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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-12-11A12-11-74 (afternoon) 7,9 An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held at 4:00 P.M. on December 11, 1974, in the County Executive's Conference Room, County Office Building, Charlottesville, Virginia, said meeting being adjourned from November 19 and from earlier on this same date. Present: Messrs. Stuart F. Carwile, Gerald E. Fisher, J. T. Henley, Jr., William C. Thacker, Jr., Gordon L. Wheeler (arriving at 4:50 P.M.) and Lloyd F. Wood, Jr. Absent: None. Officer present: County Executive; T. M. Batchelor, Jr. In the absence of Mr. Wheeler, the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Thacker called the meeting to order. The first item to be discussed was Georgetown Road. Mr. Wood summarized progress made on clearing of bushes and trees from the right-of-way of Georgetown Road, for vis- ibility. He said Dr. and Mrs. B. H. Word, Jr., have been very cooperative, and have tentatively agreed to donate right-of-way for straightening the curve on Georgetown. However, since the bushes were cleared, citizens had proceeded to dump trash on their property and steal their fire wood. Mr. Wood noted that Georgetown Road needs to be improved from Hydraulic all the way through to Barracks Road. Although the Word's have agreed to donate right-of-way, it would not be fair to accept their property now and in a few years have to pay others for right-of-way. Mr. Robert Warner, Resident Engineer of the Virginia Department of Highways, was present. He said the repairs made to date have not been very expensive. A more extensive repair would cost quite a lot and financial problems of the Highway Department are the reason he had asked for this meeting to be held today. Revenues of the Highway Department are derived from the tax imposed on gasoline. Because of the energy crisis and the subsequent drop in purchase of gasoline, revenues have dropped off by some $10-$15 million dollars. All State agencies have been asked to cut their budgets by five-percent or more. Another problem is caused by a rise in the cost of materials and equipment rental rates. In trying to establish a minimum maintenance program, the Highway Department will not advertise any new contracts before August, 1975. Mr. Batchelor asked if this will freeze construction on the Mint Springs Roads for which the County has received recreational access funds. Mr. Warner said County secondary funds will be needed to supplement this project. There is a possibility this project can go ahead because there are special funds attached, however, it will depend on the amount of money the County is allotted for the next fiscal year. Mr. Warner said he would like to discuss some planning. He met recently with the County Planner to discuss some of the projects which are planned on or near Hydraulic Road. This road has been a problem for some time. Because of the addition of Four Seasons West which will add another 4,000 to 5,000 cars a day, development of the Minor Tract off of Whitewood Road which will empty from Whitewood onto either Route 29 North or Hydraulic Road and the proposed addition of Evergreen off of Lamb's Road, the congestion 3 BO 12-11-74 (afternoon) will be even worse. It is time to look at Hydraulic Road and place it in plans for the future. Mr. Batchelor asked if there is any chance of obtaining State Urban funds for any part of this upgrading. Mr. Warner said he knew of no way. He has recently estimated the cost of upgrading Hydraulic Road from Route 29 North to the R~servoir at $2,000,000. Mr. Thacker asked how this relates to work to be performed on Route 684 and Route 637. Mr. Warner said the cost of work to be performed on Route 684 has risen to between $600,000 and $700,000 and is~out of proportion to the benefit which will be derived. Route 637 should remain, at this time, in the plans and he will try to keep it funded. A definite route has never been chosen for Route 637 and since there was one additional proposal on which a public hearing was not held, this would probably be necessary. Mr. Thacker asked if there are any funds committed to Hydraulic Road at this time. Mr. Warner said some survey money is available. They hope to have the project funded in four years so Construction can begin at that time. After talking to the County Planner about development which will take place in this area he has changed his thinking and perhaps this should be moved ahead in time. Mr. Batchelor suggested that John Humphrey and Mr. Warner draw a map showing what is proposed in the Hydraulic Road area. Also show expected completion times, original cost of upgrading sections along Hydraulic, today's cost, in what years original costs were budgeted, and what the other needs are in the County relative to a cost benefit ratio~. Mr. Henley said Route 684 is in his district and he feels this work can be postponed temporarily. Mr. Warner said if the County concentrates all their road efforts on the heavily congested areas, they will spend every cent on those areas in close proximity of the City limits and never get any work done in the outlying areas of the County. He said Rio Road should be extended to McIntire and this extension would be less expensive than the upgrading of Hydraulic since it is mostly through open country. However, the whole circle of roads between Rio, Hydraulic, Route 29 North and Whitewood is going to fill up with traffic and unless something is started now, there will not be anything done in the next six years. At this point in the meeting, Mr. Wheeler arrived and was briefed by Mr. Thacker as to what ha~been discussed to this point. Mr. Fisher said it is hard to deal with new priorities without having any idea of what will be happening elsewhere in the County. Mr. Thacker said if the Board shifts all priorities to Hydraulic Road, nothing else will be done in the County for the next five or six years. Mr. Warner corrected that statement by saying that the Highway Department will be able to use state forces for general maintenance work. However, at this time, the project for Route 684 should be deleted. Mr. Henley said he could not equate the cost of this project with the benefit to be derived and would suggest that it be dropped at this time. Motion was then offered by Mr. Carwile, seconded by Mr. Wood to adopt the following resolution: 12-11-74 (afternoon) 3 BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Supervisors of Al- bemarle County, Virginia that due to the high costs of construc- tion and rights-of'way on Route 684, that this Board concurs in recommendations of the Resident Highway Engineer's feeling that other priorities take precedence over this project; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any further work on Route 684 be deferred indefinitely. The motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Messrs. Carwile, Fisher, Henley, Thacker, Wheeler and Wood. NAYS: None. (Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Carwile abstaining during discussion of the following matter.) Mr. Warner said that some time ago, the Highway Department had sent a request to the Board for abandonment, discontinuance and addition of certain sections of Route 729 (Milton Road Project 0729-002-132, C501) This request was caused by reconstruc- tion of Route 729 and the Milton Bridge. He reminded the Board that they had taken no action on this request. Mr. Batchelor said the Parks Committee was asked to investigate this road as a possible access to the Rivanna River for a boat ramp. It has been suggested that better access can be obtained at the University (Milton) Airport. Mr. Fisher said his main concern is with recreational access. He thought the Parks Committee was to ask for a recommendation from the Division of Game and Inland Fisheries and he was not ready to vote until such a report is received. Mr. Wood suggested that the Board takes no action until a report is received from the Parks Committee. He then offered motion to this effect. The motion was seconded by Mr. Fisher and carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Messrs. Fisher, Henley, Thacker and Wood. NAYS: None. ABSTAINING: Mr. Carwile and Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Wood mentioned a problem with a bump on Route 743 just past the Rock Store at the top of the hill. Mr. Warner said that unfortunately the road was repaved before this bump was patched. His department has checked this problem. Mr. Carwile asked how long it will be b~efore construction is completed on the Barracks Road--Route 29-250 By-pass~~. Mr. Warner stated there is nothing in particular scheduled during the winter months. They cannot complete widening Barracks Road until the old bridge is removed. The steel for the new bridge will not be received until April 1, 1975. Upon proper motion, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 P.M. Chairman