Town and country in the White Hall district are distinct areas, and both are special places. Crozet and country people alike need a government that works for them.

I have experience on County boards focused on zoning, transportation, development, and conservation. I am a strong protector of the environment and rural spaces, and of growth areas that are developed only after rational, long term planning and proper funding of necessary public services. If we have growth areas, let’s make them the best places we can.

We must grow within our means, with a fair tax policy and responsible budgeting. I support improved access to the real estate tax relief program. I support changes in the land use taxation program, including a longer pay-back period when land is withdrawn from the program (which will require General Assembly approval) and a taxpayer committee to reevaluate the program.

This committee is called for in the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2005. It was finally mentioned at the BOS meeting on Monday, March 12. The committee report to the Board of Supervisors should include answers to these questions:

• Should we continue to defer over $20 million in revenue annually (over 12 cents on the tax rate) to support the current land use taxation program?
• Should land use taxation be allowed on properties without requiring conservation easements or inclusion in an ag-forestal district, or a long term contract not to develop?

This is an important discussion we must have. I hope White Hall district residents will apply for that committee.

I strongly believe that all citizens must be invited into the decision-making process to insure that Albemarle County remains a great place to live and work, to help improve access to social services, transportation, and housing. We need everyone’s ideas.

As a teacher, mother, and grandmother, I understand the importance of an excellent education system to the futures of our children, to our future as a community, and to the success of our employers. In my experience as an educator providing programs in the county schools, I have seen first-hand the success of our small classes and focus on individual students. As Supervisor I will vote to fund the educational needs of our families and our students of all ages, and competitive salaries for our staff.

I want to make two important pledges to the people of the White Hall district:

First, I will not sacrifice the people in the Crozet growth area. Downtown Crozet is already a mixed use district with a long history. I support zoning regulation changes in downtown Crozet, because Downtown is the heart of Crozet.  It has a living commercial center TODAY. The county must honor its commitment to Downtown Crozet by appreciating its special character and its special challenges, AND by giving an advantage to businesses downtown. Each business contributes a part of the mixed use, and together they create a colorful quilt of small town life. Future commercial uses should be focused first in Downtown.

Since some current owners will need to make renovations and changes of use, these changes should have different rules from those used to create a new village in the middle of a field. If owners want to renovate their businesses, they should be able to take small steps in the direction of the long term goals of the Master Plan. Exemptions from zoning regulations for set back and parking are one way to help. The overlay district in process will hopefully help.

My second pledge is:  I will work against policies that try to squeeze too many units into the growth area.

Quality of life in the growth area is the reason that people will be drawn to live there. If we permit crowded, unappealing neighborhoods, people will stay away or leave. Development applications in the growth area must be held to higher standards of performance than today and provide more generous proffers to fund community services they demand. I will look carefully at every development application. No matter where they occur, re-zonings need to have increased scrutiny, to make sure higher density positively affects existing uses.

As Supervisor, I pledge to respond promptly to citizen concerns and communications. The county government IS US.  Government acts on our combined will to delivers services that help create our quality of life. In addition to excellent schools and a healthy, diverse economy, the community good includes our environmental quality, clean air and water, and strong biodiversity, which make Albemarle a healthy place to live.

To sum up -
I believe in Open, Accountable Government, and I will: