Crozet Community Growth – Roads, Schools, and Affordable Housing

The first Crozet Master plan was adopted in 2005, before I became a Supervisor. Crozet residents wanted predictability and planning in the face of advancing development. The Crozet Master Plan is still the living guide for development in the growth area, and an updated plan was adopted in fall, 2021. As one might expect in a community where people are committed to their PLACE and NEIGHBORS, the plan revision was not without controversy. Disagreements remain about the levels of density in the Plan and the treatment of greenspaces and waterways.

  • The first Crozet Master Plan projected a population of 24,000. This generated huge complaint among residents. I worked with Crozetians on the 2010 Master Plan revision, and championed reducing the projected population for Crozet from 24,000 to 16,000 by 2030; as of 2023 the population of Crozet has already passed 10,000;
  • I have ensured that the decision-making process for development is deliberative and based upon adopted policy, opposing developments that are contrary to the Master Plan, especially on the fringes of the growth area;
  • I advocated to require a community meeting before development applications begin a County process;
  • I led the effort to secure funding for, and to build, the new Crozet Library, which opened in 2013. It was first approved in 1988;
  • I have made sure that the following projects were completed: Library Avenue, the two Crozet Avenue Streetscapes, Jarman’s Gap Road with sidewalks and bike lanes, sidewalks from St. George to Crozet School, the new Plaza design, the TONY autonomous shuttle pilot project, and the new Jaunt Connect commuter service to Charlottesville;
  • Fourteen years of advocacy resulted in revenue sharing state approval for 50% funding for the Eastern Avenue bridge between Westhall and Cory Farm. (first planned in 1992) Another north-south connection between Route 250 and Route 240 for residents and public safety vehicles is sorely needed. Construction was to begin in 2025, but cost increases by VDOT have postponed construction.
  • State revenue sharing funding is also approved for the extension of Library Avenue to Parkside Village, as well as the renovation of the Square, drainage, sidewalks and parking area. The local match for the Library Ave extension was provided by the developer of the redevelopment, Milestone Partners, a first for Albemarle.
  • Advocated for County support for the Crozet Plaza, destination gathering place at the Eastern end of the J.B. Barnes lumberyard urban redevelopment project with Crozet New Town Partners.
  • I have worked closely with fabulous Crozet boards, including: Crozet Community Advisory Committee, Crozet Community Association, Downtown Crozet Initiative, Crozet Trails Crew, and the Claudius Crozet Park Board;
  • I have supported efforts to approve a program to deliver truly affordable housing units in the County, from workforce units for residents at 80% average median income (AMI) to units priced for residents with 40 and 60% AMI and which are attainable and sustainable. Attainable means that people are able to afford the unit, and sustainable means that the unit will remain in that income category. Properties constructed with federal funds, or with funding from tax credit sales, can be required to stay “affordable” for 30 years or more.
  • Bonafide affordable housing is the core of family security and success. In addition to new construction, retaining naturally occurring affordable family homes, or NOAHs, and improving them through weatherization lowers energy costs and protects our residents’ ability to stay close to family and friends.
  • Our housing process has been painstakingly thorough but accommodates the demands of the builder sector. Our role should be to make the rules and to partner with home providers for whom a price range of affordable homes, equity or rental, IS their business model.
  • I annually support increases to meet the need for qualified tax relief to older, disabled, and low income homeowners. I support our partnership program with Habitat for Humanity in Wickham Pond and in Southwood;
  • I am acutely aware of the impact of the growing population on our schools. I encourage the School Board to acquire accurate growth projections to better direct capital funds for school expansion while keeping the impact on low income taxpayers to a minimum;
  • Work is needed to create equitable access and program opportunity for all students in all of our schools.
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