Category Archives: Blog Posts

Crozet Master Plan Update – Community Workshop #2

September 29, 2019

Crozet 2020 Master Plan Update
Community Workshop #2
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Western Albemarle High School Cafeteria

Agenda (TENTATIVE 9/26/2019)

  1. Welcome, Meeting Overview, Workshop #1 Recap (10 min)
  2. Presentation – Defining a Small Town (10-15 min)
  3. Continue to refine the Master Plan’s Guiding Principles from the first Community Workshop
    – Breakout Activity (55 min)

    • Small town look and feel: Beginning to define Crozet’s “small town feel” – including its architectural heritage and community.
    • Centers & Connections: Identifying Crozet’s important places and centers, and how they connect to their surrounding areas.
    • Living & Working in Crozet: Understanding how to support opportunities for persons of all means to live & work in Crozet.
  4. Report Out (5 min)
  5. Next Steps (5 min)

Child care and dinner (pizza) will be available at the workshop.  Child care will be an activity center for the children (Lego Challenges and drawing stuff) with an aide or two there to assist.  It will  be in the WAHS Cafeteria, where all parts of the workshop will also take place, including the breakout sessions around the sides of the room, where parents can keep an eye on their children.

Learn more about the Crozet Master Plan.

Stay up-to-date on upcoming meetings and events. Sign up for the Crozet Master Plan A-mail list.

Do you have questions about the Crozet Master Plan? They’d love to hear from you. Please send your questions or comments to Neighborhood Planner, Andrew Knuppel

Save the Dates!
Upcoming Community Conversations:
Thursday, November 7th from 6:30-8:00 pm at Field School
Click here for tentative schedule for the Crozet Master Plan Revision

Donate to Crozet Independence Day Celebration 2019

June 4, 2019

The Ninth Annual Crozet Independence Day
Parade, Celebration, and Fireworks
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Making a Contribution

These events involve a lot of donated time from a lot of individuals and donated materials and services from local companies, but it still cannot happen without financial contributions, too.  All we ask is a donation of $4 per person (and $2 donation for children 12 and under for the child amusements) as you enter the festivities (parking is free).

Your donation helps to pay for the fireworks and event expenses.  The non-profit civic groups in Crozet are the ones that benefit from any money raised above the cost of the event.  Last year we donated over $7,000 to local civic groups, including the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department, Western Albemarle Rescue Squad, Claudius Crozet Park, and the Crozet Trails Crew, so please be generous.

  • You can contribute right now, online, by clicking on this link:  Donate to CIDC through Network for Good
  • Please put “CIDC donation” in the Designation box.

 

Of course, we appreciate all donations, but to boost our efforts to cover expenses, we have three leadership donor levels and we are hoping that you will show your support by becoming a lead patron this year.

  • For a gift of $500 or more, we will prominently display your company banner you provide at the entrance to the park during the event, identify your patron status in the Crozet Gazette and event handbill and provide you with ten passes to the celebration in the park as well as published thanks in the Crozet Gazette and the event handbill.
  • For a gift of $250 to $499, you will receive acknowledgment in the Crozet Gazette and event handbill and four passes to the celebration in the park.
  • And, for a gift of $100 to $249, you will receive two passes to the celebration in the park, published thanks in the Crozet Gazette and the event handbill.

June 29 will be here before you know it.  Won’t you join us by contributing whatever you can afford?  If being a lead patron is too much, please send whatever you can afford.   Your contribution is tax-deductible charitable donation. Thank you!

Please make your donation by Friday, June 21 in order to be listed on the event  handbill. 

  1. You can mail a check payable to: Downtown Crozet Association and send it to: CBT, P.O. Box 863, Crozet, VA 22932.  Please put  “CIDC donation” on the memo line.
  2. You can contribute right now, online, by clicking on this link:  Donate to CIDC through Network for Good
  3. Please put “CIDC donation” in the Designation box.
  4. Thank you for your generous support!

 

It takes a village – won’t you help out on Saturday, June 29 for an hour?

We need your help for just an hour or two on Sunday, June 29.   Below is the website to sign-up to help with the Crozet Independence Day Celebration (CIDC) between 5PM to 10PM. There are a variety of tasks and time slots. Most of the time slots are only an hour – so there’s lots of ways to help and still enjoy the event.

To sign up, please click here!

When you sign-up it will ask for your name, email and, optionally phone number.  No one else can see your email and phone.  We promise we won’t share it.  It’s helpful for us to have it if something happens and we need to let you know about a last minute change.

We urge church groups, civic and neighborhood associations to sign-up.  Crozet Trails Crew already has volunteered to staff one spot the whole evening!  Let’s see which group can have the most volunteers!

With your help, we can make this Crozet Independence Day celebration the best ever!

 

GIVE INPUT ON RT. 240-250-680 ROUNDABOUT PROJECT

June 2, 2019

Proposed roundabout at routes 240/250/680CULPEPER — The Virginia Department of Transportation invites the public to attend an upcoming design public hearing for the proposed project to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Route 240 (Three Notched Road), Route 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 680 (Browns Gap Turnpike) in Albemarle County.

Comments may be submitted by USPS mail or email through June 21
Written comments can also be submitted by mail to
Hal Jones, Project Manager, 701 VDOT Way, Charlottesville, VA 22911
Email comments can be sent Harold.Jones@vdot.virginia.gov.
Comment Sheet Adobe Acrobat PDF (251 KB)

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Field School of Charlottesville, 1408 Crozet Avenue, Crozet.  

Proposed roundabout at Routes 240/250/680 intersection

Proposed roundabout at Routes 240/250/680 intersection

At the open house-style hearing, VDOT staff will be available to discuss the project at the open house style hearing. The public can review project plans, ask questions and obtain information about the project’s timeline, cost and travel impacts, as well as provide feedback on the project orally or in writing. Brochure Adobe Acrobat PDF (602 KB)

The proposed roundabout will improve safety at the busy intersection. Roundabouts are safer than conventional stop-controlled intersections because traffic can continually and efficiently flow through the intersection and vehicle operating speeds are lower. Additionally, roundabouts help reduce air pollution and fuel use compared to a signalized intersection due to reduced idling and less acceleration and deceleration.

During construction, VDOT proposes to close Route 680 to through traffic between Route 250 and Route 802 (Old Three Notched Road) with a posted detour. Traffic would be detoured via Route 240 to Route 802 for about two months. Proposed Detour map Adobe Acrobat PDF (2 MB)

Anyone requiring special assistance to attend and participate in this meeting may contact VDOT at 540-829-7500, 800-367-7623 or TTY/TDD 711.

More information about the projects can be found on VDOT’s website at http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/culpeper/albroundabout.asp.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant Application

May 21, 2019

State Farm Neighborhood Assist
grant program

State Farm Neighborhood Assist® is back to help good neighbors across the U.S. take an active role in improving their communities. State Farm will once again be awarding $25,000 grants in support of 40 causes. Now’s your chance to make a real difference in your neighborhood.

Download the short guide to help you start thinking about how you would use a $25,000 grant to fund a neighborhood project involved in Education, Safety or Community Development.
Then, starting June 5, 2019, you can officially submit your cause at NeighborhoodAssist.com.

State Farm will accept 2,000 applications, and narrow it down to 200 finalists. Then a public vote will decide which 40 community causes win the $25,000 grants.

Spots fill up fast, but if you use the guide and get prepared now you won’t miss out!

Who is Crozet?

May 21, 2019

The Downtown Crozet Initiative is planning two events to try to answer Who is Crozet?
Below is a message from them:

As Crozet evolves, it is important to communicate a clear and distinct identity that celebrates the unique characteristics and future goals of the community. Who is Crozet? What do we want it to become?
Those are two important questions we plan to tackle in the coming months. And, we’re asking for the community’s help.

The redevelopment of downtown Crozet is moving forward. Final designs for the plaza and Phase 1 are expected to be approved by the end of this year. If this occurs, groundbreaking for the new plaza will take place in early 2020. To ensure that downtown Crozet develops in a way that preserves the assets that make it so special, we’ve hired local firm Hive Creative Group to help us define Crozet’s identity. Together, we hope to develop a strategy that acknowledges Crozet’s roots, celebrates the current community, and determines a vision for the future. This is an important step; if we don’t define who Crozet is, outsiders are going to do it for us. No one understands Crozet better than the people who live here, so we’re hoping for community support and participation!

Hive Creative Group plans to host two community brainstorm sessions as part of the first phase of this branding process. The two sessions will cover the same topics of discussion. They will be held at Restoration in the large event room. The session dates and times are as follows:

Tuesday, May 21, from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Sorry, this time has passed)

Thursday, May 23, from 11 AM – 1 PM

Please click the date above to RSVP (required for planning purposes).

We’re excited to get started on this process and hope we can all work together to benefit the future of Crozet!

Secrets of the Blue Ridge Author Phil James Saturday, 4/13 at 1PM

April 11, 2019
WHO: Historian and author Phil James
WHAT:  A fascinating, free public lecture with seldom-seen historic photos of Crozet and Western Albemarle. 
WHEN:  This coming Saturday afternoon, April 13, at 1pm.
WHERE:  The Crozet Library. No tickets or reservations required. Seating is limited so please arrive early to get a seat.

The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society will host a free public lecture this Saturday, April 13 at 1pm at the Crozet Library with local historian and author Phil James. This event is entirely free and open to all. No tickets or reservations are required.

 Phil James has spent more than four decades researching the history of Crozet, western Albemarle County, and the communities of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He will offer a unique and fascinating slideshow of historic images that he has collected. No one else knows the stories of this region like Phil James!
A native of the area, Phil is the author of SECRETS OF THE BLUE RIDGE (http://www.secretsoftheblueridge.com/. He is a celebrated columnist and much sought-after speaker. The photos he will share in this talk are incredibly rare and rarely seen publicly.
This free lecture is part of the Historical Society’s new Community Speakers Series, which hosts engaging talks about local and regional history throughout Central Virginia each month. You can find more information at our website: cvillecenter.org.

Household Hazardous Waste and Bulky Waste Amnesty Days, Spring 2019

April 8, 2019

2019 Special Collection Days are Coming!

The Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RWSA) announced their Household Hazardous Waste and Bulky Waste Amnesty Days.

SPRING Household Hazardous Waste:
Friday, April 26, 2019            HHW                         9am-2pm
Saturday, April 27, 2019        HHW                         9am-2pm

HHW collections are free to residents of Albemarle County, Charlottesville, and Scottsville, and available to Nelson County residents who obtain a voucher from Nelson County government.

Spring 2019 Commercial Hazardous Waste Collection

The next special commercial hazardous waste collection day at the Ivy Materials Utilization Center will be held on:  Thursday, April 25, 2019*

*Pre-registration with CARE Environmental Corp by April 16, 2019 is required to obtain an appointment according to EPA regulations. To register email: John Doffinger (John@careenv.com) OR Jim McKenna (Jim@careenv.com), or call 1-800-494-2273.

This special collection is only open to qualifying businesses and commercial establishments and not households. Qualifications are defined by federal law to include businesses that (1) generate no more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) hazardous waste in a month, (2) generate no more than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) acutely hazardous waste in a month, and (3) store not more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) hazardous waste.

There is a fee associated with disposal.

 

SPRING Bulky Waste Amnesty Days

Saturday, May 4, 2019       Furniture/Mattresses    8:30am-4pm
Saturday, May 11, 2019     Appliances* . . . . . . . . . . 8:30am-4pm
Saturday, May 18, 2019     Tires**   . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8:30am-4pm

*Appliances include: refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, heat pumps, microwaves.
** No oversized tires

Amnesty Days are free and available to residents of Albemarle County, Charlottesville and Scottsville only.

Normal tipping fees will be charged to residents for all non-amnesty items brought on these days.

Note: The RWSA normal daily paint collection will NOT be accepted on HHW Days due to logistical limitations. However you don’t have to wait for HHW collection now to dispose of your 1 gallon and 5 gallon latex and oil-based paints in their original containers. This is now a daily service at Ivy MUC.

Check their website for more information and details regarding acceptable items.

This webpage courtesy of RWSA Communications Manager, Katie McIlwee

Acme Visible Records Property Remediation

December 17, 2018

Update on Acme Visible Records property remediation
December 2018

The environmental remediation continues on the former site of Acme Visible Records, the property to the east (Charlottesville side) of the Delivery Agent/Starr Hill Brewery building. It is now called the Wilson Jones property, because the Wilson Jones Company owns it.

As a follow-up to their November 1, 2018 update (Update 09) letter,  the December 1, 2018 (Update 10) letter lists the anticipated project tasks to occur for the current Interim Measures (IM) soil remediation and ongoing Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) tasks at the Former Acme Visible Records site.  They completed the IM soil excavation remediation task during the second week of August 2018. The subsequent soil blending portion of the IM being performed on the north side of the Wilson Jones site’s property is progressing well. This task will likely last for approximately three more months. We will continue to keep you apprised of upcoming tasks and any schedule changes.

No on-site work is scheduled on the property for the holiday break starting December 21, 2018 through January 1, 2019.

Please feel free to contact Ms. Sarah Huddle at (804) 788-4485 or sarahhuddle <at> thinkalbright.com if she can be of further assistance. Wilson Jones Company is committed to working with the VDEQ and the community to complete the project and bring the property back to productive use.

Bridge Rehabilitation Underway on Rt. 707 in Crozet

September 26, 2018

Bridge Rehabilitation Underway on Rt. 707 in Crozet
Road Reduced to One Lane by Day,
Closed to Through Traffic at Night
starting Monday, October 1st

The Virginia Department of Transportation has begun rehabilitating the Route 707 (Blair Park Road) bridge over Lickinghole Creek in Albemarle County. Motorists on the dead-end road should expect intermittent flagging operations during the day on both Route 691 (Jarmans Gap Road) and Route 707.
Route 707 will be closed to vehicular traffic nightly on the following days:
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 1 to 6 a.m. Oct. 2
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 2 to 6 a.m. Oct. 3
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 3 to 6 a.m. Oct. 4
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 9 to 6 a.m. Oct. 10
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 10 to 6 a.m. Oct. 11
  • 9 p.m. Oct. 11 to 6 a.m. Oct. 12
VDOT is coordinating the closure with residents and local emergency response personnel.
The existing bridge was built in 1960 and is currently posted with a 21-ton weight restriction. After construction is complete in mid-October, the bridge will be open to all legal weight vehicles.
For more information about VDOT’s bridge and VDOT’s bridge inspection program, including current conditions of the state’s bridges, FAQs and video of a bridge inspection, visit www.virginiadot.org/info/Bridge.asp.

Crozet Avenue Streetlight Repair on September 20, 2018

September 14, 2018
On Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., contractors for Albemarle County will be repairing the multiple streetlights reported out by the public. Work crews and a bucket truck will be positioned on Crozet Avenue between Tabor Street and The Square.

 

During that time, please SLOW DOWN and use caution as you travel and be alert for signs and flag men.

 

The speed limit on Crozet Avenue is 25 MPH  between St. George Avenue on the north and the Rock Gate Cemetery on the south.  Please check your speedometer, not just Thursday, September 20th, but every day.  Some drivers are going way faster than 25 MPH through downtown Crozet.  The time you save isn’t worth the injury or death you might cause.