Albemarle and Charlottesville reached an important milestone this spring when the Jefferson Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan received final approval. This document maps a comprehensive network of bike lanes, sidewalks, and shared-use paths that connect Charlottesville and Albemarle neighborhoods to schools, shopping, downtown, and natural areas while also identifying bicycle connections to and among adjoining counties.
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.
On The Ground – Fall 2019
Updates from around the PEC region, organized by county.
The Sanctuary at Barrel Oak Application
The owner of Barrel Oak Winery would like to build a hotel, restaurant, and event center on a 50-acre parcel next to the existing winery. The site is about 2 miles west of Marshall on Grove Lane. The application requires the approval of four special exceptions: 1) Lodge/Resort, 2) Event Facility, 3) Above Ground Storage Tanks, and 4) Alternative Onsite Septic System exceeding 1,200 gallons per day. The applicant has asked for a 10-year approval, including a 5 year grace period while construction is underway.
Rt. 15 Decision Expected
On Thursday, July 18, staff will present the Rt. 15 Safety and Operations Study for Phase 2 of the corridor review at the Loudoun Board business meeting. The staff report and study detail findings for potential fixes along the roadway from Montresor Rd. north to the Potomac River. There are two main options under consideration…
Connecting Community: A park and trail effort in Gordonsville
Parks, trails, and sidewalks help weave a community together. Simply put, when we are connected to gathering places, we become better connected to each other. A walkable town or neighborhood allows for a stronger ‘sense of place’ to develop. This notion is behind a collaborative effort led by The Piedmont Environmental Council, residents and local businesses in Gordonsville, Virginia. The energetic group and initiative are called Town to Trail.
Fauquier Considers Weakening Language in Rural Lands Plan
Over the last year, Fauquier has been working on an update to its Rural Lands Plan, a section of the County’s Comprehensive Plan that outlines land use policies in the rural areas. On Thursday, July 11 the Board of Supervisors is holding its second public hearing about the draft plan and will likely vote that night. We are encouraging them to vote to approve Version A.
Loudoun Comprehensive Plan update nears June 20 vote
Thanks to intense community involvement by residents in the Transition Policy Area (TPA) and across the County, the Board has backed off of the Planning Commission’s (PC) vision for the future of the TPA. Instead of the ~24,000 additional units that were included in the PC draft, it now appears that the maximum additional units would not exceed ~4200 units. This total does not subtract out land that would not be developed due to streets and sidewalks, and other public infrastructure.
Action Alert: Loudoun Board to Decide Fate of Transition Policy Area
It’s been about a month since the public hearings on the 2019 Loudoun Comprehensive Plan, and it’s time for another quick update.
Support a More Connected Cville/Albemarle
The Jefferson Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is an important milestone! It maps a comprehensive network of bike lanes, sidewalks, and shared use paths that connect Charlottesville and Albemarle neighborhoods to schools, shopping, downtown and natural areas while also identifying bicycle connections to and among adjoining counties. Add your name or business/organization to our letter of support!
Action Alert: Public Voices Major Concerns with Comp Plan Draft
There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I want to thank everyone who took the time to write or speak directly to the Loudoun Board of Supervisors at the public hearings last week on the draft Comprehensive Plan!