Welcome to the James Exchange. I am Nancy Gill, your host. It is Monday, August 7.
This evening the Scottsville Planning Commission will be meeting at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers on the second floor of Victory Hall. Their agenda appears to be light. However, they are in the process of updating the comprehensive plan so discussions may be lengthy.
Lincoln Lewis, a University of Virginia PhD candidate in the Constructed Environment was hired as the Community Planning Fellow for the Town. To date he has started implementing the plan by working with the Planning Commission to develop a survey and community engagement schedule. He has been meeting with Planning Commissioners to flesh out the main ideas in Scottsville’s current comprehensive plan and how it intersects with the strategic plan recently adopted by the Town Council.
There is a survey for residents, neighbors and visitors to take. It gets to the aspects of economic growth, housing, and revenue sources. The survey is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NQTM68W, paper copies will be available, and it can be completed at the community engagement sessions.
The Planning Commission has taken on a rather large task to more or less rewrite the 2023 comprehensive plan. With the assistance of Lincoln Lewis, the newly adopted strategic plan, an enthusiastic and community oriented Town Administrator, and the involvement of our residents and neighbors, Planning for 2043 offers to be a ground-breaking effort for the Town. (For a more detailed read, see my article in the August Scottsville Monthly.)
Update on three projects in the Town of Scottsville:
Progress on the Tiger Fuel site on James River Road and Valley Street is the most obvious. The storm water runoff system is in place, fuel tanks have been installed, the pad for the Market is underway.
During the last couple of weeks, building materials have been delivered, a temporary construction trailer, a storage unit, and security fence and gate have been installed. Concrete should be poured any day now—weather permitting.
The permitting process is slow and methodical. Town Council voted in favor of a Special Use Permit for the car wash and drive-up window at their January 10, 2022 meeting. The projected move-in date is January 2024.
Upper Bird Street Development
The permitting process is the stage that Southern Development is on their Upper Bird Street project of thirty-six housing units consisting of thirty single family homes and three duplexes.
Town Council approved the Special Use Permit on this project On March 21, 2022. According to Charlie Armstrong:
We’ve been making steady progress ever since the Special Use Permit was approved. There’s no delay on our end. The engineering approvals from Albemarle, Scottsville, VDOT, and the ACSA take far more time than most people realize.”
He is hopeful they can start construction this year with the first house ready for occupancy in about a year.
Southern purchased the Upper Bird property from the Virginia Land Trust in July of 2022 along with one of the Mink Creek lots. In June of this year, they completed the second of four land transactions with Virginia Land Trust which brings their real estate holding in Scottsville to just under 95 acres. The latest acquisition includes seven Mink Creek lots and the 54 acre lot on Blenheim and Albevanna Spring Roads.
This leaves twenty Mink Creek lots, the 90+/- acre lot adjacent to the 54 acres and the Town’s Van Clief Nature area, and the tire plant building with another 40+/- acres.
In a previous conversation with a representative with the Virginia Land Company, I was told that the tire plant property is the last of the four payments per the contract Southern holds with them. This payment is due mid 2025.
Generations Montessori is opening its second location at 225 West Main Street or the “old Post Office.” They purchased the building along with the adjoining lot in March of this year, and they have finalized all building permits with the County of Albemarle. The building underwent a complete renovation providing them with two classrooms. (A previous podcast with Christina and Rita Pace)
In an email exchange with Christina she reported that they have submitted their license application to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Even though they are currently staffed, they encourage anyone interested in employment to contact them. They are hoping to need more staff in the near future.
Links for Generations Montessori School:
Phone: 434-422-8161
Email
Website
On Saturday, Sillar Pollinator Company held their grand opening in Charlottesville. Heather Van Kampen was there. Many will remember Heather as the co-owner of the Scottsville Supply Company which is now owned by Kimberly Shifflett.
It just so happens that back on August, 15, 2016, my first act as Mayor was bringing “Bee City” status to Scottsville. Liz was Vice Mayor, and Heather brought this initiative to our attention. What better way could the town support a newly minted “Bee” supply store? We lay claim to being the first designated “Bee City” in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Town Council “Bee City” resolution.
And with this, as always if you have a song, a story, an event or an issue you would like to discuss, perhaps it is time for a conversation!
From Gas Stations to Bees