It’s another strange start to the week with another winter storm having moved through yesterday. The uncertainty of weather as well as today’s holiday for the local government caused me to delay publication until today.
Albemarle County & the City of Charlottesville
The staff in PEC's Charlottesville office works with citizens to solve the many land use and conservation challenges facing the Charlottesville and Albemarle area.
Week Ahead for January 10, 2022: Albemarle to discuss CenturyLink issues; Charlottesville may pick an interim manager
In many ways, this is the real start of the new year. In addition to the opening of the 2022 General Assembly session, Virginia’s new governor takes office on Saturday. But this newsletter has a focus on what happens at the local level. This is the week where things really get going with the first of many full weeks. This is a rare one in which the elected bodies of all six localities I cover will meet.
Week Ahead for January 3, 2022: New faces join elected bodies to face new challenges in a new year
And just like that we’re back for another year in local and regional government. A new year brings new faces but work that’s already underway will now resume after a very brief break. This week is a fairly quiet one, except for City Council who get right to work with two major rezoning applications. Everyone else will begin 2022 a bit more subdued with only eleven meetings in this installment. This won’t last.
Planning for the Future
We have accomplished a lot together over the 50 years of PEC’s history. With 2022 on the horizon, we have begun work on an updated strategic plan to guide our efforts in the coming years. What will the Piedmont look like in 2030, 2050 and beyond?
Week Ahead for December 20, 2021: Charlottesville City Council’s final agenda of the year is full; ARB to review three-story storage building at key Crozet intersection
It seems this is the last week of 2021 that will have government meetings, but I’ll keep an eye on next week anyway. In my years of covering meetings, there’s only one time when a meeting with actual business was held in between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It pays to always be vigilant.
A Few Highlights From 2021
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and a global economic slowdown, 2021 proved to be a year of new opportunity here at The Piedmont Environmental Council.
Week Ahead for December 13, 2021: Albemarle Supervisors to vote on 328-unit Rio Point; Charlottesville PC to consider Piedmont Housing proposals
You might think this would be a slow time for government meetings, but this week certainly is not. Next week will also be relatively busy. The only real slow week all year is between Christmas and New Year’s, and it’s so close. 2022 will be another transformative year in an era of them.
Your input needed on planning efforts in Albemarle and Charlottesville
Charlottesville and Albemarle are in the midst of major planning efforts, and both are thinking about their capital budgets, which is a big part of how those plans get implemented. At this time, the two localities seem to be heading in different directions when it comes to quality-of-life infrastructure.
Week Ahead for December 6, 2021: Council takes up affordable housing governance reform, statue disposition
December is not a normal month, with meetings showing up in unusual places to accommodate the holiday slowdown. This week and next will be the last with significant business before local and regional governments. After that, there will be a slowdown of at least two weeks. Perhaps that will allow me to catch up on all I still want to write about!
Your Support is Doubled for Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a global movement dedicated to giving back to organizations and causes you care about. Today on November 30, your donation will go twice as far thanks to the generosity of a longtime supporter who is offering a dollar-for-dollar match on any gifts we receive up to a total of $25,000! We hope you consider making a special one-time gift, becoming a new PEC member, or renewing your existing membership.