Strong Communities

PEC believes that the work of protecting natural resources and the work of building better communities are integral to each other. 

On the Ground — Fall 2017

On the Ground — Fall 2017

Updates from the around the PEC region, organized by county. Albemarle: Route 29 Transportation Improvements & Land Use Planning Update. Clarke: Quarry Site & Sporting Clays for Conservation. Culpeper: The Future of Solar Farms. Fauquier: Water in Marshall & Buckland Bypass. Greene: Making Main Street More Walkable. Loudoun: Transportation Planning & Comprehensive Plan Updates. Madison: Civil War Battlefield Research. Orange: Gordonsville Park Initiative. Rappahannock: Sprucepine Branch Restored!

Charlottesville’s Strategic Investment Area (SIA)

Charlottesville’s Strategic Investment Area (SIA)

The City of Charlottesville in the process of creating a plan to redevelop an approximately 330 acre area south and east of the downtown mall, called the Strategic Investment Area (SIA). This target area was identified by the City as a potential “growth” area due to its currently low density of development, vacant parcels, and location as a gateway to downtown, including pedestrian connections to the Downtown Mall area.

Charlottesville Area Community Foundation grant to help boost urban greenway work

Through funding from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, PEC is working in partnership with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission on a community engagement initiative to build support for implementation of a comprehensive greenway system. Specifically, we will be engaging the community to build a shared vision for greenways among the public sector, nonprofit organizations, and business and civic actors.

Charlottesville Area Community Foundation Invests in Regional Bike and Pedestrian Trail System

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of its third round of Strengthening Systems grants. Piedmont Environmental Council and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission received a two-year grant of $179,804 to complete plans and generate active community support for a regional bike and pedestrian trail network and begin implementation.

Our Thoughts on the Walker Drive Proposal

The nebulous Walker Drive development at the gateway to downtown Warrenton will be voted on by the Town Council on Tuesday, June 11th, at 7 p.m.

Despite its lack of detail (which resulted in the Planning Commission recommending denial back in February), it looks to be marching towards approval by the Warrenton Town Council. In fact, several Council members telegraphed their ‘yes’ votes in a FauquierNow article earlier this spring.

On the Ground — Summer 2017

On the Ground — Summer 2017

Updates from the around the PEC region, organized by county. Albemarle: Utility Scale Photovoltaic Power Generation Sites in Albemarle. Clarke: Zoning, Planning and Conservation Updates. Culpeper: Waterloo Bridge Update and Brandy Station Battlefield. Fauquier: Blackthorne Inn and Walker Drive Proposals. Greene: Mountain Heritage Event A Success. Loudoun: How and Where Should Loudoun Grow? Madison: Robinson River Flows Free. Orange: Tree Planting Along the Rapidan. Rappahannock: Got Buffers?

Choices facing Loudoun

Choices facing Loudoun

Remember taking civics or government in high school? Sometimes, it may feel fairly irrelevant to your day to day life… But then you think about traffic, taxes, school boundary changes, parks and recreation, social services, where you work or shop, the water you drink or the natural resources you care about. All of these are heavily impacted by decisions made by local government.