VENABLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Board Members
    • History of Venable
    • Map and Businesses
  • Resources
  • Announcements
  • Join VNA / Contact Us

City Council Community Meetings

4/24/2014

1 Comment

 
Venable neighbors,

Every week, the city's various boards, commissions, and advisory groups meet to discuss matters that affect our community. These meetings are open to the public and you are encouraged to participate in them or just listen in. For example, the May meeting of the Board of Architectural Review includes on its agenda a discussion of a proposed Historic Conservation District rezoning for a small section of the Venable neighborhood.

Please check the City of Charlottesville webpage at http://www.charlottesville.org/ to see the "Community" link that provides current information on public meetings through the City Meetings and Events Calendar. And don't hesitate to contact your Venable Neighborhood Association board if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Rachel Lloyd, VNA Pres.
1 Comment

Meeting Updates

4/22/2014

0 Comments

 
Innovation  and Regulation:
A panel discussion on implementing the City’s vision from the 2013 Comprehensive Plan 
at the City Council Chambers.

Please see the project website for invitations, news and updates: http://gowestmain.com/ 
- - -
Informational meeting hosted by the Sigma Chi fraternity located on Preston Place - was held on Tuesday, March 4th, 2014 from 6:30-8:00PM at  Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church located at 717 Rugby Road. 

The meeting is intended to provide the neighborhood with information about Sigma Chi's plans to renovate and improve their Chapter House. 

The meeting is an open-house style format, so neighbors should feel free to stop by whenever it is convenient for them during that time. 
Sigma Chi will provide light refreshments and have several representatives of the Chapter on hand to discuss their plans and answer questions.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to contact Michael S. Kreamer, President, PSI Chapter [email protected]  or Michael Guthrie, Board of Directors, House Corporation, PSI Chapter [email protected].
- - -
You are invited to participate in the City's West Main project! The project team is eager to receive citizen input on this important initiative that touches our neighborhood. Mark your calendars for some exciting events this week. 

Please see the project website for invitations, news and updates: http://gowestmain.com/ 
- - -
Also, the Charlottesville Marathon will be passing through the Venable neighborhood in early April. See the marathon website for additional information: http://www.charlottesvillemarathon.com
0 Comments

Affordable Housing Discussion

4/16/2014

1 Comment

 
Affordable Housing Policy Review, Formulation & Best Practices Subcommittee of the Housing Advisory Committee at the Conference Room, Neighborhood Development Services -  more information on Venable Neighborhood Facebook page
1 Comment

​Street Design Workshops

3/26/2014

0 Comments

 
The first phase of the planning process will kick-off on May 27th with a 4 day street design workshop that will establish a vision to better accommodate and prioritize the multiple users of Charlottesville’s streets and we hope you will be able to share your insight throughout the process. The public is invited to attend a kickoff meeting on Tuesday, May 27th at 5:30 pm to learn about the process and hear a presentation from Ian Lockwood on the topic of Livable Streets. Drop in times are scheduled on Thursday, May 29th from 11:00 am -1:00 pm and from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm for public to review progress. Revised drawings based on public input will be available for review and comment on May 30th at a final presentation from 4:30-5:30 pm at City Space. 
0 Comments

Update on Meadowbrook Flats - January 9, 2014

1/9/2014

0 Comments

 
Many of you have been following the progress of a proposed development in the Venable neighborhood called Meadowbrook Flats. This proposed development plans for new buildings and parking within the Meadowbrook Shopping Center. 

Many of you have been concerned about the negative impacts to our neighborhood of additional traffic and poorly designed buildings and landscapes that may accompany this development. 

If you would like to find out additional information, please visit the website http://meadowbrookflats.weebly.com 

Also, the Planning Commission will review this project next week on Tuesday the 14th in Council Chambers, City Hall. 

Members of the public will be allowed to sign up for a speaking slot starting at 5:30pm. 

We encourage everyone to attend and let the commission know how you feel about the project. Even if you do not wish to speak, your presence makes a difference!
0 Comments

Meadowbrook Flats Alert - August 29, 2013

8/29/2013

1 Comment

 
The proposed Meadowbrook Flats residential development at Barracks Road and Emmet Street is still alive. The plans have evolved slightly since the spring. 

The current version:
  • Leaves the strip mall intact 
  • Builds a new 5 story apartment building in the back corner of the lot (currently vacant land) with 73 apartments, and parking on the ground level 
  • Provides for new planting

The informal group of neighbors (from the Meadowbrook Hills/Rugby area and from Venable) that has been monitoring the project still believes that it has basic flaws that will hurt our immediate area, our house values, traffic flow, and the larger city. This message outlines our concerns and it provides you with some information about how you can register your own views as the City reviews this plan.

The Meadowbrook Flats development (aka 1138 Emmet Street) will be on the agenda of the Charlottesville City Planning Commission, Tuesday, September 10. 

Much of the project is “by right,” but the Planning Commission must consider two specific issues: does the project comply with the Entrance Corridor Guidelines, and should it receive a waiver from the Critical Slope Ordinance? 

We encourage you to attend the meeting. You can also offer your views in e mail to the Planning Commission, to City Council, or to the Neighborhood Planner in charge of reviewing this project (Brian Haluska). 

Contact information for all these folks appears at the end of this message. Please write those city personnel with your views. Public Comments will make a big difference. 
The Coordinating Committee tracking the Meadowbrook Flats project has developed some talking points that residents can reference when speaking or writing about their concerns. It is recommended that not all of the points be included in each communication. Each resident should express in his/her own words those points which they find most important. 
  • Height : The structure does not adhere to the Entry Corridor Guidelines adopted by the City which recommends that buildings along the corridor be no more than three stories tall. The building overwhelms not only the site itself, but also the adjacent properties and neighborhoods. 
  • Traffic: The traffic consequences are significant as the traffic will clearly flow into Barracks Road, backing traffic up as it heads up the hill, forcing drivers to seek alternate routes through the adjacent neighborhoods. The intersections of Barracks and Rugby, as well as Barracks and Emmet, are already congested, which is not only inconvenient, but dangerous as it will impact emergency vehicles.
  • Project Design: The project is poorly designed regarding landscaping, resident amenities and pedestrian and bicycle access. The project does not incorporate any green space, picnic tables, or play areas for kids. Residents will have to leave the property in order to engage in daily activities. The corner of Barracks Road and Emmet is already unsafe for pedestrians to cross over Barracks Road from Meadowbrook Road. 
  • Negative Impact on Neighboring Businesses: If the congestion continues to worsen, shoppers will avoid Meadowbrook Shopping Center, and surrounding businesses (Barracks Road Shopping Center) because the congestion will be too difficult to handle, impacting not only businesses, but City revenues as the traffic congestion will encourage shoppers to go outside the city limits to make purchases. 
  • Piecemeal Design: The City should not grant waivers for this portion of the site, while the rest of it remains underdeveloped and badly designed. A thoughtful design for the entire site would be much better, one compliant with the entrance corridor guidelines. Piecemeal design for that key corner in the City will give the worst possible outcome. 
  • Intensive Development: There are already far too many projects in place and/or in the planning stages. This intensive development does not serve the City, neighborhoods or businesses. There is too much happening and not much coordination for the common good. 
  • Parking: The developer is planning 73 two-bedroom units. If the city only requires one parking space per unit, but the units are two bedrooms each, this makes it very possible that there will be two cars for each unit (plus guest parking). Where is everyone else going to park? Will the excess overflow onto Meadowbrook Road or into the Venable Neighborhood? 
  • Construction Disruption: During the years-long process of development and construction, the disruption to both traffic and to the Meadowcreek stream, which is right across the street and downhill from the development, could be significant.
  • Property Values & Taxes: The adjacent neighborhoods have always had the highest, and most stable, property values in the City limits. This development would cause property values, and in turn, personal property tax revenues to decline.

Please act now to register your view. This is our city and we need to speak out.

You can send your concerns to Brian Haluska, City Planner at [email protected] (434) 970-3186 or to: Charlottesville City Planning Commission.

NOTE: To contact these individuals please call the Department of Neighborhood Development Services at (434) 970-3182.

Keller, Genevieve, Chair [email protected]
Green, Lisa [email protected] 
Keesecker, Kurt [email protected]
Osteen, Michael [email protected]
Rosensweig, Dan, Vice Chair [email protected]
Santoski, John [email protected]
Sienitsky, Natasha [email protected] 

NON-VOTING: 
Neuman, David
     Office of the Architect UVA, The Rotunda
     [email protected]


Charlottesville City Council NOTE: 
To reach any member of the City Council, you can send an e-mail to the Clerk of Council, at [email protected]. or mail a letter to P.O. Box 911, City Hall, Charlottesville, VA, 22902, or call (434) 970-3113. 
You may also contact the individual City Council members directly (See below).
Mayor Satyendra Singh Huja
     1502 Holly Road Charlottesville, VA 22901
     977-5094 (H)
     email: 
[email protected]
Vice Mayor Kristin Szakos
     434-987-1042
     email: 
[email protected]
Kathy Galvin
     712 Lyons Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22902
     979-2890 (H)
     email: 
[email protected]
Dave Norris
     632 Stonehenge Ave. Charlottesville, VA 22902
     242-5165 (c)
     email: 
[email protected]
Dede Smith
      2652 Jefferson Park Circle Charlottesville, VA 22903
      296-0074 (h)
      e-mail : 
[email protected]
1 Comment

Update to the Neighbors - July 17, 2013

7/17/2013

1 Comment

 
The Meadowbrook Flats development: 
   In May, Pinnacle Construction filed plans with the city for a two-phase development in the area currently occupied by the Meadowbrook Shopping Center - near the corner of Barracks Road and Emmet Streets. After objections raised by city planners, staff, and neighbors, the Phase 2 plan was withdrawn. The apartment building of Phase 1 (72 apartments) remains under review with the city planning department. 
   It is unclear at this date as to exactly when the planning commission will review the plans for Meadowbrook Flats. However, this will be a key moment for public input.  
   You can write to the commission before its meeting and/or attend that hearing and offer public comment. We will let everyone know when we have that date and time. A committee (undersigned) has been monitoring the evolution of this project. For a detailed update of the plans, the planning review process, our objections, and your chances to offer your views please go to - http://meadowbrookflats.weebly.com/updates.html 

Jack Brown – [email protected]  
Max Chevalier - [email protected]  
Rachel Harmon – [email protected]  
Tim Heaphy - [email protected]  
Tricia Humphreys - [email protected]  
Dena Imlay - [email protected] 
Rachel Lloyd - [email protected]  
Jay Scott - [email protected]  
Kurt Woerpel - [email protected]  

Unitarian Church Property Update
   We have been very active on 803 Rugby over the past month. Last week several of us, along with our counsel, Hefty & Wiley (Richmond) met with Read Brodhead, the Zoning Administrator, and Richard Harris, Assistant City Attorney. Three issues were clarified during that meeting: 
1) because the church is permitted to have accessory parking in an R-1U district, the existing lot is a permitted use;
2) the present lot may be non-conforming because it does not meet applicable code standards; 
3) the memo of March 29 by the Zoning Administrator was not a formal interpretation of the City Code, but rather an internal departmental communication. 
   The result is that we have withdrawn our appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), which was scheduled to be heard on July 18. The Zoning Administrator will now continue his investigation of whether the current lot is a conforming use or not, and we have reserved our right to appeal whatever final determination he makes on this issue. 

Michael BeVier Phone: 434-979-1189
1 Comment
Forward>>

    Archives
    Sept 2023

    April 2023
    January 2022
    June 2020
    March 2016
    April 2015
    November 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Board Members
    • History of Venable
    • Map and Businesses
  • Resources
  • Announcements
  • Join VNA / Contact Us