We’ve reached the midpoint of a tumultuous year. There is a brief pulse of activity this week before the 4th of July holiday begins. As we mark the 244th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this is a good time to reflect on where we want to go into the future.
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.
Weigh In: Crescere Rural Resort Proposed in Madison County
PEC would like to bring your attention to the newly submitted Special Use Permit for a 749+ acre rural resort, proposed by Crystallis LLC. Crescere Rural Resort would be located on Route 231 and the Rapidan River in Madison County, just northwest of Montpelier.
Online Event: Local Update for PEC Supporters in Madison & Orange Counties
Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Zoom meeting, A Local Update for PEC Supporters in Madison & Orange Counties on Thursday, June 25, 2020! While we certainly miss seeing folks face-to-face, we hope you enjoyed the online presentation and learned a little bit more about the things keeping us busy these days.
Week Ahead For June 23, 2020 (Alb/Cville/Greene)
The world may not be back to normal, but the future is what we create through a series of decisions. This week does not feature as many government meetings, but there will be some key conversations on our water supply, Greene County’s desire to attract new business, and the future of our transit system.
Pushing for Transparency
Obviously, a lot has changed since March, when you last received a copy of the Piedmont View. Soon after, shut-down orders went into place and, like me, you might have felt like you were trapped in a bad episode of The Twilight Zone. Suddenly, any trip outside of the house came with a risk analysis. Adjustments like teleworking, or worse, changes in employment status, disrupted normal routines. Things we may have taken for granted, like access to schools and daycare, visits with elderly relatives and yes, even toilet paper, were off the table. Clearly, these have not been normal times. But that wasn’t always evident looking at local government agendas.
On the Ground – Summer 2020
Updates from around the PEC region, organized by county. Albemarle: Comprehensive Plan Updates. Clarke: StoryMap & Upcoming Webinars. Culpeper: Land Use Update, Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain State Park Study. Fauquier: Fauquier Farm & Land Conservation, Tree Giveaway, Rezonings and Plan Amendments. Greene: Growth & Development, Stormwater Runoff Assistance. Loudoun: Community Farm Update, Zoning Updates, Project Threatens Historic St. Louis. Madison: Potential Communications Tower, Conservation & Stewardship, Potential Rural Resort. Orange: Land Use Update, Green Streets. Rappahannock: Clean Water, More Trees.
Take Action: Support the Monticello Connector Path
The proposal to design and build a shared-use path along Route 20 from Charlottesville to the newly reopened Saunders Monticello Trail faces a crucial test at the Wednesday, June 17, Albemarle Board of Supervisors meeting.
Connectivity Update / New Pedestrian Bridge Installed at Woolen Mills
Albemarle County took a significant step forward last week. On Tuesday, June 30, Brian Roy’s team at Woolen Mills lowered into place a new pedestrian bridge spanning Moore’s Creek, closing a critical gap in the Rivanna Trail. It brings what had been a little-used trail section back into service, providing everyday access to nature for nearby residents and opening the door to several enticing additional connections, including a pedestrian crossing of the Rivanna River, which is currently being studied.
Racism has no place
Like so many others, we are profoundly disgusted and deeply saddened by what is happening in our country: the horrific and inexcusable death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, along with the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless others; the threat of arrest of Christain Cooper in Central Park; the shooting of peaceful protestors in Louisville; and the incarceration and use of excessive force to stifle democratic acts of protest. These actions are painful reminders that we have a long way to go to ensure that justice and equity are applied to all Americans.
Madison Land Use Update – June 3, 2020
I wanted to let you know that earlier this year the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) intervened in the application process for a proposed telecommunications tower (tower) in Madison County. Community Wireless Structures (CWS) documented their intent for a 199-foot tower via public notice in December 2019. The tower would be located at 950 S. Blue Ridge Turnpike in Somerset, just north of the Rapidan River along Route 231.