Hundreds of city residents have signed a petition protesting the planned zoning changes that would restrict adult businesses The city’s draft zoning ordinance would put restrictions on adult businesses to prevent the creation of a red light district, which is a problem that does not exist, nor has it ever. A notable restriction is that such businesses could not be located within 1,000 feet of a home, school, or another adult business. Due to the mixed-use nature of the city’s development, this would provide very few places in the city where such businesses could be located. The city wants to make it clear that they do not seek to ban adult businesses, just limit them. Elizabeth Nelson has the story in today’s Progress.
Archive for April, 2003
Indie writes: Vanity Fair Magazine has a sizable article in its May issue entitled “The Black Widow of Virginia.” It’s about the owner of Mt. Athos (a large estate in Orange County) who was a “duPont relative” and well-known community member. He was found dead in November 2001 with a stomach full of drugs. Speculation started swirling immediately after that put his second wife, a former hospice nurse, in the center of the drama. Side note: For all interested in celebrity comings and goings, mentions of Albemarle celebs are made briefly to describe what this area is kind of like. The article also mentions that former county residents Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard apparently have purchased a farm in Orange recently. As a backdrop to this murder mystery, the article also details nicely the southern traditions that are part of the fabric of local country life. Michael Shnayerson wrote the story.
Park Street resident Stan Tatum is tired of those darned kids and their wicked ways, WINA reports. They’re always running around the mall, shouting obscenities, and Tatum demands that something be done. The police have agreed to increase their presence downtown, hopefully to tell these children to walk at a more reasonable pace. In times like this, we must ask ourselves: what would T. Herman Zweibel do?
Jese Crosson, jailed since December on charges of home invasion and a shooting, has been charged with attempting to put out a hit on the victims of the crimes. The 18-year-old, from his jail cell, is said to have tried to hire somebody to kill the two Greene County men that he’s accused of shooting and the woman that he’s accused of raping at gunpoint. Crosson has now been put in solitary confinement and cut off from visits. Reed Williams has the story in today’s Progress.
Just a couple of weeks before the big spring event, the ABC doesn’t intend to grant a liquor license to Foxfield, where underage drinking, public drunkeness and disorderly conduct has been an ongoing problem. Reports WVIR: “ABC officials say if that injunction is not granted, Foxfield would be out of options and would not be allowed to have alcohol on its property.” Foxfield president Benjamin Dick is “demanding a special independent investigation targeting ABC board members,” he said in a statement yesterday. This is all particularly baffling given that Foxfield doesn’t appear to need a liquor license, because they do not provide any alchol at the event, although some disagree with that assessment (see comments). An ABC hearing is scheduled for the 15th.
Charlottesville City Council has approved a new budget, although not without much debate. The four democrats on Council voted in favor, and Council’s lone Republican Rob Schiiling voted against it. Councilor Kevin Lynch accused Schilling of “grandstanding” in his opposition, with Schilling saying to Lynch and Councilor Maurice Cox: “you and others have been very rude, and I’m not engaging with you right now.” The new budget raises trash sticker fees to from $1 to $2/bag, car stickers to from $20 to $30 each, and a meals tax increase from $0.03 to $0.04, while lowering the real estate tax rate from $1.11 to $1.09. Elizabeth Nelson has the story in today’s Progress. 11:30am Update: Be sure to read the comments to see Schilling’s dissenting opinion.
Last night, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved their $218.1M 2003-2004 budget, increasing spending by 4.8% over the current year’s budget. Tax rates were not changed. This fall, they intend to look at raising the car decal fee from $25 to $28.50 in order to generate an additional $227,500 in revenue annually. David Dadurka has the story in today’s Progress.
Delegate Rob Bell, a Republican, has announced that he is seeking reelection for a second term in the House of Delegates. The 35-year-old attorney says that he will work to lower taxes, toughen criminal law, and improve teacher pay. Bell represents a good chunk of Albemarle, Greene, a bunch of Fluvanna, and Barboursville. Nobody has announced intent to oppose him, Democrat or otherwise. Bob Gibson has the story in today’s Progress.
This May, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors will look at rezoning the recently-bulldozed ex-forest-land across from Hollymead Gardens Cemetery on 29 North to create yet another shopping center, “Hollymead Town Center.” (Not to be confused with the shopping center planned for the Hydraulic/29 intersection, Albemarle Place, nor the shopping center planned for the corner of the corner of 29 and Proffit Rd.) This one will contain the much-discussed Target, plus a Giant, 1,300 apartments and townhouses, and 300,000 square feet of office space. The developers tout it as another Downtown Mall. County planning staff have recommended that the project be denied, who did so, hence the appeal to the Board of Supervisors. David Dadurka has the story in today’s Progress.
Free Union Democrat Eric Strucko has announced his candidacy for the White Hall seat on the Board of Supervisors. He failed to unseat incumbent Walter Perkins four years ago, but spent the last four years building up his resume, and is now the defacto candidate, since Perkins is not seeking reelection. Strucko intends to lower taxes, increase services, and is known to be an advocate for limiting growth to retain Albemarle’s rural character. David Dadurka has the story in today’s Progress.
Senator Creigh Deeds and Senator Ed Houck have announced that they are running for reelection. Deeds was nominated by the Dems for what’s known as “Emily’s seat” in a special primary in November of 2001, and won by a landslide against Republican Jane Maddux in the special election in December. Houck, also a Democrat, is running for his sixth term. Only Houck faces competition, Republican Robert Stuber of Fredericksburg. Bob Gibson has the story in today’s Progress.
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