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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-10-29 adjOctober 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) 1 (Page 1) An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on October 29, 1990, at 7:30 P.M., at the Crozet Elementary School, Crozet, Virginia. This meeting was adjourned from October 16, 1990. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Messrs. Edward H. Bain, Jr., David P. Bowerman, F. R. Bowie, Mrs. Charlotte Y. Humphris, Mr. Walter F. Perkins and Mr. Peter T. Way. BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None. OFFICERS PRESENT: Mr. Robert W. Tucker, Jr., Deputy County Executive, and Mr. David Benish, Chief of Community Development. Agenda Item No. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 7:34 P.M. by the Chairman, Mr. Bowie. Agenda Item No. 2. Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda Item No. 3. Moment of Silence. Agenda Item No. 4. Matters Not Listed on the Agenda from the PUBLIC. There were no members of the public who wished to address the Board. Agenda Item No. 5. Public Hearing: Affordable Housing Project. (Notice of this hearing was given in the Daily Progress on October 16, 19 and 23, 1990.) Mr. Bowie recounted the previous meetings and public hearings on this subject beginning on January 17, 1990. He said this makes the sixth meeting at which this project has been discussed. Therefore, he is limiting the total time to one and one-half hours for the public to address this subject. He asked that individual speakers be as brief as possible and try not to be repetitious. Mr. David Benish gave the staff report as follows: "DEVELOPMENT PLAN: The proposed project will consist of fifty single-family, detached homes on 0.25 to 0.50 acre lots. These will be owner-occupied homes to be made available for purchase by qualify- ing low-moderate income families. The houses will range in size from 850 to 1200 square feet and the price is projected to be in the neighborhood of $65,000. Final cost will not be known until the project design is complete and bid for construction. The fifty homes/lots are to be constructed in two phases, with phase one con- sisting of thirty lots. Phase two will consist of up to twenty additional lots and will be constructed based on the demand for additional units. The units will be stick-built homes. Two to three builders will likely be solicited to construct units within.the development. A total of forty acres will be purchased by the Charlottesville Housing Foundation (CHF) for the development of this site. The proposed fifty units will be located on approximately twenty-five acres. The remaining fifteen acres consists mostly of flood plain and will be left as open space. This property is currently zoned R-6, Residential, which would permit up to 270 dwellings on the site. The Comprehensive Plan recommends this area for medium density residential use (4.01 to 10 units/acre). The density of this proposal is 1.10 units/acres. It is a by-right development - no rezoning is required. A special use permit will be needed for crossing the flood plain of Powell Creek. Access to the crossing will be from Cling Lane (Route 1226) in Orchard Acres. BACKGROUND: The Board of Supervisors instructed staff in January 1989 to proceed with efforts to develop an affordable housing subdivision in Albemarle County similar to the Montreal Village project developed in Nelson County. This project was to provide affordable home- October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 2) 2 ownership opportunities to residents who otherwise could afford housing in the current Albemarle market. Subsequent to that, the Charlottesville Housing Foundation volunteered to take the lead role in developing this project on behalf of the County. CHF, conducted an exhaustive search for a site for this development which lasted the better part of one year. The directive of the Board to staff and CRF was to obtain a site which was located in a designated growth area of the County and that was served by public utilities. Potential sites in the Urban Neighborhood were pursued; however, no affordable sites were available, or could be obtained. In March of 1990, a forty acre tract of land north of Orchard Acres Subdivision in Crozet was found. In late March the County submitted an application for a CDBG, Communi- ty Improvement Grant, for the development of a thirty-unit subdivision to benefit low-moderate income families. In May of 1990, a $300,000 grant was awarded to the County for the development of this project. Staff presented the proposed site and conceptual plan for the project at the August 8, 1990, Board meeting. At that meeting, a number of residents expressed concern and/or opposition to this development. An additional public hearing was held in Crozet to hear concerns and answer questions of residents. Numerous questions and concerns were raised at these meetings. For tonight's meeting, staff will focus on those issues related to this site and the physical development pro- posal. Some of the major concerns with this site include: 1. Traffic impact to Orchard Acres Subdivision; Potential of homes within the development becoming rental units instead of owner-occupied homes; 3. Proximity of site to existing railroad; e Availability of employment opportunities and services in Crozet; Provision of emergency access. CH-F and staff responses to these issues are noted below: TRAFFIC IMPACT: CRF and staff reviewed alternatives to access through Cling Lane to the west. They were: (1) Access to the south along Powell Creek to Jarman's Gap Road; (2) Access over the railroad to Route 788; and, (3) Access to the east to Blue Ridge Avenue. The southern alternative to Jarman's Gap would be considerably more expensive, adding approximately $200,000 to $260,000 to the site development cost not including necessary land acquisition and con- struction of a deceleration lane on Jarman's Gap Road. Such cost would jeopardize the feasibility of the project. There would also be considerable impact to flood plain and wetlands areas. The railroad crossing is also not considered a viable alternative. Besides safety concerns with an at-grade rail crossing, construction cost would be higher (the estimated cost to light and gate a railroad crossing is $85,000), and permission from the railroad would have to be obtained before a crossing could be constructed. Access to the east to Blue Ridge Avenue is the most viable alterna- tive. There are two rights-of-way platted in this general area which could serve the site. However, additional land would have to be acquired to provide access to this site and widen the rights-of-way to permit the construction of a public road. This alternative would add $25,000 to $60,000 in additional costs not including land acquisition. Several property owners along these rights-of-way have expressed opposition to this project; therefore, it is likely that condemnation proceedings would be necessary to acquire sufficient right-of-way for road construction. The property in question fronts on, and has the right of access to Cling Lane. Due to cost, safety, and environmental considerations in October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) 3 (Page 3) developing this site to provide affordable housing, access to Cling Lane is considered to be the most viable alternative. CONTROL ON THE RENTING OF HOMES: Virginia Housing Development Author- ity (VHDA) and Farmers Home Administration loan programs prohibit or otherwise control the rental, or speculative use of homes for which the loan is secured. Provision will be made for CHF to have the right of first refusal to purchase the homes if owners intend to resell. These measures should help ensure that homes will not be purchased or used for speculative purposes. PROXIMITY TO RAILROAD: Landscaping measures including screening shrubs and fencing will be installed to minimize visual impact and control access to the railroad. ADEQUACY OF SERVICES: Water and sewer facilities are adequate to serve this site. Fire and rescue services are approximately 0.5 mile from this site. The library and elementary schools are also 0.5 to one-mile from this site. Henley Middle School and Western Albemarle High School are also located within the Crozet of Community. Mint Spring Park, Claudius Crozet Community Park and Beaver Creek Reser- voir/Park also serve this immediate area. EMERGENCY ACCESS: A second emergency access will be designed within the development. This access will likely be provided across the railroad tracks and be available only to emergency vehicles if the main access is not passable. The location and design of this access will be planned with input from the volunteer fire department and rescue squad during review of the subdivision plat." The public hearing was then opened and Ms. Lois Rochester came forward speak, representing the League of Women Voters. Ms. Rochester gave the following presentation: "As we stated at the August 8th meeting of the Board, the League strongly supports approval of the Crozet Affordable Housing Project, including the expenditure of $331,714 of County funds to make it happen. The reality must be recognized that land and housing costs in the growth areas are now so high that wage earners in the approxi- mately $12,000 to $30,000 income range can no longer afford to buy homes in these areas unless they are partially subsidized. The only alternative is housing on scattered sites lacking public water and sewer, which is exactly what the County wants to discourage. The League has been pleased that the Board has recognized, in the Comprehensive Plan and by its actions, the need for low-to-moderate income housing in Albemarle County. We've also been pleased that the County's commitment to this particular project has been strong from the beginning. It is our understanding that about two years ago the Board requested the Charlottesville Housing Foundation to explore possibilities for a project similar to Nelson County's Montreal Village; that the Board was involved in applying for the $300,000 Community Development Block Grant; that the planning staff has been heavily involved in the on-going process; and that the County paid part of the salary of a staff person at the Planning District Commis- sion who helped seek suitable land. Now is the moment of truth. Because of the tremendous effort of the Charlottesville Housing Foundation, in collaboration with many other participants in the private sector as well as the County staff, the pieces are finally in place for 50 affordable homes in a designated growth area where water and sewer are readily available. In our opinion this is just what the County needs. We urge approval." Mr. Francis Fife, Executive Director of the Charlottesville Housing Foundation, said from 1970 to 1987, the cost of new single-family homes in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area rose 313 percent. The median household income in Charlottesville rose 107 percent, and 130 percent in the County, compared to the increase in the cost of housing. Over 60 percent of all families in October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) z~ (Page 4) the County cannot afford to buy the average new single-family home. Mr. Fife said these facts come from the Comprehensive Plan. He feels this project is a partnership between the Charlottesville Housing Foundation and Albemarle County. He feels this is a unique opportunity to do something for 50 families which could not be done otherwise. He said CHF looks forward to moving ahead with the project. Mr. Fife said that the search went on for over a year to find a suitable piece of property for such a project. This project is unique because of the funding sources available. If the County proceeds to fund approximately $331,000, that amounts to about 10 percent of the cost of the project. He said there is a construction reservation from the Virginia Housing Development Association (VHDA) of $1 million, a $500,000 loan from Department of Housing and Community Development, a $300,000 Community Develop- ment Block Grant contingent upon the County's approval of the project, CHF has offered to put up $150,000 plus $31,000, Albemarle County is requested to put up $331,000, and the landowner is offering to sell the property at a discount of $264,000 from its current appraised value. The remainder of money required for this project will come from Farmer's Home Administration, and other sources. Mr. Fife said he believes there is no other location in the County with the funds available as in this case. Mr. Fife pointed out that a neigh- borhood association will be required and anyone living in the project will be required to be a member of the association. There will be requirements by the association relative to maintenance of individual properties as well as the common property owned by the association, which is about one-half of the total acreage. He said there will also be reasonable requirements to ensure that this is a good project. In addition, there will be orientation sessions for applicants with regard to homeownership and the maintenance of property. Mr. Fife concluded by introducing Mr. John Shephard, Housing Specialist, who holds the position which the County is being requested to partially fund. Ms. Theresa Tapscott, Executive Director of Albemarle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP), said she usually addresses the Board representing low-income homeowners who need help repairing their homes. Tonight she represents families who would love to own homes in Albemarle County, but because of the current market they cannot afford a home. Ms. Tapscott feels that this subdivision could make a real difference in the lives of the families served as well as the Crozet community as a whole. She said that AHIP ran an adver- tisement in the Daily Progress a year ago soliciting input from families interested in owning homes in Albemarle County, but who could not afford a home. Within two weeks, there were over 90 names on the list. Today, the list contains about 175 names and is growing daily. She said the list includes teachers, nurses, hospital workers, maintenance workers, factory workers and a few AHIP carpenters. The one thing they all have in common is that they are working families who want to own a home, but cannot afford one in Albemarle County because of the market that exists today. Ms. Tapscott said this project provides the opportunity for an affordable house at a reasonable interest rate. She concluded with the thought that no one present at the public hearing was able to purchase their first home with no assis- tance, whether it was through FHA, VHDA, VA, parents or some other help. She said these potential homeowners are hoping for the opportunity to achieve what others have. Mr. Paul Burke, resident of Crozet and a member of the Citizens Concerned for Crozet, said he feels the proposed subdivision would be detrimental to Crozet and to the County of Albemarle. The proposal to put 50 s~bsidized houses in an area which is 15 miles from transportation and police services is not a good one. He said he would like a new car, but he is not asking the County to help pay for it. The term, "affordable housing", sounds good. However, he believes that $331,000 of taxpayers' money could be better spent by the Board of Supervisors than by getting into the housing business. He does not feel it is an appropriate role for the Charlottesville Housing Foundation because it is outside of their existing charter. Mr. Burke said more than 50 families could and would have affordable housing if the Board leaves the housing to the private sector. He said there are at least eight houses on the market in Orchard Acres. This proposal is only affordable because taxpayers are paying for it. He said taxpayers will continue to.pay because there will be social problems requiring social services, transporta- tion, fire and police services which do not currently exist in Crozet at a sufficient level to support this kind of development. He said the transporta- tion problem would be significant to Orchard Acres. He feels that the roads cannot support additional traffic. Mr. Burke does not believe the Planning October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) 5 (Page 5) Commission addressed the environmental review record, which has been returned to the County from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Develop- ment for more work. He has no knowledge that additional work has been done. He hopes that if the Board wishes to proceed with this project, that an environmental impact statement be required. He hopes the Piedmont Environmen- tal Council (PEC) will address the watershed protection issue. He fears that PEC will not because Mr. Fife is a member of the PEC Board of Directors. Mr. Burke said he feels this development is not in the best interest of the of Orchard Acres and Crozet. Mr. Randolph Raines, resident of Orchard Acres, said he lived in a mobile home with his wife and two children for eight years. He did without and saved to have enough money for a downpayment on his present house. He feels that this project is a high-class mobile home court. He said there are no play areas for the children who live in'Orchard Acres and they have to play in the streets. The residents know that and drive cautiously. One of the access alternatives the Board is considering will bring the traffic from this project through Orchard Acres. He feels that the crime rate and drug problems will increase. He said he knows from experience that there are more drug problems in the low income projects. He feels that Crozet is not ready for that type of project. Mr. Kevin Cox, resident of Albemarle County, said if affordable, moder- ately-priced homes are not provided in the growth areas, strip development scattered site developments will occur. Mr. Cox said he is on the waiting list for an affordable home, but he is going to remove his name because he is buying a modular unit and locating it on five acres in the rural areas. The land was priced so that he could afford it because it is so far out in the County. He said there is a deficit in the County of 2000 to 3000 homes. Mr. Cox also pointed out that developers and real estate people are watching this project closely because of the down turn in the real estate market. If the private sector's perception is that communities do not want affordable housin~ in their backyards, they will have second thoughts about other such proposals. Mr. John Hermsmeier, Secretary of Citizens for Albemarle, said this 20-year old, grass roots community organization with over 400 members strongly supports this project and he presented the following statement: "Citizens for Albemarle is concerned about the population growth spawned by the proliferation of housing subdivisions. Albemarle County is swelling at a rate that will lead to a doubling of the population in about 25 years. This growth is placing strains on our environment, our pocketbooks and our quality of life. However, Citizens for Albemarle is also concerned about the fact that not all of the County's current residents can afford decent housing. As you know, developers find little profit in building inexpensive homes. Every year there are proportionally fewer places for low and moderate income people to buy or even rent. In 1980, 13 percent of the Coun- ty's labor force commuted from neighboring localities. The 1990 census will likely show an even higher percentage. For many of these people, it has become economically impossible to live in Albemarle County. Our current housing trends, largely dictated by developers, are driving out a vital element of our society. Some of the people forced to move elsewhere have lived here for generations. We believe the County's housing policy should be compassionate and balanced and this means creating opportunities not only for the affluent, but for the people at all economic levels. The proposed development is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, and the subdivision would be built in a designated growth area. We recognize that a $330,000 appropriation may ultimately be reflected in our taxes, but we accept this as one of the costs for living in a well-rounded and fair socie- ty. We trust that future detailed specifications for this subdivision will show that it can be developed in an environmentally responsible manner. If this is indeed the case, we urge you to support the venture." Mr. Hermsmeier added that he personally was able to buy a home in Albemarle County because his parents helped with the downpayment. He urged the Board to consider the position of people who would like to own their own home and are not fortunate enough to have parents to help as he did. October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) 6 (Page 6) Mr. Jack Pollock, resident of Orchard Acres, said he has no objection to a project like this, and he has no objection to it being located near him. However, he has strong objections to funneling the traffic through another subdivision. This piece of property is available at a good price, but it is virtually land-locked with no practical access. He feels that access through Orchard Acres will be unfortunate for that community. He feels that the access issue is reason enough to find another location for the project. Ms. Anna Bielecki, resident of Blue Ridge Avenue in Crozet, said she feels the site is not suitable for this project. After the last rain, she visited the site, and it was nearly flooded. She feels it is unfair to the potential homeowners to have a housing project on an unsafe or improper site. Also, she feels that it is not a good idea to have only one access to a subdivision this size. She said her street is almost like a one-way street because it is too narrow for two cars to pass. She said this street cannot take the additional traffic. Mr. Roy Patterson, resident of Crozet, said he has confidence and faith in the Charlottesville Housing Foundation. They have an excellent track record in Crozet from work on The Meadows project. He said CHF has done much good work throughout the County through AHIP. He also expressed his admira- tion and respect for the architect of this project, Mr. Bill Edgerton. Mr. Edgerton is a former President of Citizens for Albemarle and is concerned about the environment. Mr. Patterson feels that whatever this architect does will be in the best interest of the community. Based on his faith in CHF and in the architect, Mr. Patterson supports this project. Ms. Sue Casteen, resident of Crozet, said she is a former homeowner having a VHDA loan in an affordable housing project. Based on that experi- ence, she feels that this type of project creates more problems for the people who buy the homes than it solves. She said she would never have moved to Crozet if the community she lived in had not changed. She said her faith in CHF was lessened today when she watched the 6:00 PM news and heard Mr. Fife say he would not want this project in his neighborhood. Mr. Wesley Moon, resident of Orchard Acres, said he is in the construc- tion industry. He has seen the results on surrounding areas of a housing project, especially from heavy truck traffic and the reputation of construc- tion workers. He said there are many young children in this area who should be considered. He feels that the County should not spend taxpayers' money on this project. Ms. Mary Ann Raines, resident of Orchard Acres, said she feels that taxpayers' money should not go for this project when there is not money in the School's budget to send home a lunch menu. She feels that the County should take care of existing problems before expanding into other areas. She feels that existing communities should be improved before beginning new projects. Mr. Jon Mikalson, resident of Crozet, said if the County is serious about having affordable housing, it should require that the large, expensive devel- opments have affordable housing sections. He said there is a tendency to build subdivisions in certain parts of the County, such as Forest Lakes and Whippoorwill Hollow, and to send the affordable housing to Crozet. Instead of using tax dollars to build affordable housing, the County should use its regulatory powers to insist that developers who are making money off of expensive houses include affordable housing in their projects. That would allow affordable housing in neighborhoods that are economically integrated, and everyone could share in the cost and the resulting social situations. Mrs. 0pal David, former member of the Board of Supervisors, said she tried very hard to get developers committed to having a segment of affordable housing in their developments. She said the County knows now that that is not a possible alternative. The possibility of having a partnership between private contributions and some County funding seems to her to be the only way to have affordable housing. Mrs. David added that she and her husband are about to move into a retirement complex. These complexes require professional workers, technical workers and other good solid working citizens who need affordable housing. She said these workers will not be paid salaries that will enable them to buy houses in Albemarle County. She said these are useful members of the community. She urged the Board to think about them because October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) 7 (Page 7) they are the types of people who will be living in this project, not drug addicts. Mrs. Ellen Waff, resident of Crozet, said she was at the Board meeting August when the conceptual plan for this project was discussed. However, she did not hear much about a review of the proposed road crossing of Powell's Creek as required by the Community Development Block Grant. She asked if the flood plain crossing by the access road has been dealt with by the Board. She also thanked the Board for coming to Crozet for this public hearing. Mrs. Frances Witt, resident of Crozet, said she is concerned about the police protection problem. She said Albemarle County has an excellent police force and Chief Miller is doing a great job. However, the police force is not adequate to cover Albemarle County, particularly at night. Mrs. Witt said she is President of Claudius Crozet Park and of the Cemetery Board in Crozet and has had occasion to call the police many times. Often the response is slow at night because there is not adequate coverage. She said most police depart- ments report that their most frequent calls are for domestic problems. Adding more citizens to the community means increasing the demand on the police force. She asked the Board to consider this impact. Mr. Mike Marshall, resident of Crozet, said he and his wife own property on Blue Ridge Avenue. He said the fact that the owner of the property is willing to sell at a discount of $264,000 tells him something. He suspects the owner is willing to take this amount because the property has been for sale for years, and no one wants to buy it for a subdivision because it is inaccessible. The only way to get to use this property is to get the Board of Supervisors to allow a flood plain crossing. He said a private developer is not likely to get such permission. He said the County says there will be a short fall because revenues are down. He asked what the citizens will have to give up to make up the $331,000 for this project. He asked how important this new project is to the County at this time. Mr. Marshall feels it is hard for the government to be fair when it begins subsidizing its citizens. He said this project is supposed to be for good, hard-working citizens. When he asked the criteria for establishing a good, hard-working person, he was told that the criteria has not been worked out yet. He feels the government should stay out of the housing business. He applauds the Charlottesville Housing Founda- tion, and he is glad that citizens groups are doing something about the housing problem. He feels the County should look at how its ordinances favor certain types of development instead of getting into the business and spending money it does not have. Mr. Marshall said Crozet is currently a mixed commu- nity. The streets have some old, run-down houses and some newer houses. This project will put everyone who has the same income level together in a compound between the railroad track and the creek with one way in and out. He said he would like to see people in Crozet have some opportunities for affordable housing. He would like to see each corner of the County have a few afl housing units. That will prevent a large number of children of the same background coming into one school. He asked that the County look at its zoning to disburse affordable housing in various areas of the County. He feels the Board can do that without spending money. Mr. Donald Nobles said he has listened to this discrimination and pointed out that there are teachers, rescue squad workers, and others who cannot afford to buy a house. He is hearing these people say that others are not good enough to move into these houses, and that they are not wanted in the neighborhood. He said there may be a few blacks applying for this housing, and he hopes there are a lot of blacks in this project. He said it is very foolish and prejudiced to say that someone who makes a certain amount of money is not welcomed in the community. Mrs. Barbara Brumback, resident of Crozet, said she is a single parent who raised four children in Crozet. She was fortunate in that she bought a foreclosed home ten years ago. Mrs. Brnmback said she is speaking for teach- ers and other women who are raising children alone. She is not talking about "trash" moving into this neighborhood. She said she would like to have people of all kinds in her neighborhood. She suggested that, before more density is allowed in Crozet, the Board give the children a place to go for cultural development. She also suggested that the County consider mixed types of housing such as multi-family units, farm units, etc. so that the children can share their talents equally. October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) 8 (Page 8) Mr. Tom Lull, resident of Crozet, said he wanted to assure everyone that he does not wish to discriminate against anyone. In his travels in the Navy, he has seen this type of project fail within five to ten years. When a group of people is isolated by income or race or whatever lines you draw, over the long haul, the community goes downhill. It becomes a "ghetto" He said this project is forcing 250 people between the railroad tracks and the creek. He asked the Board to consider what this community will be like 10 years from now. He said it is ridiculous to him that the County cannot enforce a manda- tory building code to require developers to allocate a percentage of their construction to moderate and low income housing. Mr. Lull said that is state law in Maryland. Mr. Bowie interrupted to say that in Virginia the Dillon Rule is in effect and the Board of Supervisors has only the authority granted to it by the State legislature. Mr. Bowie said if the County could mandate such regulations, he feels it would and this hearing would not be necessary. Mrs. Susan Haberly, resident of Crozet, said she believes the majority of people in Crozet want to help others and they do favor affordable housing. However, the majority of people here feel that if the project could be spread throughout the County, it would make everyone happier. Mrs. Ernestine Kee said she tried to purchase a house in Orchard Acres about five years ago. The owner changed her mind. Mrs. Kee said she signed up to work with the rescue squad. She said she works at the University and has the necessary qualifications, but has never been called. She said she would like to find out if it is true that the folks in Crozet don't want black folks helping them out. Ms. Nancy Whiting Barnett, retired nurse and member of the Jordan Devel- opment Corporation, said she lives in a black community and white people are moving in with no objection from the neighbors. She feels that having a low income or being black does not automatically mean the crime rate will increase or that these folks will be bad neighbors. She said Crozet should give these people a chance. Mr. Norm Carlson, resident of Albemarle County, said his family is on the waiting list to buy a home which they could not afford to buy otherwise. He said that wages in this area in many of the retail and service-related jobs are such that it is impossible to afford most of the homes on the market. In order for him to have a home in the range of $65,000, with an income of $20,000 annually, a downpayment equal to his annual income is necessary. Mr. Carlson said the people who are anxious to become a part of this community are good, upstanding citizens who would be of benefit to the community of Crozet. He said it hurts him, as a law-abiding citizen and a college graduate, to be categorized with welfare recipients. He said there are many people who work hard and are striving to improve themselves and they deserve the chance to live in this development. Ms. Frances Hill said she has lived in Crozet for many years on Carter Street. She said it has been stated that there is only one access to the proposed subdivision. If the Blue Ridge Avenue access is chosen, it leads to Jarman's Gap Road, which connects to Orchard Acres. Therefore, there would bE more than one access. She also stated that a great deal of traffic to Orchard Acres currently goes by Blue Ridge Avenue to the old road by the railroad track. She invited the Board members to visit the Blue Ridge Avenue area and see the traffic flow. Mrs. Lisa Marshall, resident of Crozet, said she is opposed to the development, not because she feels there will be lawbreakers living next to her, but because of development currently planned for which there are not sufficient services available in Crozet. For example, the development going on Route 240 will overcrowd the schools alone. She feels that Crozet is bein made a "dumping ground" for growth. She said if this were an expensive development, she would be just as opposed to it for the same reasons. The continued expansion of Crozet is going to change it from a small town com- munity. The roads, schools and other services cannot accommodate this growth. She said it will be unfair to the families who move into this development, thinking they will have a better life. October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) 9 (Page 9) Mrs. Cynthia Miller said she and her husband are purchasing a house in Orchard Acres this week. Mrs. Miller said she and her husband worked hard to be able to afford this home. She said the community is quiet, the neighbors are friendly and there is a new elementary school. She said children play on the street because the traffic is low. Now she hears that her dream of a safe place and a good neighborhood is being shattered by the amount of traffic this development will produce. She understands the need for housing, but she is concerned about the access road. She said if the County can afford to subsi- dize the project, surely the funds can be found to make a suitable access. She feels that a compromise should be worked out so that one group can be helped while the other is not penalized. Mr. Tom Loach, resident of Crozet, said that he and his neighbors are not against affordable housing in the County, but are concerned about the best way to implement it. He said as a new resident, rather than a new housing project, he sees a need for the money to be put back into the community by allowing those who cannot afford to fix up their homes to do so. He said if housing costs have gone up by 300 percent in the County, it is the result of the decisions of the Board of Supervisors who define what housing goes into the County. He is concerned about the social aspects of such a project. He said his experience with housing projects is not good. He said staff has not presented a report as to the social impact, even though he asked the question at a prior meeting. He asked what prior experience the Charlottesville Housing Foundation has had with similar projects and the impact on other communities. Mr. Marshall Chase, new homeowner in Crozet, said he and his wife searched the area looking for affordable housing. He said they scrimped and saved and are putting every cent they have in a home this week. He said he i! a teacher, and his wife is a nurse. He feels that provisions should be made for the infrastructure before development occurs. He said trailers will have to be used at Crozet School for the new students who will be coming here as a result of development. He feels that fairness to the current residents of Crozet should be considered. Mr. Jim Baber, resident of Crozet on Blue Ridge Avenue, said he has no objection to the project other than access to and from the property for fire equipment or rescue squad equipment. He feels that the roads in this neigh- borhood cannot handle the traffic. He measured the width of Blue Ridge and it was 13 to 16 feet wide from edge to edge. When a school bus meets another vehicle, one of them has to stop to allow the other to pass. He said it is the same on Carter Street. Mr. Baber said the streets in Orchard Acres are somewhat wider. Mrs. Cynthia Curnell, resident of Crozet, said she has mixed feelings about speaking against this project because she realizes there is a need for it. She feels that Crozet is not ready for a housing project. Her son has 27 children in his first grade class. She said she spoke with a teacher today whose classroom is under the steps and was shown as a storage closet on the blueprint for this school. Mrs. Curnell said it is not safe for the residents of Windham, a retirement home in Crozet, to cross the street. She feels there are many improvements that must be made before the community can take on additional people. She said there are only six places to park at the Post Office. She said she tried to poll citizens in the past two days by taking a petitions throughout the neighborhood. She said the results were 87 people who were concerned about the project and four people who thought it was a great idea. Ms. Mary Kelly said she appreciates the work the Charlottesville Housing Foundation has done. She said she is concerned about the current economic crisis in the County and nationally. She feels there will be hidden costs in this project because of inflation and she is concerned about who will pay for these costs. As a County employee, she does not expect a raise because of financial situation. She wonders if there is not a way to purchase existing houses on the market. She said that would solve the problem of integrating affordable housing and give a lift to the housing market as well. She asked the Board to consider existing housing as an affordable housing project. There being no other members of the public present to speak, the public hearing was closed. October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 10) Mr. Bowie said normally the Board does not make a decision of this magnitude on the night of the public hearing. He feels that the input from citizens regarding alternatives should be researched by staff before the Board makes a decision. Mrs. Humphris asked about the required environmental review of the flood plain crossing. Mr. Benish reported that the environmental review was submit- ted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). There were objections raised by residents of Crozet which were submitted to DHCD as well. He said staff has to draft comments addressing each objection and submit it to the objector and to DHCD. A determination as to whether further analysis is necessary will then be made by DHCD. Regarding crossing the flood plain, Mr. Benish said the Board determined that the proposed project contained appropriate activities within a flood plain. However, a local review for a special use permit for that crossing will come to the Board after the County's Engineering Department reviews the technical characteristics and merits of the flood plain crossing. Mrs. Humphris asked about the comment from a citizen regarding the amount of water at the site after the recent rains. Mr. Benish said all of the proposed development is outside of the one hundred year flood plain as desig- nated on the Federal insurance rate maps. He said the County is required by local ordinances not to permit development within the flood plain. He said the intent is to leave the flood plain area as open space. Mrs. Hnmphris asked about the number of houses in the affordable price range on the market that would be available for refurbishment. Ms. Theresa Tapscott said her experience at AHIP is that financing cannot be secured for most of the houses which need renovation because the buyers do not have cash to put up. In addition, there are 175 people on a waiting list for afl housing, with eight to ten homes on the market in Crozet. She said existing houses do not begin to meet the need. Mr. Bain asked that staff reconsider the Blue Ridge Avenue access. He said the extra cost is not significant compared to the access to Jarman's Gap Road. He wonders if it is possible to widen Carter Street or Blue Ridge Avenue, or possibly acquire the strip of land along the railroad track. Mr. Benish noted that the Board has the authority to recommend improve- ments to VDOT in the Six Year Secondary Road Plan. Mr. Bowie said that he and Mr. Perkins spent a few hours today looking around Crozet, and he acknowledges that there is an access problem in Orchard Acres which staff is requested to review. He said the Board must make a decision during November in order to meet the Community Development Block Grant deadline. He said the decision will be made at a public meeting, but there will be no further public input. Agenda Item No. 6. Designate Board Representative to Vote at the Annual VACO Business Meeting. No action was taken at this time on this item. Agenda Item No. 7. Other Matters Not on the Agenda from the Board. Mr. Bowie said that a short Executive Session is necessary either toni or Wednesday before the regular meeting. The consensus of the Board was to meet in Room 11 on October 31, 1990, at 6:45 P.M. for an Executive Session. The Board scheduled a work session on the 1991-96 Capital Improvements Program for November 7, 1990, at 3:00 P.M. in Room 7. Mr. Bowie reminded Board members that there will also be an Executive Session for personnel matters on November 8, 1990, at 10:00 A.M. in Room 11. October 29, 1990 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 11) Agenda Item No. 8. Executive Session. scheduled for October 31, 1990, at 6:45 P.M. The Executive Session was re- Agenda Item No. 9. Certify Executive Session. Not needed. Agenda Item No. 10. Adjourn to October 31, 1990. At 9:20 P.M., motion was offered by Mr. Bain and seconded by Mrs. Humphris to adjourn to 6:45 P.M. on October 31, 1990, for an Executive Ses- sion. Roll was called and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Messrs. Bain, Bowerman, Bowie, Mrs. Humphris, Mr. Perkins and Mr. Way. NAYS: None. CHAIRMAN