As Albemarle takes another look at its own future—and how to preserve what it has historically done well—now seems like a good time for local advocates to hear from their counterparts in other localities, who have been successful in similar socio-physical landscapes.
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.
True North Developer Requests Changes
The proffer adjustments would help limit harm to a globally-rare ecological community called the Northern Piedmont Mafic Barren.
Amazon Data Center Would Force New Transmission Line to Warrenton
Dominion Energy says it would be required to build new 230-kV transmission lines if the Amazon data center on Blackwell Rd in Warrenton moves forward.
Week Ahead for April 25, 2022: New reservoir for Greene County to move forward; Albemarle Supervisors to decide on athletic fields
What defines whether a week is slow or busy? After producing this newsletter for over three years, I’ve lost an ability to know for sure. I do know that in an area with nearly 250,000 people, there will always be a government meeting that will affect people’s lives.
Documenting the Freetowns of the Southwest Mountains
PEC is working with community members in Albemarle County to research and document the history and associated historic resources of African American communities in and around the Southwest Mountains.
Week Ahead for April 18, 2022: Albemarle to consider over $4M in affordable housing projects; Greene County PC to review possible slaughterhouse rules
One of the most important tasks of any locality’s elected body is to approve a plan for how money will be raised from the public in order to pay for government services.
Shaping Albemarle’s Next 20 Years
Over the next few months, Albemarle residents will have an increased opportunity to play an active role in shaping the County’s future through the comprehensive planning process.
Planting Trees at Thunder Lane Farm for Earth Month
On Thursday, April 14 and Friday, April 15, 23 volunteers joined The Piedmont Environmental Council at Thunder Lane Farm in Culpeper, VA for an Earth Month-inspired tree planting.
The streams that run through the farm are tributaries to Mountain Run, part of the Rappahannock River, which is a major drinking water supply for the City of Fredericksburg and other downstream communities. The addition of 568 native trees by volunteers will help improve air and water quality and wildlife habitat for years to come.
The Piedmont Environmental Council plants trees in partnership with the Friends of the Rappahannock each spring and fall as part of our Headwater Stream Initiative. If you’d like to participate, visit pecva.org/buffers.
Rappahannock River Water Trail Wins Governor’s Environmental Excellence Gold Medal Award
The award honored a multi-partner project resulted in the opening of two new public access points and three new non-motorized boat launches along the Rappahannock—a Virginia State Scenic River.
2022 Bluebell Walk
On April 9, 2022, The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Julian W. Scheer Fauquier Land Conservation Fund hosted its annual “Bluebell Walk on Cedar Run” at Bonny Brook Farm in Catlett, VA.