The beauty of the Route 50 corridor is not an accident. It has taken multi-generational involvement in local decision-making to plan for and preserve this historic east-west passage. PEC has played a part in that by working with communities and partner organizations to identify threats and opportunities that could impact the corridor’s scenic character and its function as a powerful economic engine for tourism revenue.
Our Region
PEC focuses on nine counties and one city in the northern Piedmont of Virginia: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock.
We also team with local organizations to promote thriving communities and healthy natural resources in a much larger region, including the Shenandoah Valley, the central Piedmont, and the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Corridor. In addition, we are proud to serve as fiscal sponsor of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, an organization that focuses on land use and policy in the greater Washington D.C. area.
PEC and the Aldie Assemblage – An Incredible Conservation Opportunity
For some time, The Aldie Assemblage property has been under threat of development or uses inconsistent with preserving the historic character and integrity of the surrounding village. In December 2021, recognizing the need for a conservation solution, PEC submitted an offer to Loudoun County to purchase the property.
Old Carolina Road Trail
The Old Carolina Road Trail at Roundabout Meadows is a half-mile long public trail in Aldie, Loudoun County, VA. In 2021, PEC opened the trail in partnership with NOVA Parks, Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club and the Mount Zion Cemetery of Aldie.
PEC Comments on Loudoun’s draft Zoning Ordinance Rewrite
On August 30, PEC submitted comments to the Loudoun County Planning Commission at its first public hearing regarding the draft Zoning Ordinance Rewrite.
On the Ground Updates – September 2022
A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock.
Week Ahead for September 26, 2022: Albemarle Planning Commission to review equity framework for growth management policy; Charlottesville City Council to meet with PC on zoning rewrite next steps
Somehow this week has a lot going on, as listed below. This week I’m going to keep the narrative short because I want to get this posted quickly as I’m a bit behind my schedule.
Fall tree plantings + Orvis Giveback days
As PEC’s Tree Planting and Stewardship Coordinator, I’d like to invite you to join our conservation team this fall to plant native trees and shrubs along waterways in the Virginia Piedmont. We’re looking for volunteers to help out on four different days in October and November.
Albemarle to Host Climate Resilience Planning Event
Join Albemarle County for a discussion of the main conclusions of the Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment report, published in June 2022, and an overview of the next steps in building resilience as a community and local government.
The event will begin with an overview of the report’s key takeaways, followed by a panel discussion by local experts to help make sense of these themes within the daily lives of community members. It will close with an outline of next steps in preparing for resilience, including our community engagement process to help develop a climate adaptation resilience plan.
Week Ahead for September 19, 2022: Charlottesville Council to decide on permit for 119-units on JPA; Albemarle Supervisors to hold public hearing for rezoning of Southwood’s second phase
As I began to type the introductory paragraph for this week, I noticed this installment is already clocking in at over 4,000 words. With that in mind, I will be quick by just repeating what I’ve been saying this whole time: There’s a lot going on!
Video: Cover Crops with John Marshall Soil and Water
We partnered with John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District to produce this video about their cover crop cost-share program.