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.
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.
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.
Culpeper Fast Tracking Decision on New Comp Plan?
Culpeper County is in the final stages of updating its plan for future growth and development, so now is a critical time for you to weigh in.
Wilderness Crossing is Back
I’ve been monitoring the project for several months, as it has slowly made its way through the county application process. Now, the developer is finally holding a community briefing, and I want to make sure the word gets out.
New Fifeville Trail Grand Opening set for November 5
On Saturday, Oct. 1, community leaders and residents of Charlottesville will celebrate the formal opening of the new Fifeville Trail with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:15 a.m., followed by a Community Block Party from 12 – 4 p.m. The ribbon cutting will be at Tonsler Park, 500 Cherry Avenue; the block party will be at the Shops at Cherry Avenue, 814-830 Cherry Avenue.
What’s at Risk from Climate Change Locally – An Albemarle StoryMap
We are already feeling the effects of climate change in Albemarle County and the local impacts are expected to intensify in the coming years. View this online StoryMap to take a closer look at the findings of the Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment for Albemarle County released in 2022.
PEC Accepting Annual Photo Contest Submissions Through Sept. 30
Now through September 30, professional and amateur photographers alike are invited to submit their best images of the beautiful Virginia Piedmont in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s 11th Annual Photo Contest. All image submissions must be taken within Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties.