HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 20 80 PC MinutesMay 20, 1980
The Albemarle County Planning Commission conducted a work session on Tuesday,
May 20, 1980, 4:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, County Office Building, Charlottes-
ville, Virginia. Those members present were: Col. William Washington, Chairman;
Mrs. Norma Diehl, Vice -Chairman; Mr. Charles Vest, Mr. James Skove, Mr. Layton
McCann, Mr. Corwith Davis, Jr., Mr. Kurt Gloeckner. Mr. David Bowerman was
absent. Mr. Ronald Keeler, Assistant Director of Planning was also present. The
following other officials were present and available to answer questions of the
Commissioners: Dr. McClure, Division Superintendent of Schools; Mr. John Massie,
Education Department; Mr. Vickery of Vickery Associates - Consulting Architects;
and Mr. John W. Brent, Executive Director, Albemarle County Service Authority.
Mr. Keeler gave additional report on the school capital improvements program
and introduced those from the school system available for questions.
Col. Washington ascertained that the Vehicular Maintenance Facility work
is now underway; also Scottsville School and Red Hill School, for the purposes
of the program, are under way.He also asked about future site acquisition.
Mr. Keeler said that this would not be considered for funding at this time.
The School Board would rather have the money in hand.
Dr. McClure said the School Board did not request site acquisition money,
but that the County Executive felt the money should be set aside for long range
planning. There are now no special plans for sites.
In reply to Mr. Skove's questions on high school enrollment, Dr. McClure
stated that the high school enrollment has not peaked yet, but may drop later.
In answer to a question from Mrs. Diehl, Mr. Keeler explained that there is
always proposed and deferred funding in the capital improvements program.
Col. Washington said that in 1980 priorities seem to be Albemarle High School
and Meriwether Lewis School, also Burley Middle School. Last year, the top item
seemed to be Meriwether Lewis — School Board is recommending this for the second
time.
Dr. McClure stated that the Chairman of the School Board and the Chairman of
the Board of Supervisors had discussed options on Meriwether Lewis, in relation
to compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. In reply to a question from Col.
Washington, Dr. McClure said the School Board felt last year it was wise to
table Meriwether Lewis until after the capital improvements program was passed.
Mrs. Diehl questioned if the School Board relates each of these projects
to the Comprehensive Plan.
Dr. McClure said that they did not; for example the Ivy School. The
majority favor rebuilding where the school is. One problem is that in spite
of additional housing, this seems to have a very low effect on the schools
in that area; 350 pupil school may be more than is needed there.
Mr. Skove felt that to resolve this in light of Comprehensive Plan would
require purchasing a new site. Dr. McClure agreed with this, and added that
the other two schools would have to be closed down.
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Mr. Keeler said that the Planning Staff reviewed this project in light of
comments made about the Comprehensive Plan. One comment was to locate the new
school at Free Union, but that does not comply with the Comprehensive Plan.
Another concern was that rebuilding the school at its present site would
stimulate growth in the immediate area. This would be likely if a new school
were to be located on Whitewood Road, for example, where a number of students
would walk to school, but not likely at Meriwether Lewis. As long as the Meriwether
Lewis district remained the same, development would be stimulated regardless of
school location. If Meriwether Lewis and Murray were combined, development would
be stimulated in both districts. The third comment was to combine Murray and
Meriwether Lewis or build one school in Ivy. Staff could not support this unless
road access were improved. Mrs. Haden compared the costs of upgrading and
maintaining the two schools versus a new school in Ivy over a 20 year period. To
continue 2 schools wasaba t 9.5% more costly, but road improvements may negate
any savings of going to one school.
Mrs.Diehl questioned the Brownsville and Crozet Districts in relation to
each other. It was found the line is the Mechem River. She suggested that
Meriwether Lewis is overcrowded and asked the condition of capacity at Crozet.
Mr. Keeler said that the Crozet School is a little under 2/3rds capacity;
Meriwether Lewis with mobile classrooms has 278 now, capacity without these
mobile units is 2.62. So they are over capacity without the mobile units.
Mr. Davis suggested that there would be 248 next year and then slower.
Mr. Keeler said that the Planning office has furnished a fourth and fifth
set of projections for the School Board. The census figures for this year
should be available this fall and make prediction more accurate. Enrollments
could go either way in the long term.
Col. Washington felt that from dealing with the subdivisions, population
data and other information that the Earlysville and Ivy corridors are where the
growth and subdivisions are going. He also suggested that there had been a lull
in the birth rate, but that births are picking up again - which will ultimately
affect the schools. He said he hesitated to reduce the schools because of this.
Mr. Skove suggested that some of the housing may house small families.
Col. Washington suggested that the type of house, as well as the price of
the house, would suggest the affluence of the family, and possibly the ,size of the
family. He said that last month's Building Report showed 32 units in that area.
He felt that people who lived ten or fifteen miles out of Charlottesville would
be more apt to have children, some have lived in apartments and are now moving
to the country.
Mrs. Diehl said that many with young children were at the University, and
might now leave apartments and move to th country.
Mr. Davis felt that there are fewer and fewer students due to decline in
birth rate.
Mr. Keeler said that it had been found that in Albemarle County it was not
a question of birth rates, the actual number of births had remained the same.
The decrease in enrollment occurs from grade to grade which has nothing to do
with birthrates or births. The County grows by about 1500 per year due mainly
to in -migration. What has happened with enrollments indicates that in and out
migration is at a much higher rate than previously thought. It's a very complex
situation.
There was further discussion of the population trends and their effect on the
schools.
Dr. McClure stated that pre -registration was done by the schools and there
was a return of about eighty per cent. In this particular county, there is
increase by migration. There are seventy more in kindgarten due to migration.
Mr. Skove felt that the location of the school district will not have a great
effect on land use in the Meriwether Lewis School area.
Col. Washington said there is a specific recommendation from the School
Board on Meriwether Lewis.
Mr. Keeler stated that the recommendation from the School Board is to
rebuild Meriwether Lewis and leave Murray School as it is.
Dr. McClure explained that Murray would not be a project of priority.
Mrs. Diehl asked about remodeling to state standards.
Mr. Vickery said the school would be brought to the minimum of state standards.
Mr. Skove ascertained that the school was designed for the time it was built,
and that it has some problems in structure now.
Mr. Vickery, in reply to questioning from Mr. Davis, said that the cost
of renovation versus building is considered individually and that sometimes
it is cheaper to build. Sometimes it is too expensive to save small schools.
In reply to Mrs. Diehl's questioning, he stated that there was no remodeling
at Meriwether Lewis, but a building addition.
Dr. McClure described the school and the remodeling for the physical
education area. Dr. McClure further stated that he did not object to the
mobile classrooms, but they are not supposed to be permanent, they are to be
moveable to take care of overloads in various areas, at times.
Mr. Vickery said that to combine and build a new school would cost four
million, one hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Skove felt that the option should be one in line with Comprehensive
Plan; School Board favors Option II.
Mr. McCann felt the Commission should agree with the School Board recom-
mendation.
Mr. Keeler said the public hearing would be June 3rd.
Col. Washington felt that with the low density in Crozet, because it is in
the Beaver Creek watershed, and the higher density in the Brownsville area,
that Brownsville is the school that needs expansion. Greenwood
School pupils have a relatively short distance to go - only four or five miles
from the bus route. Renovation of Greenwood is two million dollars - for
elevators and restrooms. If six classrooms were needed, could build at ground
level, then it would not cost so much; four classrooms are on the top floor.
Dr. McClure stated that the classrooms at Greenwood are about two-thirds
of the size recommended; there is no room for the special education areas;
the restrooms are in the basement; the engineer recommended against using the
school long range because of structure problems. If the school district
lines were changed, Crozet would pick up about 168 students. Brownsville and
Greenwood students could attend Brownsville; because of Route 250, the
Greenwood students could get to Brownsville better, though it might be a little
further.
Mr. Vickery explained that saving Greenwood School would cost about
one million, two hundred thousand - it would mean a shifting of internal walls,
putting a restroom on each floor, and building four new classrooms; to bring
to State standards the school would almost have to be gutted and rebuilt;
also would need a totally new kitchen. One option would be building a totally
new school at Greenwood for 300 students. From an economic viewpoint -
Greenwood School is in the poorest condition.
Mrs. Diehl suggested that there is no recommendation on Greenwood School
and Crozet in the Capital Improvements Program.
Mr. Keeler said the capital improvements reflects removal of school, but no
decision has been made - a decision will be made over the next five years, and
assumes Option II.
Dr. McClure stated that their projections are to move into Scottsville,
which is under construction, first; Red Hill is next.
Meriwether Lewis is supposed to start next spring, need to have plans ready.
Mrs. Diehl ascertained that Broadus Wood does have mobile units, which
the School Board plans to eliminate and provide space for special education
clinic, teachers' lounge, physicial education space; this has a beginning date
of March 1982.
Mr. Keeler gave a report on the Albemarle County Service Authority capital
improvements program.
Mr. Bill Brent was present and available to answer questions.
When questioned, Mr. Brent gave a brief report on Westwoods -
public water was in sight, they were granted entry into the water system with
no fee; for little capital outlay it was good to take on these new customers.
Mr. McCann questioned the number of hook-ups in Westmoreland.
Mr. Brent replied that there were 150 hookups at a cost of $450 per connection;
$400. in Hessian Hills for hook-up. He explained that there was a health problem
in Westmoreland - the certification to build came before - maybe should not have
been allowed to build.
Col. Washington questioned the Tabor St. sewer.
Mr. Brent said this runs perpendicular to Main St. in Crozet.
Col. Washington questioned the difference between Tabor St. and Windham.
Mr. Brent said that this was the same location, just done in two phases.
Mr. Gloeckner said this was done in two phases; so the people in the old
system could be served also. The new system is funded by the Albemarle County
Service Authority and Windham; replacement of the old system is funded by Albemarle
County Service Authority.
Mr. McCann found on inquiry that the Service Authority does not make plans
to go ahead of development, but reacts to needs; therefore, it does not make
concrete plans to extend before there is a need.
Mr. Skove found on inquiry that there is a standard fee for hook-up.
Mr. Keeler went over the other projects that the Service Authority was
involved in for the capital improvements program.
The meeting adjourned at 6 P.M.
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RobArt W. Tucker, Jr. - Se reta
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