until 2029,” Emerick said. “So there's a good amount of time and I imagine there will be a number of things that change.”
Emerick said one piece of good news is that a lot of the required data is in existing plans.
Fluvanna County and Louisa County are members of the James River Water Authority and their materials can be seen here
Albemarle and Charlottesville participate in the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority and the Community Water Supply Plan can be viewed here
“It’s going to be a lot of just coordinating and making sure that everyone's on the same page and all the data is in the same place and then potentially working on strategies to secure our water supply for the future,” Emerick said.
Emerick delivered the same presentation to Charlottesville City Council on May 5. Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston sits on the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors and said details are still unknown about whether any of the three will have to work together to plan and finance future infrastructure.
“We may plan for our water per these regions that have been laid out, but whether or not we actually have cross connects or we're or we're supplementing the water from Greene County, all of those things are much further down the line,” Pinkston said.
City Councilor Michael Payne said he was concerned that this planning effort might result in urban communities subsidizing surrounding ones.
‘We know that some of these surrounding counties have made a conscious policy decision to not fund basic water infrastructure,” Payne said.
In reality, Greene County’s draft budget for FY2026 includes $73 million to move forward creation of a new waterway to be used for long-term storage.
“The White Run Reservoir has a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that expires in June 2028,” said Greene County Administrator Cathy Schafrik in the introduction to the FY2026 budget. “It is imperative that we pursue and achieve completion of this project in a timely and cost-effective manner.”
The Greene Board of Supervisors are set to adopt their budget on May 13.
Jennifer Whitaker is the director of engineering and maintenance for the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. She said there was initial uncertainty about the new process, but she and others were reassured when briefed on the reason to plan regionally.
“There are large pieces of the Commonwealth that weren't included in any regional plan,” Whitaker said. “And so when you look at it from a statewide perspective, you were consistently seeing underestimation of what the true demand during a drought was for the entire Commonwealth.”
Whitaker said she does not think this will lead to forcing different localities to work together. A kickoff meeting with stakeholders is expected to take place some time in June.
Second shout-out: Plant Virginia Natives
Spring is here and there’s still time to plan for upgrades to your outdoors. You can take some time to get ready for spring! Check out Plant Virginia Natives!
Plant Virginia Natives is part of a partnership with ten regional campaigns for ten different ecosystems across Virginia, from the Northern Piedmont to the Eastern Shore. Take a look at the full map below for the campaign for native species where you are in the Commonwealth. For the Charlottesville area, download a free copy of the handbook: Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens.
Plant Northern Piedmont Natives is for anyone who works with native plants, whether you are a property owner, private consultant, landscape designer, nursery operator, conservation group, or local government.
TJPDC briefed on federal letter warning transportation grantees to comply with federal law
The second administration of Donald Trump is seeking to change the structure of government and make alterations to how federal money can be sent.
In late April, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to all recipients of grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation must comply with the administration’s interpretation of federal law.
“Whether or not described in neutral terms, any policy, program, or activity that is premised on a prohibited classification, including discriminatory policies or practices designed to achieve so-called ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ or ‘DEI’ goals, presumptively violates federal law,” Duffy wrote.
Any perceived violation will result in a termination of funding. Additionally, grant recipients must cooperate with requests from the U.S. Immigration of Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal agencies seeking to enforce federal immigration law.
“Proactive engagement is strongly advised to prevent inadvertent noncompliance,” Duffy continues.
The members of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission received a briefing on the letter at their meeting on May 1.
“This is just an act of transparency to share with you all the communications that we're receiving,” said TJPDC Executive Director Christine Jacobs. “There has not been any direct requests for us to do anything different, but we will be really diligent in reviewing the language of our agreements and the language of our plans to make sure that we are complying with federal law.”
The TJPDC is the agency that operates the federally-mandated Metropolitan Planning Organization which serves as a local body to sign off on federally-funded projects.
VDOT to hold public meeting on Avon Street Extended improvements
It can take many years and many steps for a transportation project to go from idea to a finished reality. One project in the works would see a 0.4 mile stretch of Avon Street upgraded with enhancements for pedestrians.
There will be a citizen information meeting Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Monticello High School.
“The project will also construct a pedestrian bridge over Moores Creek along the east side of Avon Street,” reads a description of the project on the Virginia Department of Transportation’s website. “Two design alternatives for enhanced connections to Rivanna Trail, which runs along the north side of Moores Creek, will be presented at the May 8 citizen information meeting.”
The project has been funded through VDOT’s Smart Scale process and participants at the meeting will be asked to provide feedback on three different alternatives. The copy below is straight from VDOT.
Alternative A: Fill in the sidewalk gap with bike lanes. This alternative would provide a shared-use path along the east side of Avon Street between Avon Court and Palatine Avenue. A crosswalk would be evaluated for need at the Palatine Avenue intersection to provide pedestrian access across Avon Street. Additionally, a five foot sidewalk would be added along the west side of Avon Street from Palatine Avenue to Druid Avenue, and bike lanes would be provided along both sides of Avon Street. ($16 million estimate)
Alternative B: Construct a shared-use path along east side of Avon Street. This alternative would provide a shared-use path along the east side of Avon Street between Avon Court and Druid Avenue. ($13 million estimate)
Alternative C: No build. Under this alternative, only planned and programmed transportation improvements and maintenance within the study area would occur.
Comments can also be submitted by mail to John Rose, Project Manager, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper VA 22701, or by email to John.Rose1@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please include “Avon Street MultiModal Improvements Comment” in the subject line.
This comment period lost through May 19, 2025. This project is not anticipated to go to construction until 2028. Another step in the process is a formal design public hearing and that is scheduled for spring of 2026.
Council agrees to exercise eminent domain to purchase land for streetscape projects
In order to build a transportation improvement, the Virginia Department of Transportation or a locality must have the right of way to place the new infrastructure. In many cases, VDOT or local authorities negotiate with landowners for what they need but the public sector has the ability to take the land if these are unsuccessful.
On May 5, Charlottesville City Council held public hearings on the use of eminent domain to allow for two streetscape projects to continue. These are for the East High Streetscape as well as the Barracks Emmet Streetscape.
“The city’s right of way acquisition consultant has been successful in acquiring right of way and easements from 19 of the 26 property owners impacted by these projects,” said Mike Goddard, the deputy director of Charlottesville’s Department of Public Works. “The city's consultant has been unable to reach agreement with several landowners and recommends eminent domain to allow utility relocation to take place in advance of the road improvement projects.”
The East High Streetscape will extend wider sidewalks and bike lanes north of the Belmont Bridge. The Barracks Emmet project is intended to make that intersection safer for pedestrians and will see a six-foot wide shared use path from Emmet Street to Buckingham Road.
Goddard said the projects are scheduled to go to construction next year but without the right of way they will continue to be late. The City of Charlottesville was awarded Smart Scale funds for the East High project in 2016 and the Barrack Emmet project in 2017.
There was only one speaker at the public hearing and this person did not give their name.
“I just want to say, please do,” said the unidentified. “East High sucks. Barracks sucks. Anything you can do to improve it would be great.”
The Barracks Emmet project was recently scaled back in town. City Councilor Michael Payne said he wished that had not been the case.
“I think it's unfortunate the scale of projects in this area were significantly reduced because of the fear of acquisition of land for wealthy homeowners in the area,” Payne said.
The City of Charlottesville has so far not gone to construction on any of the Smart Scale projects it has received, though there have been three cancellations. One of them was on a second phase of a streetscape on Emmet Street. Last year, VDOT found the city to be deficient in terms of delivering transportation projects. See a list of stories below for more context.
Council voted 4-0 to authorize the use of eminent domain. Mayor Juandiego Wade is on a trip to Ghana.
Charlottesville infrastructure updates: Sanders seeks more time to help city build back capacity, December 6, 2022
Charlottesville’s new transportation planner briefs Council on future process, March 21, 2023
VDOT has found Charlottesville “deficient” at building projects, May 6, 2024
Charlottesville transportation planners seeking to rebuild public trust, May 16, 2024
Transportation planning manager updates Charlottesville City Council on existing projects, May 17, 2024
CTB considers cancellation of second phase of Charlottesville’s Emmet Street project, October 25, 2024
Judge Worrell denies Charlottesville’s motion to reconsider recent ruling
In a very brief order, Charlottesville City Court Judge Claude Worrell has dismissed a motion from the City of Charlottesville to reconsider his April 16 ruling allowing a lawsuit against the city’s new zoning code to proceed.
Attorneys for Charlottesville had argued in an April 25 motion that a new Court of Appeals ruling issued on April 22 supported their view that the plaintiffs in White v. Charlottesville should not be allowed to proceed.
Attorney Mike Derdeyn filed a counter motion arguing that the Drewry v. Board of Supervisors ruling did not apply.
Judge Worrell agreed with Derdeyn.
“Finding it appropriate to do so based upon the pleadings, it is hereby ordered that Defendant’s Motion for Reconsideration is denied,” Worrell wrote in an order dated today.
The next step will be to set a date for the next hearing. For more information, take a look at my recent story on this set of motions.
Reading material for #860
Albemarle County eyes tax rate hike in proposed 2026 budget, Mark Gad, CBS19 News, May 6, 2025
Invasive fire ant nest found near Hollymead, CBS19 News, May 6, 2025
Investment firm seeks rezoning to add 165 more units to former Cavalier Crossing, Sean Tubbs, C-Ville Weekly, May 7, 2025
And now, the final words of #860
The top note is usually constructed at a time when I have severe doubt if I’ll be able to complete a newsletter. Each newsletter is at least 2,000 words long when you count the shout-outs, reading material, and the other elements. I did not have a plan for what I wanted to do, and I’m not entirely sure what the future may look like.
I do know I’m convinced there’s a market for the kind of information I report. Many of you tell me you don’t read everything, and I get that. But I also want to experiment with getting new kinds of stories posted in the newsletter and on Information Charlottesville.
What would you like to see? What would you like to contribute? Would you be interested in submitting any kind of letter to the editor, a review, a cartoon? What will journalism look like in as the 21st century moves toward the halfway mark?
I’m hoping to continue my career and continue bringing you information that you may not have known you wanted to know. A lot of times I don’t know I wanted to know something until I’ve done the research!
The Cambridge Chronicle went through many owners and continued as a separate entity until Gannett bought them. The print edition stopped in 2022 and the title exists in name only. Will Charlottesville Community Engagement be known in 150 years or so? How will the future know who we were? That is a major reason I do this, and I encourage you to imagine years many distant from now.
For now, let’s end with a video from Bob Bennetta at the WTJU Offbeat Roadhouse last September.