It was a tremendous honor to host author Terry Tempest Williams at our annual meeting in May. The event, a celebration of PEC’s 50th anniversary, was held at the beautiful Mistwood property in Orange County. A special shout out to Sheldon and Rita Clark for graciously hosting us!
Our Work
Safeguarding the landscapes, communities and heritage of the Piedmont by involving citizens in public policy and land conservation. Learn more about our work by browsing the subject areas below and find out how to get involved!
Planning Updates: Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville
Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville are considering significant changes to land use planning and related policies, including a new comprehensive plan for the County and a new zoning ordinance for the City. We encourage you to participate in the public input and debate that will occur over the next few months and into 2023.
Updating the Charlottesville Zoning Code: A Diagnostic Tool
The City of Charlottesville is in the third and final phase of the Cville Plans Together process: updating its zoning ordinance. Drafting that important document will take place this fall, but the groundwork is being laid right now. We would like to share more details about what is underway and how you can get involved.
Resources from Warrenton Town Hall Meeting August 10, 2022
On August 10, 2022 the local citizen group Protect Fauquier and nonprofit organizations Citizens for Fauquier County and Piedmont Environmental Council hosted a community town hall to highlight our concerns regarding the data center and its broader impacts and to share actions residents can take to oppose the proposal.
Takeaways from the July 26 Planning Commission Work Session
More questions and concerns regarding Amazon’s special use permit application for a data center at Blackwell Road in Warrenton.
Three local groups unite against proposed Amazon data center and associated transmission line
The local citizen group Protect Fauquier and nonprofit organizations Citizens For Fauquier County (CFFC) and The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) are united against Amazon’s proposed data center project near Blackwell Road. The data center would sit at the northern gateway into Warrenton, along with a new Dominion electric substation, and would require miles of new high voltage transmission lines supported by 110-feet-tall steel towers, according to Dominion Energy.
Utility-Scale Solar
Over the past few years, the declining cost of solar panels, coupled with rising demand for green energy sources has spurred interest in the development of utility-scale solar facilities throughout Virginia. These facilities are often located in rural areas, consume numerous acres (many are well over 1000 acres) and are incorrectly referred to as solar farms. They have many of the same environmental benefits as rooftop solar. However, they more resemble light industrial sites and it is proving difficult at best to protect our natural, cultural, and historic resources from poorly sited facilities.
Proposed Cell Tower at Mickie Gordon Memorial Park
A private development company has submitted plans to construct a 150’ cell tower at Mickie Gordon Memorial Park along Route 50, in between Middleburg and the historic village of Aldie, on property owned by the Loudoun County Public Schools.
Ratepayer-funded subsidy for Amazon and Dominion?
Following up on our June email alert regarding the Amazon data center proposed in Warrenton; responses to our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the Town of Warrenton and Fauquier County.
Loudoun County is Updating Its Zoning Ordinance
The zoning ordinance is a key document that regulates how development must occur to implement the vision outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.