The dust has finally settled in Richmond, and those of us who love the Piedmont have a lot to celebrate. With the 2026 General Assembly session (mostly) behind us, it’s clear that the collective voice of the Piedmont is being heard.
Affordable housing
General Assembly Update — Spring 2026
Every day, Piedmont Environmental Council staff engage at the local, state and federal levels to shape public policy with an eye toward protecting and restoring the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont while building strong, more sustainable communities. The Virginia General Assembly serves as the main stage for these efforts.
General Assembly Snapshot: 2026
The Virginia General Assembly will convene for a 60-day session beginning Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. PEC staff have co-authored several briefing papers that form the framework of the Virginia Conservation Network’s legislative priorities. Below, we break down some of the key issues we are tracking in the upcoming session.
The 2025 Virginia General Assembly is in Session.
An overview of the topics that PEC has its eye on this session: data center reform, land conservation and public access, solar implementation, housing and local land use authority
General Assembly Snapshot: 2025
The General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8 for a planned “short session” that runs through Feb. 22. PEC has co-authored several white papers that form the framework of the Virginia Conservation Network’s legislative priorities.
Cville Area Land Use: Week Ahead for June 17, 2024
Charlottesville City Council to get briefing on The State of Homelessness from area groups
Cville Area Land Use: Week Ahead for June 3, 2024
UVA Board of Visitors to hold “leadership discussion” on Thursday; Habitat seeks nearly $3 million from Albemarle for Southwood
Making Biscuit Run Park Available to Everyone
Biscuit Run Park is going to be a magnificent resource, and it wouldn’t be right for people of the Southwood community to be able to see the park, but not get to it easily.
Case Study in Breaking Ground: An Affordable Housing Resource Guide for Land Trusts
PEC’s take on the intersection between affordable housing and land conservation.
CODE RED: A Call to Action for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
On July 13, PEC joined The Coalition for Smarter Growth and 39 other organizations from Maryland, D.C. and Virginia in calling on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to take urgent action on climate change, housing, racial and economic inequity, sprawl and unsustainable transportation.