Media Stories
Charlottesville Farmer's Market Reaches $1 Million Milestone
October 23, 2008. PEC Press Release.
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Updated every weekday as availableMore schools turn to the outdoors for learning
Daily Progress, February 6, 2012
"“The mountains are calling and I must go,” said famed naturalist John Muir. The Sierra Club founder would have been pleased that more area students are heeding Mother Nature’s call, as schools are heading for hands-on life lessons that can’t be taught in books."
Council discusses city vision at retreat
Daily Progress / Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 4, 2012
"The 2012 City Council sought a fresh start Friday by spending all day at the Wintergreen resort in Nelson County at a retreat intended to welcome two new members. “I am hoping we can get to know each other better [because] it will help us be a better council,” Mayor Satyendra Huja said. Becky Clay Christensen, who facilitated the event, said the council had an opportunity to form a new identity after the recent arrivals of Kathy Galvin and Dede Smith."
Biscuit Run, Habitat land swap coming no time soon
Daily Progress, February 4, 2012
"A proposed land swap that would move possession of 13 acres in Southwood Mobile Home Park from Habitat for Humanity to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will likely take years to execute, said Dan Rosensweig, executive director of the local Habitat. The land swap would move acreage within the mobile home park into the future Biscuit Run State Park, and give Habitat land currently in the Biscuit Run Development Area."
County looks to strategic plan
Daily Progress, February 2, 2012
"Albemarle Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd told county staff he’d like the Board of Supervisors to get more frequent updates on capital improvement plan projects during an update on the county’s strategic plan Wednesday. The board also asked county staff to look into adding the county’s PhotoSafe red-light camera system to more intersections."
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Updated every week as availableAbout 5,000 acres in Orange, Greene, Albemarle protected in 2011
Daily Progress, January 17, 2012
"Nearly 5,000 acres of undeveloped land in Greene, Albemarle and Orange counties in 2011 were protected by conservation easement from development, according to the Piedmont Environmental Council. In Albemarle County, 2,283 additional acres were put under easements in 2011, about 1,300 acres in Greene County and 1,300 acres of Orange County, according to Rex Linville, a land conservation officer for the council."
About 5,000 acres in Orange, Greene, Albemarle protected in 2011
Daily Progress, January 18, 2012
"Nearly 5,000 acres of undeveloped land in Greene, Albemarle and Orange counties in 2011 were protected by conservation easement from development, according to the Piedmont Environmental Council. In Albemarle County, 2,283 additional acres were put under easements in 2011, about 1,300 acres in Greene County and 1,300 acres of Orange County, according to Rex Linville, a land conservation officer for the council."
Landowners protected 2,283 acres in Albemarle in 2011
C-Ville Weekly, January 17, 2012
"In Albemarle County, 2,283 acres were protected by conservation easements in 2011, adding to a total of over 85,700 acres, or 18% of the total land. Rex Linville, Land Conservation Officer for the Piedmont Environmental Council says, “It is great to see landowners who care passionately about the future of our rural areas continue to step up to the plate and protect their land. It is also great that we have such a strong team of private and governmental conservation organizations working together here in Albemarle County.""
Virginia Supreme Court ruling limits power of planning commissions
Daily Progress / Charlottesville Tomorrow, January 19, 2012
"The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that planning commissions do not have the power to grant waivers that allow property developers to deviate from zoning ordinances. “Delegation of such authority to the [Albemarle] planning commission is inconsistent with the general role of planning commissions, as reflected by their enabling statutes,” reads the ruling issued last Friday from Justice William C. Mims."
Governor McDonnell Announces $1.2 million in Farmland Preservation Grants
NBC 29, January 17, 2012
"Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the distribution of $1.2 million in farmland preservation grants from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to 13 Virginia localities. This is a significant increase from the $100,000 available last fiscal year for state matching funds. Localities must use the grant monies to preserve farmland within their boundaries through local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. PDR programs compensate landowners who permanently preserve their land by voluntarily placing a perpetual conservation easement on it. "
Albemarle, Clarke, and Fauquier were among the counties to receive funding.
McDonnell’s budget proposal funds Lynchburg-to-DC train for two more years
Daily Progress / Charlottesville Tomorrow, January 9, 2012
"After reaching the final year of its three-year trial period, the train line that connects Lynchburg through Charlottesville and Washington to the Northeast has gotten a new two-year lease on life. Gov. Bob McDonnell’s recent state budget proposal includes a provision allowing the Commonwealth Transportation Board to use money intended for railway improvements to cover the operating costs of Virginia’s state-supported regional trains."
Can Charlottesville become a city by the river?
C-Ville Weekly, January 10, 2012
"Since the beginning of time, a river was a community’s source of wealth and prosperity and today, cities like San Antonio, Texas and Savannah, Georgia have capitalized on the river running through their downtowns by making their waterfronts vibrant with shops and restaurants. Charlottesville, too, has a river, but its riverfront is crowded with junkyards and empty fields. While lofty ideas of one day making the Rivanna River a central focus exist, seeing them through to reality has proven a lengthy and challenging process. "
Albemarle supervisors approve upgrades for several cell tower sites
Daily Progress / Charlottesville Tomorrow, January 12, 2012
"Representatives from wireless companies that serve Albemarle are hopeful the county will loosen its policy on cell phone towers as new antennae that provide faster data service come up for approval in the coming year. “The whole ordinance can be streamlined in a way that can save the county resources, save wireless providers resources in the form of unnecessary expenses and would ultimately help consumers,” said Valerie Long, an attorney who will represent AT&T in several forthcoming applications. "
Plan in works for land swap to create athletic fields at Biscuit Run
Daily Progress / Charlottesville Tomorrow, December 30, 2011
"Throughout this year’s master planning process for the new Biscuit Run State Park, local officials repeatedly pushed for the inclusion of athletic fields. It was also the No. 1 request from the public...Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville has stepped forward with a proposal to swap land it owns at the neighboring Southwood Mobile Home Park for land in the state park that it says is well-suited for a complex of up to five fields and parking."
After banner year, county will see less road work
Daily Progress / Charlottesville Tomorrow, December 27, 2011
"After a huge year for secondary road construction and improvements in 2011, Albemarle County residents can expect to see many fewer road projects taken on by the county in coming years. With sharp cuts in state money being sent to localities for secondary roads — Albemarle saw a more than 90 percent reduction from a $4 million-plus per year average in the early to mid-2000s to $346,000 this year — the county’s construction docket for 2012 only includes four rural road paving projects."
