Welcome to the James Exchange. I am Nancy Gill your host.
First things first! Any churches, organizations, or groups hosting holiday events-Thanksgiving through New Years, please let me know so The James Exchange can help promote them! Contact Nancy.
In Scottsville the Echelon Resources’ special use permit to change the zoning on the tire plant from industrial to commercial moves to the Town Council for discussion and action. Echelon’s sup is to create 205 apartments in the vacant plant. The Planning Commission recommended approval to Town Council on a 3 to 1 vote.
The motion that carried could rezone 21 acres from light and heavy industrial to commercial, and could approve the special use permit for multifamily residential.
Conditions to the special use permit are:
Concept Matching which means the site plan will conform to the application’s concept plan.
Mixed Income which addresses affordable housing needs.
Dark Sky affecting outside lighting and shall have the “Seal of Approval” from the International Dark Sky Association.
Biodiversity by utilizing Piedmont region native plants.
Commissioners were concerned that there could be an exclusive use of amenities offered to residents of the complex but would not be available to town residents, mainly a gym. Echelon representive Edwin Gaskin responded that they could not provide this, but a third party could. He brought it to the commissions attention that the Town’s parking ordinance restricts allowable parking which brought the following addition to the motion:
• Mixed Use. Respecting the adopted economic development goals in the Town and County strategies, the Commercial zoned site shall reserve not less than 5,000 square feet of shell space for non-residential uses. For such non-residential space, the Town’s parking requirements shall be waived. Such reserved space restriction shall expire on December 31, 2027.
Voluntary Proffers for the Rezoning
1. Applicant will contribute $200,000 to the Town, to be used for construction of a sidewalk along Bird Street and/or to expand the Town’s future trail network. Such payment shall be made upon the issuance of building permits for the project or on July 1, 2024, whichever is later. (This equates to the 20% match the Town has to have for sidewalks).
2. Applicant will provide at least three electric vehicle charging stations.
3. Applicant will provide covered bicycle parking with at least 20 electrical outlets for charging bicycles.
4. Applicant proffers to maintain, for at least 10 years, that at least 20% of the apartment units shall have a monthly affordable rent to households earning 60% of the Area Median Income published by HUD for the Charlottesville MSA.
It is now time for those we have elected (and those appointed to fill vacancies) to continue the discussion and reach a well-thought out decision. Southern Development will still hold the cards to the future of the tire plant should Town Council vote the project down.
Other agenda items include sign maintenance and enforcement, parking update and signs on Valley Street, VA 250 partnership for historic tourism, James River waterfront improvements. From the staff report:
“Town Council funded design work last year and approved funding to enhance the boat launch. Local designers at Green Infrastructure Center did a survey, open house, and drawings, but unfortunately state Wildlife Resources staff were not adequately consulted. DWR controls the site with a lease from CSX Transportation, and licensed fishing is the primary use of the site. DWR gave feedback in October and ordered changes to the Town’s approved design. However, DWR is also able to do some excavation and drainage work with their own crew, reducing the Town’s cost. Final construction work does depend on DWR scheduling and remains uncertain within the next few months.”
Agenda with the Staff Report
YouTube Channel to review past meetings.
The Town livestreams with ZOOM Password is 1744.
About the town election held this past Tuesday, November 8. I will not report on anything until the final count is completed. The County of Albemarle has tallied the write-in votes, but has yet to give a breakdown of the 117 votes cast. The same holds for Fluvanna County. Expect a James Exchange QuickTake on this once everything is finalized.
The Buckingham Board of Supervisors meets Tuesday, November 15th at 6:00 pm. Of interest on their agenda is a presentation by Ben Price, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund: Presentation regarding Gold Mining Ordinance. Gold mining has become an issue in the county with Ashton Bay, a Canadian company undertaking exploratory drilling in mines that have been abandoned since around the Civil War. The Board of Supervisors received a request from a concerned group of citizens to adopt the Community Rights Ordinance which would protect citizens from toxic trespass. Additionally, through their zoning ordinances they can outright ban mining in the County.
Agenda and Packet for November 15 Meeting
Live stream from Buckingham County YouTube Channel
Fluvanna Board of Supervisors don’t have much on their docket for Wednesday, November 16. They meet at 7:00.
Agenda
Livestream from theirYouTube Channel
As always, if you have a story, a song, an issue, an event, or just want to have a conversation, contact me.
Discussion Starts on 205 Apartments