1995-03-08March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting) 000 22
(Page 1)
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County,
Virginia, was held on March 8, 1995, at 7:00 P.M., Room 241, County Office
Building, McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia.
PRESENT: Mr. David P. Bowerman, Mrs. Charlotte Y. Humphris, Messrs.
Forrest R. Marshall., Jr., Charles S. Martin, Walter F. Perkins and Mrs.
Sally H. Thomas.
ABSENT: None.
OFFICERS PRESENT: County Executive, Robert W. Tucker, Jr., County
Attorney, Larry W. Davis, and County Planner, V. Wayne Cilimberg.
Agenda Item No. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m., by the
Chairman, Mr. Perkins.
Agenda Item No. 2. Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Item No. 3. Moment of Silence.
Agenda Item No. 4. Other Matters Not Listed on the Agenda from the
Public.
Mr. John Carter stated that he wanted to launch a strong protest in
regard to the process for signing up to speak at the Board of Supervisors"
meeting. He got to the meeting early, and found several names ahead of him on
the sign up sheet, and they appeared to have been written by the same person.
He has problems at night, and he gets to the meetings early so that he can get
home early. He thinks this process is outrageous, and he wishes a message
could be sent that if people want to get to the meeting early and sign in the
way he does, then that is fine.
Rev. John Scott stated he was present at the meeting on behalf of the
Whitewood Village Tenants' Council. The tenants would like for the Supervi-
sors to re-examine the justification for rerouting the bus stop at Whitewood
Road and Albert Court, and he presented a petition to the Clerk relating to
this issue.
Mr. Bowerman commented that he would like to ask staff to study the
Whitewood Road and Albert Court bus stop issue, and asked that a report be
given to the Supervisors at their day meeting in April. He inquired if this
is acceptable to the other Board members. The other members responded
affirmatively.
Agenda Item No. 5. Consent Agenda. Mo%ion was offered by Mr. Marshall,
seconded by Mrs. Thomas, to approve Item 5.2 and to accept Items 5.3 through
5.7 for infOrmation (Item 5.1 Was the subject of a separate vote). Roll was
called, and the motion carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES:
NAYS:
Messrs. Marshall, Martin, Perkins, Mrs° Thomas, Mr. Bowerman and
Mrs. Humphris.
None.
Item 5.1.. ZMA-94-09. Jayel Industries (deferred from March 1, 1995).
Mr. Perkins said this petition needs to be deferred again since the applicant
has still not sent in the requested information. Motion was offered by Mrs.
Numphris, seconded by Mrs. Thomas, to defer ZMA-94-09 until March 15, 1995.
Roll was called, and the motion carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES:
NAYS:
Messrs. Marshall, Martin, Perkins, Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Bowerman and
Mrs° Humphris.
None.
Item 5.2. Appropriation: Miscellaneous School Grants, $2648 - (Form
#940053.) It was noted that the School Board, at its meeting on February 13,
1995, requested appropriation of the following grants:
The appropriation of five Teacher Incentive Grants for Stony Point
Elementary School for the Virginia Commission for the Arts: 1) Life in a
Rain Forest Project for $300.00; 2) The inuits of Canada for $300.00; 3)
Photography for $300.00; 4) Arts in Basic Curriculum for $300.00; and 5)
Arts and Culture of Mexico for $250.00. The Teacher Incentive Grant
Program has been established to help strengthen the quality of arts
education in the schools and to encourage innovative projects which
integrate the arts into the basic curriculum of the classroom°
The appropriation of a Teacher Incentive Grant for the Math/Science
Center from the Virginia Commission for the Arts in the amount of
$300.00. The grant was established to help strengthen the quality of
arts education in the schools and to encourage innovative projects which
integrate the arts into the basic curriculum of the classroom. The goal
of this project~ integrating art and geometry on an upper elementary
Page 2 )
level, is to develop the understanding and realization of how society
influences art and mathematics, and how the two are related.
· The appropriation of a Teacher Incentive Grant in the amount of $298.00
to Art Stow, a teacher at Brownsville Elementary School. The grant has
been established to help strengthen the quality of arts education in
elementary and secondary schools, to explore new opportunities for
creativity in the classroom, and to encourage innovative projects which
integrate the arts into non-arts curricula.
· The appropriation of a Teacher Incentive Grant in the amount of $300.00
for Western Albemarle High School. The goal of this project is to teach
an in-depth unit to each Art I, II, III and IV class. This Environ-
mental Sculpture Project will provide advanced art students with the
opportunity to draw and construct a "proposed" sculpture for a site
specific space on school grounds.
· The appropriation of a Teacher Incentive Grant in the amount of $300.00
for V.L. Murray Elementary School. The goal of this project, Architec-
ture in Education, is to introduce architectural concepts to stimulate
interest in math, science, aesthetics, history (social studies) and
language arts in grades 3-5.
Mrs. HUmphris said that a year ago the Supervisors were appropriating a
Teacher Incentive Grant for the Math/Science Center, and because this was such
an intriguing concept of integrating art and geometry on an upper elementary
level to develop the understanding and realization of how society influences
art and mathematics, she had asked that a report be given to the Supervisors.
She made this request because she had thought everybody would be interested to
see how the grant was used and how successful it was. Another year has gone
by, and she would like to make the same request for this grant, as well as a
report relating to the Architecture in Education Grant. She thinks it would
be interesting to know how these grants are used and how successful the
programs are°
By the recorded vote set out above, the following resolution of appro-
priation was adopted=
APPROPRIATION REQUEST
FISCAL YEAR: 1994-95
NUMBER: 940053
FUND: GRANT
PURPOSE OF APPROPRIATION: FUNDING FOR VARIOUS SCHOOL GRANTS
EXPENDITURE
COST CENTER/CATEGORY
1310460211600000 STONY POINT
1310460211312500
1310460000312500 MATH/SCIENCE
1310460202601300 BROWNSVILLE
1310460302600000 WAHS
1310460203600000 MURRAY
DESCRIPTION
MISC SUPPLIES
PROF SERVICES-CONSULT
PROF SERVICES-INSTRUCT
INST/REC SUPPLIES
MISC SUPPLIES
MISC SUPPLIES
TOTAL
AMOUNT
$1,200.00
250.00
300.00
298.00
300.00
300.00
$2,648.00
REVENUE
2310424000240270
2310424000240.269
2310424000240268
2310424000240267
2310424000240266
2310424000240274
2310424000240278
2310424000240277
2310424000240279
DESCRIPTION
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT #95-2220
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT #95-1112
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT #95-1097
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT #95-1111
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT #95-1109
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT #95-1049
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT #95-1150
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANT #95-0911
TOTAL
AMOUNT
$300.00
300.00
300.00
300.00
250.00
300.00
298.00
300.00
300.00
$2,648.00
Item 5.3. Letter dated February 28, 1995~ from Ms. A. G. Tucker,
Resident Engineer, Department of Transportation, to Ms. Ella W. Carey, Clerk,
re: monthly update on highway improvement projects currently under construc-
tion in Albemarle County, received as follows:
PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
ALBERARLE COUNTY
MARCH 1 e 19~5
ROUTE ESTIMATED
NO. LOCATION STATUS COMP. DATE
29 From HydrauLic Rd (Rt 743) Construction 64% Complete Dec 95
To N of Rio Rd (Rt 631)
Item 5.4. Letter dated February 16, 1995, from Mr. E. C. Cochran, Jr.,
State Location and Design Engineer, Virginia Department of Transportation,
received as follows:
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Me~tin~)
(Page 3)
"February 16, 1995
000 1. 4
Route 29
Proj: 6029-002-122, PE-100
City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County
Fr: Route 29/250 Bypass (City of Charlottesville)
To: 0.31 Mile North of the North Fork Rivanna River
(Albemarle Co.)
Proj: 6029-002-F19, PE-103
City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County
Description: Route 29 Interchanges with Rio Road,
Greenbrier Drive and Hydraulic Road
Chairman, Albemarle County
Board of Supervisors
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902-4596
I would like to take this opportunity to advise that the
Commonwealth Transportation Board of Virginia at its meeting today
rescinded its previous approval for the location and subsequent
design and construction of the Route 29 interchanges with Rio
Road, Greenbrier Drive, and Hydraulic Road as approved by reSolu-
tion on November 15, 1990.
Sincerely,
(Signed) E. C. Cochran, Jr., P.E.
State Location and Design Engineer"
Item 5.5. Copy of Planning Commission minutes for February 21~ 1995,
received as information.
Item 5.6. Copy of minutes of the Board of Directors of the Rivanna
Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) for January. 23, 1995, received as information.
Mrs. Thomas noted that included with these minutes is a note by the
Director of the Authority regarding the need for more water in Crozet than the
treatment plant is designed to produce. She also mentioned an attachment
regarding House Joint Resolution 402 requiring a study of water and sewer
authorities. She asked Mr. Tucker to find out if this resolution had been
passed by the General Assembly.
Mrs. Humphris suggested that the RWSA memo be emphasized because of the
information it contains. She then read excerpts from the memo regarding an
industry which is currently unable to pretreat its process wastewater to the
level required, as well as on-going concerns and numerous odor complaints. A
lot of times such things are not given enough attention because people keep
thinking there is plenty of water and enough treatment capabilities. This
memo talks about projections for this industry's use as probably exceeding the
water treatment'plant's production capacity. She thinks everybody is aware of
the p~6jections for Water demand in the year 2015, which is not far away.
Item 5.7 Six Year Secondary Road Plan - Presentation and revised
supporting information to be submitted to VDoT at its 1995 Preallocation
hearing in Culpeper was received as information~ It was noted in the staff's
report that there is one additional change to the priority list that staff
recommends. Under Surface Transportation Program; Standard Projects, there
was listed a project "5) Develop design plans for the widening of Fontaine
Avenue from Jefferson Park Avenue to the improvements along the .frontage of
the University of Virginia Real Estate' Foundation Development." This project
is now being designed by VDoT's Urban Division (almost all of the project is
located in the City). Staff recommends deleting this project from the
County's priority list. It has already been deleted from the following draft:
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
1995 SPRING PREALLOCATION MEETING FOR THE
INTERSTATE, PRIMARY, AND URBAN SYSTEMS, AND FOR MASS TRANSIT
ALBEMARLE COUNTY PRIORITIES
The following addresses Albemarle County priorities for each
allocation of the Intermodal Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA)
and each sub-allocation of the Surface Transportation Program
(STP) funds.
Surface Transportation Pro.ram (STP)
Standard Projects: The following projects, listed in priority
order, are eligible for STP funds not set aside. They are:
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 4)
1)
000 25
Undertake those charlot~eSv~i~e"Area Transportation Study
(CATS) projects eligible for the primary program in sequence
as called for in the February 2, 1992, joint resolution
between the City, County and University and agreed to by
VDOT. In addition to Route 29 improvements already men-
tioned, construct Meadow Creek Parkway from the Route 250
Bypass to Route 29 North. In addition to the Route 29
improvements now under constructionfrom Hydraulic to Air-
port Road, the Parkway is the County's highest priority
project, and is of the utmost importance in order to main-
tain adequate level of service on Route 29 and to improve
the overall roadway system serving the urbanizing area north
of the City. The first phase of this project will be funded
in the County's secondary program. The County believes the
parkway will meet the criteria for inclusion in the primary
system. If the Commonwealth Transportation Board's decision
to eliminate the Route 29 interchanges is final, the County
believes funds could be redirected to the Parkway and wants
to work with VDOT staff to'evaluate construction of subse-
quent phases as a primary road if this will accelerate the
Parkway's completion. VDOT is urged to investigate all
possible funding sources to achieve the quickest construc-
tion of this vitally important roadway. Projects in the
northern urbanized area not eligible for primary funds, but
listed in CATS, such as the Hydraulic Road/Route 250 Bypass
interchange, should be actively pursued.
2)
Undertake road projects parallel to Route 29 which relieve
traffic on Route 29, such as the Berkmar Drive completion
(underway) and the Greenbrier Drive/Seminole Trail connec-
tor, concurrent with the Route 29 improvements.
3)
Improve the north/south connection between Route 250 and
Route 240 in Crozet through the construction of the Route
240-Route 250 connector road recommended in the County's
Comprehensive Plan.
4)
Widen Route 250 West from Emmet Street to Route 637 in Ivy.
That portion of Emmet Street to the Route 29/250 Bypass is
covered by a joint design study by the City, County and
University of Virginia and was recognized for improvement in
the Lewis Mountain Neighborhood Study. The joint study
should be used as a guide in developing the widening plans.
Safety Improvements: Several projects in the County seem to
qualify under this 10 percent set-aside. They are, in priority
order:
The closing of the remaining Route 29 North crossovers
recommended for closure in a VDOT study adopted by the Board
of Supervisors on May 10, 1979, and reaffirmed by the Board
on November 8f 1989.
Improvements to Route 250 West along the business corridor
in Ivy (from just east of the intersection of Route 637 to
just west of the intersection of Route 678).
Improvements to the Route 240 underpass at the CSX Railroad
in Crozet.
Functional plans for Route 20 North and South for alignment
improvements.
Functional plans, including an analysis of possible safety
improvements for Route 250 East from its interchange at 1-64
(including interchange) eastward to the Fluvanna County
line, (particular emphasis on Route 22/250 intersection).
FUnctional plans including an analysis of possible safety
improvements for Route 22.
Enhancement Projects: Several projects appear to be eligible for
enhancement funds. They are, in priority order:
Beautification of entrance corridors (particularly Route 29
and Route 250) - landscaping, signage, undergrounding of
overhead utilities.
Construction of bikeway facilities as prioritized in the
Bicycle Plan for the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle
County (adopted by the Board of Supervisors as an element of
the Comprehensive Plan on July 17, 1991).
Development of portions of the Rivanna River Greenway path
system.
Development of sidewalks/pathways as recommended in the
Pedestrian Obstacles Study Phase II (1987).
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
5. Removal of non-conforming billboards.
Standard Projects: Beyond the aforementioned projects, there are
other projects eligible for STP funds not set aside. They are, in
priority order:
1. Undertake those Charlottesville Area Transportation Study
(CATS) projects eligible for the primary program in sequence
as called for in the February 2, 1992, joint resolution
between the City, County and University and agreed to by
VDOT. In addition to Route 29 improvements already men-
tioned~, construct Meadow Creek Parkway from the Route 250
Bypass to Route 29 North. The first phase of this project
will be funded in the County's secondary program. The
County believes the parkway will meet the criteria for
inclusion in the primary system and wants to work with VDOT
staff to evaluate construction of subsequent phases as a
primary road if this will accelerate the parkway's comple-
tion. VDOT is urged to investigate all possible funding
sources to achieve the quickest construction of this vitally
important roadway. Projects in the northern urbanized area
not eligible for primary funds, but listed in CATS, .such as
the Hydraulic Road/Route 250 Bypass interchange, should be
actively pursued.
20
Undertake road projects parallel to Route 29 which relieve
traffic on Route 29v such as the Berkmar Drive completion
(underway) and the Greenbrier Drive/Seminole Trail connec-
tor, concurrent with the Route 29 improvements.
Improve the north/south connection between Route 250 and
Route 240 in Crozet, either through an improved alignment of
Route 240 from Route 250 northward to Route 810, or con-
struction of the Route 240-Route 250 connector road recom-
mended in the County's Comprehensive Plano
Widen Route 250 West from Emmet Street to Route 637 in Ivy.
That portion of Emmet Street to the Route 29/250 Bypass is
covered by a joint design study by the City, County and
University of Virginia and was recognized for improvement in
the LeWis Mountain Neighborhood Study. The joint study
should be used as a guide in developing the widening plans.
Develop design plans for the widening of Fontaine Avenue
from Jefferson Park Avenue to the improvements along the
frontage of the University Real Estate Foundation develop-
ment.
National Hiqhway System (NHS): The Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO
Technical Committee and Policy Board have approved the NHS as
proposed by VDOT in this area excluding the Route 29 Bypass° No
other NHS designations are recommended. VDOT recommended to FHWA
a NHS which included the existing Route 29 and the Route 29
Bypass. FHWA has reviewed and submitted to Congress a proposed
NHS which included both the existing Route 29 Corridor and the
proposed Route 29 Bypass. Albemarle continues to recommend that
6nly th~ existing Route 29 corridor be identified in the NHS. The
County's highest priority project in the proposed NHS is the
widening of Route 29 North from the Corporate limits of Char-
lottesville to Airport Road, including immediate de-
sign/acquisition and ultimate construction of interchanges at
Greenbrier Drive and Hydraulic and Rio Roads. The County desires
to continue active participation in Route 29 Corridor studies~
including the study of the Charlottesville to Warrenton segment of
the Corridor now underway.
Conqestion Mitiqation and Air Quality Improvement Proqram: This
does not apply to Albemarle County. The County is not in an area
of non-attainment for ozone or carbon monoxide.
Agenda Item No. 6. Public Hearing to take comments on the proposed FY
1995-96 County Budget. (Advertised in the Daily Progress on March 1 and
March 6, 1995.)
Mr. Perkins stated there would be a two-minute limit for individuals who
wished to make comments on the proposed FY 1995-96 County Budget and a five
minute limit on people representing groups° He said the Board would be
flexible on time limits and opened the public hearing° He suggested that the
Board hear Mr. Carter first. Mr. Carter stated he was not going to speak
first because he was not asking for any special favors. He was simply taking
issue with the process for signing up to speak. He told Mr. Perkins to let
the first people on the list speak, but to not let such a situation happen
again.
Mr. Perkins responded that the County Executive was going to give a
summary of the proposed FY 1995-96 budget, but he (Mr. Perkins) could take the
000 7
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 6)
speakers after presentation in any orde~'he wished. He again told Mr. Carter
he could speak first. Mr. Carter indicated he would not be the first speaker.
Mr. Tucker then showed and discussed slides summarizing the FY 1995-96
County budget. These slides pertained to local County revenues, real property
tax rates, personal property tax rates, comparative tax rates, General Fund
revenues, total County expenditures for 1995-96, School Division expenditures,
the Capital Improvement Program, the City Revenue-Sharing Agreement, reserve
funds and General Government operations. He also showed slides which de-
scribed each department's percentage under General Government operations.
Mr. Tucker next discussed the per capita expenditures with the use of a
slide which showed per capita expenditures of Albemarle County versus Virgin-
ia. He pointed out that the miscellaneous category is higher in comparison to
other jurisdictions because Albemarle County is the only locality in Virginia
which has a revenue-sharing agreement with a sister city. He then showed the
last slide which depicted Albemarle County's population growth. Growth
primarily drives the County's budget, particularly enrollment in schools, and
he noted that this slide shows a thirty-year period of population growth in
Albemarle County. The reason he chose the thirty year time period is because
most of the County's growth started in the 1960s. The population of Albemarle
County for this current year is projected to be 74,825. The County's popula-
tion is significantly larger than that of the City.
Since there were no questions or comments from Board members, Mr.
Perkins opened the hearing to speakers from the public. He asked Mr. Stuart
Prather, who was first on the list, to come forward. Mr. Perkins reminded the
speakers he would be noting the length of time they were speaking, and asked
them to keep their comments to within three or four minutes.
Mr. Stuart Prather emphasized that he had come to the meeting early, and
had signed the speakers' sheet himself. He said he represents a YMCA swim
club which is active all year, and had presented each of the Board members
with a proposal. He said the swim program is a good program in Charlottes-
ville, and it is an excellent opportunity for the youth in the community.
This Board has been very supportive as far as youth programs are concerned.
Adequate facilities have been provided for soccer, football, basketball,
volleyball and gymnastics. All of these programs are subsidized by the
County, and the parents pay small fees of $35 or $45. The County does not
have an indoor pool for swimming, so pools in the City have to be rented, and
the fees parents pay there are extremely high. Fees range from $90 a month
for a family to as high as $300 a month. What is even more unfortunate is
that every year the YMCA swim team has to turn away children from the County
because of the cost'.
Mr. Prather went on to say that the City provides a scholarship, but
only about 13 children are currently involved with this scholarship. He then
called attention to Page 189 of the County's proposed budget where the Parks
and Recreation Department had put forth a request to fund the swim team at a
figure of $9975. This funding will allow the fee to be reduced and make it
more affordable for the children who are currently swimming, plus it will
bring more children into the program. It will also allow for scholarships to
be provided so children who cannot currently participate in the program will
be able to join. He urged the Supervisors to support this request°
Mr. Graham Paige, a member of the Executive Board of the Piedmont
District Baptist Association, read a prepared statement in which he requested
funds to help establish a Senior Citizens' Center in the Keswick/Stony Point
Area. He said this will be called the Piedmont Senior Citizens Center, and it
will be established at the Union Grove Baptist Church in Keswick. The Church
is an ideal site because it has ample facilities to accommodate the program,
and because there are approximately 1087 people residing in the area that are
55 years old or older (this is only a small segment of the potential clients
who could be served). He then asked those present tonight in favor of this
request to stand (20 people stood).
Mr. Paige said that during their first year of operation they will
operate the program one day a week, and hope to serve 15 seniors per day,
hours of operation being from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A variety of activities
are planned, including classes on health and nutrition, financial matters and
other topics of concern. In addition, there will be exercise sessions and
time for activities such as checkers and dominos. One of the most important
components of the program will be the meal which is to be provided.
Mro Paige said that during the first year, there will be only one paid
employee, the site manager. They intend to enlist the aid of volunteers to
teach classes or activities. A member of the Piedmont Association's executive
board is currently a site manager in a similar program, so there will be some
expert guidance available from this mentor. In addition~ the Association's
executive board will have free access to three lawyers who will be able to
provide the board with any needed legal advice. They will also have the
expertise and guidance of JABA to help with the center's operation.
Mr. Paige said the Association has worked hard in order to develop a
business plan for the Piedmont Senior Citizens Center. Since November, all of
these plans have become their vision, but they need funds to make the vision a
reality. He asked that the Board help the Piedmont District Baptist Associa-
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 7)
tion establish the Piedmont seni6~'C~t~$h~~'-¢enter to serve the seniors of
northeastern Albemarle County.
Mr. Bowerman asked if representatives of the Piedmont District Baptist
Association had made a funding request to staff. Mr. Paige answered he
thinks the request was made through representatives of JABA. Mr. Marshall
inquired as to the amount the Association is requesting. Mr. Paige responded
that the proposed budget for the first year of operation is approximately
$6340.
Mr. Martin remarked that this request is shown in the County's budget at
$6900, and he agreed that the request was made by JABA. Mr. Paige said this
figure might have been part of another program. He said the Senior Citizens'
Center would have a budget of approximately $6600 for its first year of
operation.
Mr. James Butler said he wanted to share with the Board the needs of
senior citizens in northern Albemarle County. He reminded the Board members
that he was a former Extension Agent for Albemarle County and a member of the
Board of Supervisors 14 years ago, so he fully recognizes the financial
limitations the Supervisors are under. However, this is an opportunity to
invest in a program which will benefit a segment of the community not current-
ly served and which will reap vast rewards for the senior citizens living in
that area. Albemarle County currently enjoys the benefits of having two
senior community centers located in the southern and western parts of the
County. Seniors who live in the northern and eastern parts of the County do
not have the benefits of such a site. An effort has been made to make sure
people use the Senior Center at Pepsi Place, but as a rule, seniors from his
area are uncomfortable with that site. Most of the people attending that
particular Senior Center have an economic level higher than those who live in
his area of the County.
Mr. Butler asked the Supervisors to provide support for those rural
seniors living in the northern part of the County. Senior centers give people
who live alone a place to gather, to receive a meal at noon, and to partici-
pate in community activities once a week. Senior citizens are isolated and,
as a result, often end up permanently in nursing homes or some other kind of
institutional living. Senior community centers provide purpose, respect,
enjoyment and information to seniors who are isolated. They allow the seniors
to watch over each other, to be part of a group of people with similar
concerns, to grow as a community grows and to be a part of the process.
Seniors learn about other services available to them from participating in the
Center. They learn about health issues, which are important to seniors in
later years. Seniors participating in senior community centers also share
their idle time by volunteering and such volunteer efforts often begin when
these seniors come out of isolation and become active again.
Mr. Butler said the Piedmont District Baptist Association, as well as
many other churches in northern Albemarle County, recognized the growing need
for a senior community center. This year the Association expressed its
support of a center, and a business plan was developed. The Union Grove
Church volunteered space for a senior community center, and at least 25
seniors are expected to make use of the facility. He would like for them to
have the opportunity to meet regularly with a reasonably structured plan which
allows them to benefit nutritionally, spiritually, informationally and
personally. Senior sites such as the one proposed are very important through-
out the community, and the senior population in northern Albemarle County is
growing faster than in other areas in the County. The needs of this popula-
tion should be addressed, and they should be allowed the opportunity to remain
as independent as possible for as long as possible.
Mr. Butler asked that the Supervisors consider funding the northeastern
Albemarle County Senior Community Center. Without the Supervisors' help, many
more citizens will remain isolated and will eventually depend on others, such
as nursing homes for even more costly services. This is a good investment for
the County.
Mr. Ed Jones, Chairman of the Jefferson Area Board on Aging Retired
Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), underscored Mr. Butler's comments. He gives
Support to the effort of providing meals which are much needed in the north-
eastern part of the County. He is present at this meeting because he has
served with the RSVP since October 19, 1980, when he retired. He wants to
speak out for RSVP, and he noted that on the back of the sheet provided to the
Supervisors, there are over 100 agencies listed which RSVP serves. This is an
impressive list. There are volunteers continuously going to all parts of the
County, as well as agencies within the County. Some people may look at this
list and think there are a lot of overlaps, etc., but the RSVP program brings
out a great many people who might not come out otherwise. He reinforced his
support of the RSVP program. At the same time, he hopes the JABA Meal Site
Program can be funded, but he emphasized he would be disappointed if it was
funded at the expense of the RSVP program. The amount of money is approxi-
mately the same for both items.
Ms. Lida Arnason, with the Jefferson Area Board for Aging, said she
wanted to clarify something in the County Executive's recommendations under
the JABA section of the County budget, but she also requested that money not
be taken from RSVP and used to fund another program° It is mentioned in the
JABA section of the budget that RSVP gave $89,000 worth of volunteer hours to
0001.29
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 8) ........
the community. This was true for Alb~marie"C°unty only. There are a total of
133 RSVP Albemarle County volunteers, but there are over 400 volunteers in the
total RSVP membership. On the list Mr. Jones just showed the Board, only the
Albemarle County stations were listed. The hours for Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson
and Charlottesville were not. The statement given to the Board is a mistake,
and she just wanted to clarify this before the Supervisors started their
decision-making.
Mr. John Carter of Earlysville said he would like to speak on a subject
which has not been discussed before. He suggested the Supervisors re-examine
two long-standing policies which are adding millions of dollars per year to
the County budget. One policy to which he refers is the practice of spending
100 percent of each year's increased revenues, and secondly, he would like to
talk about the assumption that the County is entitled to keep and spend
whatever surpluses may occur in the budget process. He added that the
increased revenues are not the result of higher taxes being required to meet
higher costs of government. They are generated for the most part by higher
real estate values and increased economic activities. He thinks the proposed
budget increase is largely the result of expenses rising to meet income. He
said no one is talking about keeping County expenses down to a $6.6 million
increase, but everybody is talking about how to spend another $6.6 million.
Mr. Carter said if property taxes and business activities had been estimated
to increase to Only $5.6 million, then that is the budget which would have
been presented tonight. He suggested that County officials consider that they
only have $5.6 million to spend on government, and reduce the tax rate by two
cents. This would amount to approximately the same thing, and nothing would
be lost. He said the County will still spend seven and one-half percent more
next year than the previous year, and the County will have $11.0 million in
surpluses for two years. He asked if the taxpayers are not entitled to
something along this line.
Mr. Carter said the concept is that the government is entitled to keep
and spend any and all surpluses which come about because government does not
include all expenses in its budget. By setting aside unfunded priorities, any
surpluses will automatically be used to fund them. This is a win/win game for
the government, and a lose/lose game for the taxpayers. He said the County
should be obliged to live within its contract with the people, and surpluses
should be considered as overcharges and returned to the taxpayer.
Mr. Carter said if County officials have ideas on how to spend more
money, let them show a little patience and spend it next year. He said there
will be more money to spend next year, as it was for this year and the last
year. Under the present system, the cost of government is automatically being
raised, and not simply just by spending more money. He said the County's
prosperity depends on the economy, which is something that nothing can be done
about. If it goes down, the County will go down with it. This situation is
akin to a man giving his wife $50 to buy a hat, and she buys one for $30. He
thinks the husband is entitled to the $20, because it is his money. If the
wife comes home and says she has a great way to spend the $20, the husband in
all probability will agree because he was willing to spend the $50 anyway.
Mr. Carter said the County does not work that way. When money is taken from
the citizens, it remains in the County. He is sure that if he sat down with
Bob Tucker, Mr. Tucker could explain what the $3.8 million surplus was used
for last year, though he (Mr. Carter) has not found it yet. Some day he is
going to sit down with Mr. Tucker, and he knows Mr. Tucker will satisfy him.
Mr. Carter said the County is riding on a good economy. If the economy
slumps, what will the Supervisors do? He wondered if the cost of government
would be reduced. That is the toughest thing to do, and the Supervisors will
then have to raise the tax rate. It is the only thing that can be done because
every penny has been spent every year. If something is given back to the
taxpayer, then it would be like being in the bank. If there is a 70 cent tax
rate, but a 72 Cent tax rate is needed, he does not think it would be hard to
sell to the taxpayers. County officials could say to the taxpayer that money
was given back to them when it was not needed by the County, but now it is
needed, so it will be taken back. He does. not object to this, but he noted
that County officials are not doing this. He thanked the Board for their time
and asked them to give some consideration to the two things he mentioned. He
thinks they are serious and should at least be examined, discussed and
considered relative to growth in government costs.
Mr. Sam Kaplan said he brought his three children tonight so they could
see how decisions are made and how their father participates in them. He also
wanted the Supervisors to meet three of the people most affected by their
decisions. He introduced his children, and noted that Jay Kaplan is nine
years old. Jay likes fishing, swimming and computers. He is in the County's
special education, gifted and after-school programs. Rebecca Kaplan is seven
years old, plays the piano, draws animals and rainbows and likes gymnastics.
She is in the gifted and after-school programs. Ira Kaplan is six years old.
He likes basketball, Tae Kwon-Do and reading. He is also responsible for
getting the computer system up in his kindergarten class when it goes down.
Ira is in the gifted and after-school programs. Jay and Rebecca are American
citizens born in Korea, and Ira is a native of Albemarle County. Mr. Kaplan
added that, like their schoolmates~ they represent the best this County, State
and Nation can produce. They are quite literally the future of everyone~ and
their earnings will pay for the retirement of the people at this meeting. The
choices they make in their lives will determine the kind of society in which
everybody lives. The Kaplan family is grateful for all of the services
March 8, 1995~(Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 9) ·
Albemarle County Schools and Albemarle County provide, though he says to his
children, they can do better.
Mr. Kaplan went on to say that the average teacher's salary, in real
terms, has declined for the past four years after a steady rise through the
1980s. A two-percent pay increase for teachers with seven years of service or
other employees who do not get additional salaries, represents a cut in
earning power~ since the cost of living rose 2.6 percent in 1994. Allowing
for inflation, both the local and total per pupil expenditures have been flat
for the past several years for the schools. Given any reasonable estimate of
inflation for the coming year, total and local per pupil expenditures will
drop in real terms. His fear is that this is a transition from a society that
believed government could solve every problem and provide limitless benefits,
to a society which believes government can solve no problem and provides more
harm than benefit. He hopes Albemarle County will avoid both extreme posi-
tions in its policy'decisions.
Mr. Kaplan urged the Supervisors to pay the costs of growth by ending
the four-year tax holiday and restoring the two cents cut from the real
property rate. The $20.00 annual increase in taxes on a $100,000 home
represents pocket change for most people, a pack of cigarettes a month for
some, or a couple of beers a month for others. It is not a large sum, but it
could do so much when it becomes $972,000 for the County next year. It could
provide five school nurses, five instructional and five technical support
specialists for the computer network and still fund the County's other
unfunded priorities. This sum of money could fully fund the special education
staffing formula and the materials for the revised curriculum. His home is
assessed at approximately $140,000 this year, and he noted he has in hand a
check to the County of Albemarle for $28.00 representing the Kaplan family's
share of the tax bill he is urging the Supervisors to approve. He suggested
the Supervisors collect these taxes from the remainder of the taxpayers. He
then handed the check to the Chairman.
Mr. Leonard Lohmer thanked the Board for allowing him to speak. He said
he wears many hats, as many other people do. The most important hat he wears
is as a husband, followed very closely as a father. He is also an employee,
and he is a care giver. He is with the Jefferson Area Board on Aging. Mr.
Lohmer said he and his wife grew up here, but they were not educated here.
They stayed away 25 years, learned their lesson, and moved back. The move
back to this area was princiPally because of his wife's parents. They were
aging badly, and now one of them is deceased, and the other one needs help.
When a person is living on a limited income, and in this particular case, a
social security payment, requires adult day care, there is only one adult day
care center in this area. The Thomas Jefferson Adult Health Care Center~
which survives from the Board of Supervisors' appropriations, as well as
limited gifts and scholarships. Scholarships are going to be the only means
for his father-in-law to have the opportunity to get the kind of care he
needs. He is 73, and he is aging and tired. He is concerned about his
future, but, he emphasized, he does have a future.
Mr. Lohmer added that he thinks the JABA Adult Health Care program is
one of those means of satisfying his father-in-law's future. With the time
approaching where one in five citizens will be over the age of 60, such things
need to be considered, and they need to be considered now. He urged all of
the Supervisors to consider an increased appropriation to the JABA budget to
directly support the need of scholarships for those senior citizens who,
without this help, will have to go to either nursing homes or some other type
of institution and not get the satisfaction they deserve. He said he appreci-
ates the Board members listening to him, and hopes what he has said gives them
an idea of his personal needs. He emphasized he is associated with JABA, but
is speaking at this meeting for himself, as well as JABA.
Mr. Marshall asked if Mr. Lohmer is speaking in reference to the
proposed $16,600 appropriation. Mr. Lohmer answered affirmatively. He went
on to say it should be noted that the Adult Health Care Program can get 50
percent of its scholarships, but it cannot get the other 50 percent. It is
the only such program in the area, and it costs $40 per person a day. The
request is for $20 of that scholarship fund, and he thinks it is a good
bargain for the County.
Mr. Steve Deaton, a former prosecutor and for 12 years an Assistant
Commonwealth's Attorney, Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney and Commonwealth's
Attorney, stated he wanted to address the issue of the Commonwealth Attor-
ney's budget. He was surprised to see a request foran increase of more than
255.6 percent in local tax funds for this one office. He knows there are more
arrests, and he knows the police are bringing more people into court. The
felony caseload in the Circuit Court is probably the best indicator of the
workload of the Commonwealth's Attorney, and he is not talking about those
cases which are just brought into General District Court and plea-bargained or
dropped for whatever reason. He is talking about those that go to trial in
the Circuit Court in Albemarle County.
Mr. Deaton then mentioned the use of an outside attorney by the Common-
wealth's Attorney's Office to prosecute cases in the local courts. He thinks
this is an unprecedented use of the taxpayer's money. The traditional~ time-
honored way to handle such a matter is to have a Commonwealth's Attorney from
another jurisdiction handle the case. Work is generally traded off~ so
someone from this office goes to the other office to make up the work. This
(Page 10)
type of trade-off situation makes it possible not to add any extra expense to
the taxpayers.
Mr. Deaton said he thinks some questions need to be asked. He does not
think this one office needs this type of increase, especially if the felony
cases are actually declining in Albemarle County. He appreciates the Super-
visors' time, and will be available if the Supervisors have any questions for
him.
Ms. Martha Harris, a resident of the White Hall District, stated she is
a CPA, although she is not in public practice. She wanted to speak about the
major portion of the combined County budget, which is the compensation and
benefits received by both the school system and county government employees.
She has met with each Supervisor at least once to discuss her concerns about
the County's compensation and benefits. The Supervisors have individually and
collectively been willing to listen to her point of view, and although she and
the Supervisors may have differences of opinion, the Supervisors have been
very professional in their approach and manner. She thanked them for their
service to the County.
Ms. Harris said Albemarle County ranks in the first quartile among
Virginia's schools and the teachers' average salary of $33,156 is eleventh out
of 94 counties in Virginia. This data is available in a salary survey
provided by the Virginia Department of Education. Ms. Harris said Albemarle's
competitive position is further substantiated by the 505 applications received
for the 107 teaching positions available in the County this past year. The
School Board is currently considering the addition of three more steps to the
teachers' pay scale, which will further increase Albemarle County's teacher
compensation. The salary survey for county-wide administrative and classified
employees was conducted by the County's Department of Human Resources. The
original two and one-half percent across-the-board scale increase and four
percent bonuses for those who were recommended contained comparisons to
localities which were quite dissimilar to Albemarle, thus drawing inaccurate
conclusions regarding the County's competitive position in the job market.
Ms. Harris said the reduced increases, as included in the budget by Mr.
Tucker, is a step in the right direction, but the larger issue of how compen-
sation is calculated and awarded needs immediate attention. The classified
and administrative employees are able to vest a portion of their bonus each
year based on a complex formula. This increased their base salary, however,
she questioned if the impact of vesting is taken into account when increases
or bonuses are recommended. She gave several examples of actual salary
increases which were included in the 1994-95 non-school employee compensation
which she distributed to the Supervisors yesterday and also from the School
Administrators Report distributed to the Supervisors earlier.
Ms. Harris asked how many residents of Albemarle County have received
increases in addition to the other generous benefits of health and dental
insurance, as well as a pension fund. The suggestion to increase from 85
percent to 90 percent the amount the County contributes to the employee as
health coverage was a good decision, because it is a benefit which is non-
taxable to the employee and will not incur payroll tax for the county° She
understands from one person that the coverage is very good. It is so good, in
fact, that this person has his insurance with the County rather than with his
own company because he can't afford coverage for his employees.
Ms. Harris urged the Supervisors to maintain the two-percent level
increases included in the budget Mr. Tucker presented for FY 1995-96.
However, she strongly recommended an independent group of citizens with human
resource background be assembled to study the County's compensation system to
make recommendations on how the County can simplify its method of calculating
compensation so it will be understood by all and so as to remove any appear-
ance of misrepresentation of income. This group should report directly to the
Board of Supervisors. If such a group is impossible to assemble, then an
independent firm should be hired to conduct a study, and it should work
directly for the Board of Supervisors. The new system should be one that can
be more easily compared to other businesses or localities if it is going to be
a measure of setting position ranges. She ended her remarks by saying the new
system should be fair to the employees, but it should be equally taxpayer
friendly.
Mr. Michael Williams, a parent of two children in the Albemarle County
school system, said one of the things he wanted to share with the Board was
one of the "skeletons he has found in the Albemarle County school system's
closet." For ten years he has been observing this situation, and it is
getting worse. The Albemarle County school system has absolutely no school
nurses, and it is something that has concerned him for a very long time° Not
only is he a parent of two children, but he holds many positions with the
school system. He has been a school teacher for eleven years, and has served
as an emergency medical person for the last decade at Burley Middle School and
Sutherland Middle School. He feels as though he is an expert as far as
illnesses and injuries are concerned in the school systemv and he is very
concerned that the'School Board has not really presented the case in all of
its importance.
Mr. Williams referred to Mr. Kaplan's statement about the unfunded
priorities, and noted that there was $100,000 set. aside for five LPN's. He
feels it is important that every school be represented by someone who is
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March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 11)
entirely responsible for the health of those children. He agrees that it is
the parents' responsibility to take care of these things, but he noted that
some of these children come to school sick. They then become the respon-
sibility of whoever is in charge of their health, whether it is the secretar-
ies or teachers. Children will sit in the clinic for hours, and he is fearful
that a fever, a serious infection or injury will be missed. Yesterday, two
ambulances were called to Albemarle High School. There is a Registered Nurse
there, but she is paid as a clinician. He thinks it is an embarrassment to
the County that someone with her training, someone who sees from 40 to 65
children a day, is paid at that level. This can breed anger. It takes a very
unique person to work in this capacity.
Mr. Williams said Mr. Tucker's slides were very impressive. They showed
that Albemarle County's per capita expenditures are lower than a lot of other
localities. He feels it would be worth the $20 or $30 extra for an average
homeowner in the County to be able to achieve the extra finances and supply
these nurses. He thinks it is insensitive for the County not to have nurses
in the schools.
Mr. Williams said if County officials could look into the future and
nurse practitioners could be used for some of the core schools, a fortune
would be saved in having the teachers and families actually see these people
instead of spending the tremendous amounts spent on local doctors and other
health providers. In the future, there could be happier and healthier
children. He does not feel a child can experience his or her full potential
unless their physiological and health needs are met. Too many children are
sitting in school when they are sick. The sad cases are those where children
are sent home because they are sick, and they are at home alone. This has to
be on everyone's consciences because a lot of parents are at work, and
employers will not give them the day off to spend with their children.
Albemarle County has been generous with him in allowing him to spend time with
his ill child. This item might cost a million dollars a year, but it is
necessary to have a person in the school system who is caring and sensitive.
Mr. Williams added that it is rather cruel and misleading for the school
system not to have a school nurse at Sutherland Middle School, there is a
wonderful clinic, but there is no one to staff it. It is very sad to see
these children in this clinic when there is no medical professional devoting
full-time attention to their needs.
Mr. Williams added that this is a wonderful school system, but when
people move into the County, the teachers wonder what to tell them relative to
the school nurse situation. Greene County not only has a school nurse, but
this year it acquired a nurse practitioner through a grant. Albemarle County
has none of this. It is a bit embarrassing. He asked the Supervisors to
consider hiring school nurses, and he reiterated that this is for the chil-
dren. This item does not always show up on slides as do other things, but
when it comes down to working with the children every day, it would be very
much appreciated, and it would be kind and humane. He thanked the Supervisors
for their time and consideration.
Mr. Ed Strauss said he lives in the Western part of the Countye He said
that people who have children in school already get 70 percent of the budget,
so he thinks it takes a certain type of arrogance to ask for more. When a
person is getting 70 percent of anything, it is best to be quiet. He commend-
ed Mr. Tucker on his presentation skills, but said he will never make him
believe that he is paying a 62 cents tax rate. He pays 72 cents, plus $1.39
for the fiasco of the E-911 program, which he feels is out of control° The
public is getting no reports on this program, and it keeps being delayed° He
also mentioned the $4.00 per month utility tax. He said Mr. Tucker had made a
great presentation until he mentioned the tax rate.
Mr. Strauss next pointed out that the reason there is a Revenue Sharing
Agreement is because of the Board of Supervisors. The Daily Progress reported
on March 2, 1995, that there was a 21.1 percent increase in the proposed
County's budget over last year. This is amazing. President Bill Clinton
would be assassinated if he tried the same thing. The E-911 program is a
constant drain every year, and nobody knows when it will be completed. He
thinks it could have been started two years ago, but now the blame is being
put on the citizens. The only reason given for this program not being started
is that citizens have not informed County officials where they live. This is
nonsense. The program can either be done, or it cannot be done. It is time
to examine the issue and decide one way or the other, and if it is not going
to work, then it should not be funded anymore°
Mr. Strauss then noted that Dr. Paskel, the former School Superinten-
dent, was forced out of this County because he followed recommendations of
staff and brought a budget to the Supervisors that was wrong. This budget was
approximately $1.4 million over the surplus of the budgets being considered
every year, and what is the budget of the E-911 program over the years. No
one was forced out of the County because of that unsuccessful program. He
inquired why Dr. Paskel was forced to leave. All employees should be treated
the same, and if a person cannot do it, then he or she should get out of the
way. Someone else can be hired because there are plenty of people out of
work.
Mr. Strauss said he has heard nothing about combining services. Every
year the Police Department asks for three more cops, although only one is
usually added. There is a Police Department and a Sheriff's Department, and
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March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 12) , ~
he wondered why the County veh~i~'~a~~ equipment cannot be shared and
why departments cannot work together. He asked the Supervisors to imagine if
the school system operated in such a manner. He asked why the Board tolerates
this, and said it is up to the Board because he personally cannot change
anything.
Mr. Strauss next mentioned the school system's request for $180,000 for
a Fiber Optic System. He asked if the Supervisors really have the expertise
to give the school system money when they cannot even oversee the E-911
system. He asked the Supervisors if they know what they are getting into, or
are they just saying this is for the children so they can approve the Fiber
Optic System. This amount of money would be about 10 years of wages for him.
Mr. Strauss next mentioned the water treatment item at Crozet. This
needs to be examined before $180,000 is put into it. The money proposed for
the Fiber Optic System would pay for a couple of nurses, but he does not think
they are necessary either. When he went to school and he got sick, his
parents had to ~ome and get him. One of his parents did not have to work
then, but taxes wer'e not so high either. All of these items are tied together
and related. The Supervisors have the power, and they can make it better for
County citizens, and he wants the Supervisors to do that.
Mr. Jim Howe stated he wanted to talk about the Albemarle County
schools' portion of the County budget, and he would like to address a couple
of different aspects. He can sum up his feelings by saying he is generally
disappointed in the proposed budget. The reason for this disappointment is
because even' though there are revenues of approximately $4.1 million, when the
funding of growth, teachers' raises and the replacement of buses, etc., are
considered, only ten percent of the revenues are going directly into the
classrooms. He gave an example of what he means by saying that there has only
been partial funding of curriculum materials, some special education teachers,
and other programs. This type of funding will change the day-to-day opera-
tions in the classrooms.
Mr. Howe pointed out that ten percent of the new money is far less than
one percent of the entire budget. What this really says is it is fairly
status quo as far as the school system is concerned. Growth and inflation is
being funded, and very little else. This is apparent when he looks at
unfunded priorities such as additional materials for the revised curriculum,
middle school foreign language, and gifted resource teachers. As a parent,
these are the things he wants to go into the school system, but these are the
things which are not making it into the budget. When he looks at the proposed
budget, he is disappointed because things are not changing very much next year
and they are not going to improve very much.
Mr. Howe went on to say he has been following the budget closely for the
last four years because he is involved in the PTO, and it is important to him°
He noted that when the school system is examined, there is a new curriculum,
a gifted program, new computers and a special education program. He asked how
these programs arereally working on a day~to-day basis. The administratiOn
and teachers have really worked up an excellent curriculum, and it is already
in operation. The problem is teachers do not have the materials to implement
the program. He knows this is true, because he talks to the teachers every
day, and that is what they tell him. It was estimated that $390,000 in
materials is needed for the curriculum program, but only $75,000 in funds is
available for that purpose. This item is being'funded at approximately 20
percent. This is not uncommon.
Mr. HoWe then mentioned the gifted program. Typically, in the elementa-
ry schools there is one teacher who is shared between three schools, so a
teacher might spend a day or two days a week at a school. This translates to
approximately two hours of actual time with the child. Albemarle County does
have a gifted program, but the children do not have very much time in the
program. It is a partially-funded gifted program, and the things that are
really needed are on the unfunded list. He can say the same thing for
computers, etc.
Mr. Howe commented that the Supervisors could say there is an excellent
gifted education program, and the curriculum is going to be completely
followed through, but it does not work that way. Every year there is a
certain amount of money, but there is never enough. The School Board scram-
bles to fund whatever it can, and the result is that there is a bunch of
partially funded programs. Long-range planning would help. Secondly, he
noted the group saw a nice presentation on the tax figures. He agreed with
Mr. Kaplan that he would not be upset at having to spent a couple more cents
for the tax rate to fund the things the schools are missing. As an Albemarle
County resident, he would like to offer those suggestions. He thinks the
Supervisors do a great job, which is difficult when there is a growing
population and diminishing fUnds. He hopes his suggestions will help the
Supervisors in the future.
Ms. Adele Abrahamse commented that she has a daughter who is a student
at Albemarle High School. She urged the Supervisors to make it possible for
the children of Albemarle County to receive a quality education. One aspect
of quality is that programs are customized to the needs and abilities of
individual students, such as gifted or learning-disabled students, physically-
challenged, or disruptive children. All of the children benefit from strong
programs in fine arts and computer skills. St. Anne's-Belfield, where the
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March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 13)
County's movie stars send their children for a quality academic education,
costs $7950 a year for the last two years of high school. Albemarle County's
high schools offer honors classes and advanced placement classes for college-
bound juniors and seniors within a budget that is much less per student than
St. Anne's. The Oakland School, which is designed to help students with
learning disabilities, costs $10,750 per year to attend as a day student.
Albemarle County schools are expected to meet the needs of the learning
disabled on half that amount.
Ms. Abrahamse next mentioned that the Little Keswick School for boys
with behavioral problems costs $38,000 a year to attend. While room and board
accounts for $9700 of that figure, academic tuition alone at this school is
$17,449 a year, and additional intervention in the form of counseling, family
counseling and suitable recreation costs another $12,000 a year. The Albe-
marle County schools have to deal with similarly troubled youngsters on a.
budget 20 percent that of the Little Keswick School's.
Ms. Abrahamse recalled that she read a few years ago in the newspaper
that Albemarle County's resident and President of the University of Virginia,
John Casteen, chose to send his children to City schools because of the
quality of Charlottesville's fine arts program. Other Albemarle County
parents do not have the privilege of making such a choice for their children.
She asked if the residents have to be rich or privileged to create a quality
education for their children. For children to excel, programs must be
targeted to the children's needs, interests and abilities, whether vocational,
academic, artistic or psychological. These specialized programs cost money.
Ms. Abrahamse went on to say that she thinks Albemarle County schools do
an amazingly fine job given the constraints of their current budget, but she
is dismayed that the residents have to come begging to the Supervisors year
after year for adequate funding. She would like for the Supervisors to be as
willing to advocate for the interest of the school children of Albemarle
County as they seem to be for the property owners. She urged the Board to
give the Albemarle County Public Schools all of the funding they are presently
asking for, including money for unfunded programs. By the Supervisors' own
figures, less is being spent per child than most localities in Virginia, and
the newspaper representatives tell her Virginia is approximately 42nd in the
Nation in terms of what is spent for school funding. She asked the Supervi-
sors to give the school system a chance to move its schools in the direction
of real and substantial progress.
Mr. Franklin Clarke, a teacher at Henley Middle School and a citizen of
Albemarle County, said he wished to speak regarding education and the value of
education in Albemarle County. There is a great danger in listening to
statisticians and accountants deal with numbers and compensation. Everyone
may arrive at the same conclusions, but assumptions must be examined. The
idea of a compensation study for teachers and administrators is a good idea
because there are inequities in the way teachers and administrators are
rewarded, and performance deserves rewards. However, there needs to be
caution in the way figures have been evaluated. Statisticians would caution
against trying to walk across a lake with an average depth of three feet. He
does not believe anybody wants to walk across a lake with an expectation of
staying afloat. Mr. Clarke said averages can be interesting, but they can
guide policies in the wrong way. He recalled Ford Motors and General Motors
in the 1960s and 1970s based their performance on numbers, but they missed the
whole picture. They were giving up market shares because it appeared that
great profits were being made on cars which were gas guzzlers. They missed
the whole picture and almost "went under." Ford and General Motors are
regaining their leadership by emphasizing quality, and quality in the work
place means belief in the employees and in the long term. They concentrate on
the customer, and they understand knowledge is power. An information age
requires an appreciation for knowledge and knowledge is the newest resource.
Education and teaching is how a person connects with this resource, and he
recommended strongly that the Supervisors continue their support for the
schools in Albemarle County.
Mr. Perkins announced that all of the people who had signed the sheet
had spoken, and he inquired if there was anybody else who would like to speak.
No one else came forward, so Mr. Perkins closed the public hearing. He
asked if there was discussion by Board members.
Mr. Martin thanked everybody who came to speak tonight. He mentioned
that it was a Wednesday night, and the weather was really bad, so he appre-
ciated the people coming to this meeting. He said that even though there are
conflicting comments and requests, he heard what the people were saying.
Mrs. Thomas pointed out that she was at a meeting recently in Washington
D.C. where President Clinton, Newt Gingrich and others spoke to a group of
local government officials. These people continually stated that it is local
government where the citizens have the best chance of having an impact on the
decisions made, and where they feel these impacts most directly° She seconded
Mr. Martin's thanks to the people for coming out, and she said she thinks all
of the Supervisors heard what was being said tonight.
Agenda Item No. 7. To take public comments on a crossover on Route 29
North near the Carrsbrook entrance. (Advertised in the Daily Progress on
February 27 and March 6, 1995.)
0001.,35
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 14)
Ms. A. G. Tucker, Resident En'gine~r' With the Department of Transporta-
tion, stated she was going to discuss with the Board and public the three
options available for the locatioh of a crossover or, perhaps no crossover,
near the Carrsbrook and Route 29 intersection, as follows:
Option I - Carrsbrook without Crossover:
Advantaqes: Existing crossover at Better Living is to be closed
as part of the upcoming Route 29 Project. This will enhance the
traffic flow and safety of Route 29.
No new signalization on Route 29 will be required. Traffic flow
will be maintained.
Disadvantaqes: From Carrsbrook, drivers desiring to travel south
via Route 29 Will have to travel 1500 feet north to the nearest
crossover (at Wal-Mart) and make a U-turn. U-turns should not be
encouraged on a highly traveled facility such as Route 29, espe-
cially at a high volume intersection because this introduces an
unexpected movement at an intersection and as a result could cause
accidents.
Access to commercial businesses between Kegler's and Hilton
Heights Drive (Wal-Mart) must U-turn at the signalized intersec-
tion. U-turns should not be encouraged.
Option 2 - Carrsbrook with Crossover (Northern Location):
Advantaqes: Plans to relocate Carrsbrook at this crossover
location will provide safe and convenient access to Route 29
southbound for motorists traveling Carrsbrook Drive~
The volume of U-turns for access to businesses north of Kegler's
will be less than the number required under Option 1 (no cross-
overs).
Disadvantaqes: Crossover will introduce additional signalization
and conflict points.
Through traffic may be encouraged, however, several construction
projects already underway in the area should take traffic off of
subdivision or local streets onto these upgraded facilities once
completed. For travelers heading north or south, Route 29 will
provide the most convenient and direct access. The additional
lanes and coordinated signal phasing will facilitate traffic flow.
Path through subdivisions will be more circuitous than not'°
The location of this crossover is not such that commercial access
to properties on southbound Route 29 can be combined. Therefore
commercial entrances within this Route 29 Corridor are not mini-
mized.
Option 3 - Carrsbrook Drive with Crossover (Southern Location):
Construction cost $76,000, preliminary engineering, plan design
$2,000.
Advantaqes: Plans to relocate Carrsbrook at this crossover
location will provide safe and convenient access to Route 29
southbound for motorists traveling Carrsbrook Drive.
The volume of U-turns for access to businesses north of Kegler~s
will be less than the number required under Option 1 (no cross-
overs).
Access to commercial properties on southbound Route 29 can be
combined. This will minimize the number of individual commercial
entrances along the Route 29 Corridor. (Crossover aligns with
property line for joint commercial access.)
Disadvantages: Crossover will introduce additional signalization
and conflict points.
Through traffic may be encouraged, howevert several construction
projects already underway in the area should take traffic off of
subdivision or local streets onto these upgraded facilities once
completed. For travelers heading north or south, Route 29 will
provide the most convenient and direct access. The additional
lanes and coordinated signal phasing will facilitate traffic flow.
Path through subdivisionwill be more circuitous than not.
Mr. Bowerman asked if there is not a fourth alternative and that is to
leave the Carrsbrook situation in place, as well as leave the crossover in
front of Better Living at its current location and improve Route 29 around
these two sites. Ms. Tucker agreed this potential does exist, but it does not
alleviate the safety factor of the U-turnS necessary for Carrsbrook residents.
000136
8, 1995 (Regular Night Me~in~) .....
(Page 15)
Mr. Bowerman then asked if VDOT can prohibit left turn movements from
Route 29 across the median into car~sbr~o°k Drive for vehicles traveling
southbound on Route 29. Ms. Tucker responded she does not have an answer to
Mr. Bowerman's question, it would involve an enforcement issue.
Mr. Martin wondered if Mr. Bowerman's question relates to a car heading
southbound on Route 29 and making a left at the crossover that would remain.
Mr. Bowerman answered, "no". He was referring to realignment of Carrsbrook
Drive so it would align with both Better Living and the property across the
street to prohibit left-turn lanes off southbound Route 29 through the median
cut eastbound onto Carrsbrook Drive. Mr. Marshall said in other words, Mr.
Bowerman is talking about eliminating "the shortcut downtown." Mr. Bowerman
concurred. This arrangement would also eliminate access to Carrsbrook Subdivi-
sion and some other, neighborhoods from people who wish to go toward downtown
Charlottesville.
Mr. Martin said this would mean that people who live in Carrsbrook would
have to go to a crossover further south and make a U-turn and come back to the
Carrsbrook entrance. Mr. Bowerman agreed° He said vehicles would have to go
to the median cut at Kegler's.
Mr. Martin asked about Mr. Bowerman's proposal which is not shown in Ms.
Tucker's information. Mr. Bowerman said Option Four would be to leave the
alignments exactly as they are relating to where Carrsbrook Drive enters Route
29, as well as the current median out in front of Better Living, and then
improve Route 29 to six lanes with whatever turn lanes are necessary.
Mr. Martin asked if Mr. Bowerman is suggesting left-turn lanes be
prohibited at that location with this design. Mr. Bowerman replied, "no",
there would not be an intersection or signalization at that point, and it
continue to function exactly as it is now.
Mr. Marshall asked if there is not already a deceleration lane running
southbound fo~ turning. Mro Bowerman answered that Mr. Marshall is correct~
although his question relates to whether the left turn movement can be
prohibited. Mr. Marshall asked why it would be desirable to prohibit the left
turn movement if there is a deceleration lane. Mr. Bowerman replied that a
left turn movement would encourage traffic cutting through the neighborhoods.
Ms. Tucker said VDoT staff would have to weigh the potential of encour-
aging traffic through neighborhoods by promoting the U-turn movements neces-
sary to accommodate those people wishing to go in that direction.
Ms. Thomas asked if there are origin and destination studies showing how
many Carrsbrook residents are coming from the north, for example, on their
work trips. Ms. Tucker replied that VDoT staff does not have access to the
details of information used for this project.
There were no further questions by Board members, so Mr. Perkins opened
the public hearing.
Mr. Michael Bates, President of the Carrsbrook Homeowners Association,
Inc., said much has been written and said about the proposed realignment of
Carrsbrook Drive. As a resident of Carrsbrook Drive, he has seen an increase
in through traffic, including the larger and noisier construction and commer-
cial vehicles, as well as increased litter. At one time there may have been a
logical reason to realign Carrsbrook Drive, which would have been to bring it
into alignment with an eventual linkup of Berkmar Drive. Now Berkmar Drive
has been extended northward to meet Hilton Heights Drive which lies between
Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.
Mr. Bates said that present at this meeting are not only residents of
Carrsbrook, but residents of four other neighborhoods already affected by the
increased litter, traffic and dangerous disregard for speed limits. In
December, 1994, he distributed a newsletter to the residents of Carrsbrook
asking for their opinions on the Carrsbrook Drive realignment. Of those
responding, the unanimous opinion was to leave Carrsbrook Drive as it is. In
addition, many have indicated that the minor inconvenience of going north to
the traffic light at Hilton Heights Drive when leaving Carrsbrook Drive, and
then turning southbound will be far easier to live with than the increased
traffic and litter coming into Carrsbrook and the four other neighborhoods
with the creation of a cut-through between the northbound and southbound lanes
Of Route 29 at Carrsbrook Drive.
Mr. Bates said most favor something closely resembling Option One. If
it becomes absolutely necessary that a cut-through be put there, and if there
are safety concerns, including tractor trailers having to make U-turns at
Hilton Heights Drive, then restrictions should be put on the intersection,
allowing only left turns by northbound traffic for the purpose of accessing
Better Living, Kegler's and Little Links Golf. Whatever decision is made
regarding this issue, Carrsbrook Drive should not be straightened. He asked
that the few trees already there be left as a buffer from noise pollution and
to keep some privacye
Mr. Martin asked if Mr. Bates is indicating that the Carrsbrook Neigh-
borhood Association prefers Option One, with the crossover left open to
northbound traffic turning left, but not to southbound traffic turning left.
Mr. Bates said he is speaking for himself and trying to be realistic. He
000 1,37
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 16)
thinks companies located in the area need access for their businesses;
however, the neighborhood would prefer not to have any cut-through at all. He
said the people in the neighborhood definitely do not want southbound traffic
turning left to go east on Carrsbrook Drive, because there is enough of this
being done already with traffic coming from Rio Road driving through to Route
29.
Mr. Martin asked if Mr. Bates is saying the neighborhoods would prefer
to have the crossover closed. Mr. Bates answered affirmatively.
Mr. Martin then asked if Mr. Bates prefers Option One as it is stated.
Mr. Bates replied "yes". He and Mr. Bowerman have spoken about this situa-
tion, and Mr. Bowerman anticipated his (Mr. Bates') comments by bringing up
the fourth option.
Mrs. Thomas asked if Option Three would be desirable if left turns were
not allowed by southbound traffic on Route 29. Mr. Bates replied that this
option moves everything further north, which means trees would have to be
removed and Carrsbrook Drive straightened. The cost of this option is
approximately $76,000, plus the plan design of $2000. There was not a figure
shown for Option One, so he assumed it was a lot less, and he was not sure it
would cost anything.
Mrs. Thomas asked if Route 29 being widened by at least one more lane at
this point would cause people to have trouble crossing all of the lanes to get
to the present U-turn. Mr. Bates answered that the residents of the area have
lived with this situation this long, but it is hard for him to say what will
happen when additional lanes are constructed.
Mrs. Thomas emphasized that she feels it is going to be more difficult
to make a U-turn. Mr. Bates responded that residents in the area have not had
any problems with this situation, even during rush hours. Mr. Bates said if
Carrsbrook Drive is straightened and the trees taken out, the change will be
irreversible. However, if Option One does not work or it becomes a hazard and
has to be changed in the future, then it can be done at that time.
Mrs. Thomas then asked what the cost effect would be of delaying the
project. This seems to be the proposal Mr. Bates is suggesting. Ms. Tucker
asked Mrs. Thomas to clarify her question.
Mr. Martin said Mrs. Thomas would like to compare the cost of not doing
anything now and then doing the work after the other construction on Route 29
is completed. Ms. Tucker said the cost would be similar to the.construction
cost noted, plus the administrative costs of putting together a contract, as
well as inflationary factors. The cost shown is, in fact, the amount it would
cost to actually install the necessary turn and taper lanes on either side of
the crossover, as well as the grading work involved. She added that there
might be some reduction for grading work having taken place under the current
contract. She said the concern would relate to going back at a later date and
disrupting traffic flow in this area again. She then mentioned that she would
like to clarify what has been mentioned as Option Four. There is a concern
for promoting U-turns northbound for persons wanting to enter Carrsbrook. The
spacing would need to be such that there would not be but so much distance
between the crossover at Better Living and where Carrsbrook Drive is currently
located so a hazard would not be promoted by people who needed to make a
U-turn. Option Four is the same as Option One with the crossover remaining
open.
Mr. Bowerman asked Ms. Tucker to explain the issue to which she is
referring. Ms. Tucker responded that she is referring to the distance between
the existing crossover, where Carrsbrook Drive is currently located, and the
promotion of U-turns by southbound traffic going back northbound on Route 29.
Sometimes motorists will want to drive across those lanes of Route 29 to make
right turns into Carrsbrook. This should not be a movement that is encouraged
from a traffic Standpoint.
Mrs. Thomas inquired if the highway would be six lanes at that point
with three lanes on each side. Ms. Tucker answered affirmatively.
Mr. Martin said he has found it is easier to drive across the lanes and
get out of the way of traffic than it is to drive across the lanes to get into
the traffic flow. He would think it would be more difficult to turn right out
of Carrsbrook and cross two lanes of traffic to get into the third to go with
the traffic flow than it would be to turn left across Route 29 and get out of
the traffic by going straight across the road. To cross traffic lanes and get
into the flow of tr.affic, a vehicle has to get up enough speed so it will not
be hit in the rear end. A vehicle can cross the lanes of traffic, and it can
get out of the way, unless there is a slow moving vehicle in front.
Mr. Bowerman said there is not currently a problem as far as making the
movement back north on Route 29, because there is a turn and taper lane at
Carrsbrook Drive, and vehicles go immediately into it. He has never observed
a problem with this situation.
Mr. Martin stated that when the crossing at Berkmar was being consid-
ered, it was a situation that would have been good for the whole County. If
this is not an option, then it seems to him that the difference between
Options One, Two and Three are such that it really does not matter to anybody
000Xfi8
March 8, 1995 (Regular ~ight Meeting)
(Page l?)
except the people who are living in the particular area. If it does not
matter to anybody else, then why should anything else be done except what
these people are requesting?
Mr. Perkins asked if Ms. Tucker has drawings which would be helpful for
the people at this meeting to see. Ms. Tucker responded that all she has with
her at this meeting are plan drawings; however, what she is hearing is that
the existing corridor should be left as it is. There may be a reason, of
which she is unaware, for closing the crossover at Better Living which may or
may not have to do with the spacing requirement. She pointed out that it is
necessary to have a minimum of 1000 feet between crossovers.
Mr. Bowerman asked if Ms. Tucker thinks the crossover at Better Living
is too close to the Kegler's crossover. Ms. Tucker said the two crossovers
are very close together.
Mr. Bowerman said he thought the Better Living crossover was going to be
closed because the redesign of Route 29 makes it desirable to close as many of
the median cuts as possible. He thought this particular crossover could be
eliminated because a crossover was going to be provided further south° Ms.
Tucker said she has read everything she could find from 1986 forward and has
not seen the exact reason for the closing. If this is the case, logic would
certainly serve the community.
Mr. Marshall asked if Ms. Tucker wants to hear tonight what this Board
is recommending. Ms. Tucker said it would be appreciated if the Supervisors
could make a statement one way or the other. Because of the advertising
schedule, any time savings is desirable.
Mr. Bowerman asked Ms. Tucker if she could get the requested information
to the Supervisors at their April day meeting. Ms. Tucker concurred that this
could be done.
Mr. Perkins asked if anyone else wished to speak.
Mr. John McDowell stated he is representing the Rio Hills Homeowners
Coalition, which is an organization consisting of the six homeowners associa-
tions in the northern quadrant, including Carrsbrook, Fieldbrook, Raintree,
Northfields, Westmoreland and Woodbrook. He introduced the presidents and vice
presidents of those associations as follows: Michael Bates, President of the
Carrsbrook Homeowners Association; Greg Block, President of Fieldbrook; Wayne
Elliott, Vice President of Northfields; Donald Lyon, President of Raintree;
Maria Bell, President of Westmoreland; and Sid Wood, President of Woodbrook.
He read from a letter he said would be presented to the Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors after his presentation which represents unanimous opposition from
all six of the neighborhood associations to the proposed realignment of
Carrsbrook Drive at its intersection with Route 29 (See letter from Rio Hill
Homeowners' coalition dated March 8, 1995, to the Albemarle County Board of
Supervisors).
Mr. Wayne Elliott commented that he is present in an individual capaci-
ty, and not solely as a member of the Northfields Homeowners Association. He
lives at 600 Carrsbrook Drive, which is the last house located on that street.
VDoT staff's concern and focus has been on the Route 29 end of carrsbrook
Drive, which is the west side. When traffic is taken from Route 29, it will
start using Carrsbrook Drive, and there are three parallel roads to Route 29.
They are Old Brook Road through Fieldbrook and Raintree, Northfields Road, and
Huntington Road. All of the through traffic which comes from Route 29 has to
get on one of these three roads in order to get to Rio Road. He feels it is
important that the eastern side of Carrsbrook be considered also. Where
Carrsbrook Drive crosses Northfields Road, there is a fairly sharp horizontal
angle and a vertical drop. The end result is that as a car is traveling
eastbound on Carrsbrook Drive and crosses Northfields, there is a blind spot.
If more traffic is put on the road, there are going to be more blind spots and
more cars, as well as more accidents, and he does not think anybody wants to
do anything to encourage such a situation. An important point for the
Supervisors to consider is that this traffic will be using a residential
street. There are only two lanes, and there are at least two locations where
the speed limit drops to 20 miles per hour.
Mr. Elliott called attention to Mr. McDowell's statement that Carrsbrook
Drive traverses a pond, and there are cars parked along this street. He does
not know, however, if these cars are supposed to be parked there, but cars
have been parking there for years. He does not know of any other place that
has had a serious proposal to detour traffic permanently off of a major United
States highway through an established residential neighborhood where the speed
limit will drop to 20 miles an hour and where the road will end in a "T"
intersection at a stop sign. He asked the Supervisors to take this into
consideration.
Mr. Elliott next commented on each of the options, favoring Mr. Bower-
man's option Four proposal which is Option One with the existing crossover at
Better Living left as it is. He cannot see any advantage to be gained by
closing it. If the concern is an increase in the number of U-turns if the
crossover is closed', traffic is either going to go to Kegler's to make the
U-turn or, even worse, to Woodbrook to make the U-turn. If there is a safety
problem with U-turns being made at the Wal-Mart intersection, which is a three
way intersection, that safety problem must be at least 25 percent worse when
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting')
(Page 18) ~i~,~=~
those cars are put at the Woodbrook intersection, which is a four way inter-
section. He does not understand the safety rationale proposed by VDoT staff
in this situation.
Mr. Elliott admitted Option One has one advantage -- it does not make
Carrsbrook Drive an alternative route to Route 29. The disadvantage cited by
VDoT staff, which is that Carrsbrook residents would have to go to Wal-Mart in
order to make a U-turn to go southbound, he has heard no one complaining
about. Most people who live in those neighborhoods will go to Rio Road. The
people making U-turns at Wal-Mart are not all from Carrsbrook. Making Carrs-
brook Drive the focus of a proposed solution will not solve all of the U-turn
problems.
Mr. Elliott next spoke about Option Two. The first advantage stated is
that it will provide a safe access to Carrsbrook motorists who want to turn
south on Route 29. Most of the people who would be beneficiaries of the whole
proposal, simply do not want this option. When there is a project and the
people for which it is designed do not want it, it should not be done. This
is the case with this option. VDoT staff has indicated a traffic light would
have to be added. By his calculations, and based on what he just heard, this
would mean two traffic lights on Route 29 within 1200 feet. He does not think
people are going to want to stop this often for traffic lights. He does not
think people are stopping for the traffic lights now, and if another traffic
light is added, it will not encourage people to actually stop. Eventually,
people will get fed up with the traffic regulation mechanisms, and they will
ignore them. If the Supervisors don't think this is true, they should observe
the stop sign at the "T" intersection of Carrsbrook and Huntington Roads.
Mr. Elliott said he is concerned with VDoT staff's suggestion that
increased traffic through Carrsbrook is going to be some type of temporary
problem which will go away when all of the construction on Route 29 is
finished. He recalled that Mr. Bates had mentioned that once the alternate to
Route 29 is completed, there will never be another chance to get the funds to
put it back the way it was. He agreed with that statement.
Mr. Elliott then talked about the third option. He noted that the first
advantage stated by VDoT staff is one which has been rejected by the intended
beneficiaries, The second advantage mentioned is the improved access to
businesses presumably on the southbound side of Route 2.9. He is not sure, but
it seems to him that if a business is located there, whenever the road going
behind Wal-Mart is 'completed, there might be some access to those businesses
from the rear. Again, this situation relates to the beneficiaries being the
residents of Carrsbrook or westbound motorists on Carrsbrook Drive. These
people will drive to Route 29, turn right, go to Wal-Mart, and they will not
have to make a U-turn. They can go behind Wal-Mart and get to some of those
businesses from the rear. Mr. Elliott went on to say that he assumes this is
in the plan, but if it is not, the Supervisors can ignore what he has just
said.
Mr. Elliot said Option Three also mentions increased traffic as a
temporary problem. This option has strange logic relating to the path through
Carrsbrook being more circuitous so anyone wanting to go south would not take
it. He Wondered why people on Route 29 who want to go to Lynchburg would go
through the Carrsbrook Subdivision. This is not where the increased traffic
is going to come from. He emphasized that it is going to come from people who
want to get downtown. He recalled Mr. McDowell's statement that this traffic
will be trying to avoid the four lights through which it would normally
travel. Three streets are already feeding onto Carrsbrook Drive, so Carrs-
brook Drive already serves as the evening rush hour bypass for the City people
who want to get to the north side of town. These people are already using
this route, and they will always use this route. There is no way he can
figure to keep them off of the~street. All this plan would do is provide a
morning bypass for rush hour traffic, and he wants to keep Carrsbrook Drive as
it is.
Mr. Elliot went on to say that he cannot find any disadvantage in
leaving everything as it is, although there is one unstated advantage. It
must be cheaper to leave things as they are, and he is amazed that the VDoT
staff can say it is actually going to cost money if nothing is done. It would
certainly be cheaper than building roads or moving roads. If all of the
advantages stated are put on one side of the scale, and all of the disadvan-
tages are put on the other side of the scale, the scale will tilt in favor of
leaving everything the way it is.
Mr. Elliott said people in the neighborhoods do not want the change, and
it has been publicly stated that it is intended just to benefit these neigh-
borhoods. If the people do not want it, then it should not be done. Mr.
Elliott again mentioned Mr. Bowerman's fourth oPtion as the one Board members
should approve. They should ignore the three options presented by VDoT staff.
The fourth option is the only one that makes sense. He thanked the Supervi-
sors for their attention and said he would be glad to answer their questions.
Mr. Perkins asked if there were other people who wanted to make com-
ments, but no one else came forward. Mr. Perkins went on to say he thought the
residents had gotten their message across to the Supervisors.
Mr. Bowerman commented that he is in touch with the residents in the
area because he lives there. Up until now, he has heard no one at any time in
March 8, 1995 (Regular Nig~i'i~de~i~g)
(Page 19)
favor of any of the options other th~n'the stated option of leaving things the
way they are. There h~s bean:an increase intraffic through the Carrsbrook
area as a result of conS~'~{~~{~'~''29~I He believes traffic will
increase regardless of the improvements on Route 29. Motion was then made by
Mr. Bowerman to recommend to VDoT that Route 29 be improved with the crossover
currently in front of Better Living and keeping the present alignment of
Carrsbrook Drive as the least objectionable of all of the improvements planned
for the area. He said this plan would still serve the Carrsbrook community
the way it currently does. It is true most people who want to go southbound
on Route 29 go by way of Old Brook Road or Northfields Road to Rio Road. Even
to access the businesses on Route 29 south in Rio Hill, it is easier to go via
Rio Road and enter through Berkmar Drive. He does not think a substantial
number of people in this community are going to be making turning movements at
Sam's Club. Pending information from Ms. Tucker in April that would indicate
some reason why this could not be done, he recommends that VDoT be notified of
this preferred solution, which is that the situation be left as it currently
exists.
Mr. Martin seconded the motion. Roll was called and the motion carried
by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Messrs. Marshall, Martin, Perkins, Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Bowerman and
Mrs. Humphris.
NAYS: None.
Agenda Item No. 8. Approval of Minutes: March 3, 1993.
Mrs. Humphris reported that she had read from No. 22 on Page 26 to No.
19 (b) on Page 36, of the March 3, 1993~ minutes, and she will give three
suggested corrections to the Clerk. She then moved that these minutes be
approved.
Mr. Martin seconded the motion. Roll was called, and the motion carried
by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Messrs. Marshall, Martin, Perkins, Bowerman and Mrs. Humphris.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAINING: Mrs. Thomas.
Agenda Item No. 9. Other Matters Not Listed on the Agenda from the
BOARD.
Mrs. Thomas said that the unanimous vote taken on the Carrsbrook
entrance situation does not imply that VDoT had an evil intent in this plan.
She said that since this was being implied by a number of speakers~ she
thought she would disassociate herself from the accusations. She said the
Board has chosen to-save the neighborhood and increase the danger on Route 29
North, which is the right decision for this Board to make, but it is not that
the SupervisOrs chose good against evil.
Mrs. Thomas stated that she attended the National Association of
Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. and suggested that others
should go to these meetings if they ever get a chance. She went on to say
that it was the most valuable conference she ever attended. She reported that
there were protesters who came and broke up one of the meetings. The protest-
ers were protesting against funds for school lunches being cut and local
government official's feared they may have to pick up some of these expenses if
they are cut at the federal level. She added that the people who came to the
NACo meeting went to see their congressmen,. She went to see Mr. Bliley and
sat in on sessions with Mr. Sisisky and Mr. Payne.
Mrs. Thomas remarked that NACo is alerting people to a major issue which
has to do with solid waste flow control legislation. This certainly did not
interest her when she first heard about it, but there may be a federal law
passed which will indicate that local governments cannot control their solid
waste flow. She commented that this has major implications for Rivanna Solid
Waste Authority bonds. Apparently, when private solid waste disposal com-
panies' welfare is at hand, it is less important that local governments have
control. This is one issue that the Board of Supervisors may want to make some
comments about. Mrs. Thomas asked Mr. Tucker to find out how relevant this
matter is to Albemarle County. She came home with approximately ten inches of
material, which she will distribute to different offices in the County Office
Building.
Mrs. Thomas then mentioned a recent issue concerning steep' slopes. She
said the Supervisors faced what appeared to be an impossible dilemma because
most of the Board members wanted to do something about a development that was
going to box in a steep slope and build a privately-maintained retention pond
within the County's reservoir watershed, increasing the building area on a
marginal lot. She recalled that nothing could be done because of the way the
ordinance is worded. The issue was not a legislative matter in front of the
Board, but an administrative one. She believes this misled the public and was
frustrating for this Board. If the other Board members concur, she would like
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting) O00141
(Page 20) ·
the staff to look into changing that section of the ordinance so that it is
either clear that it is simply an administrative rubber stamp if. certain
criteria have been met, or it needs to be changed so that it is part of site
plan review and becomes a legislative question on which this Board has some
discretion. She said people are misled when they come to a meeting with the
idea that they can change the Supervisors' thinking, but this is not true when
the Supervisors do not have the ability to do anything other than approve the
matter. She is not certain what should happen now, but she does not think it
should be left as it is.
Mr. Bowerman said site plans are approved administerially and do not
require legislative action, so it would have to be covered in some other place
in the ordinance.
Mr. Tucker asked if Mrs. Thomas meant that the matter should be stopped
at the Planning Commission level and not be appealable to the Board of Super-
visors. If this is the case, the Commission members would be approving it or
denying it as a ministerial act, and that would be the end of ito It would
not then become a political issue because it would become almost a land use
discussion with the Supervisors.
Mr. Bowerman said it could still be appealed to this Board. He recalled
that this is what happened with the issue to which Mrs. Thomas is referring.
Mr. Tucker indicated that he understands this. He thought Mrs. Thomas was
saying that the matter of bringing such issues to this Board should be
removed.
Mrs. Thomas commented that site plans can be appealed to the Board. Mr.
Bowerman agreed that any site plan can be appealed. Mrs. Thomas said that if
this was in the site plan section of the ordinance, it would be appealed to
the Board and there would be some ability to act or react differently. She
noted that the section of the ordinance where it is currently located does not
allow the Supervisors anything but an administrative review. She said it
could stop at the Planning Commission level and not be appealable except to
the court.
Mr. Martin remarked that the word "may," was where the problem began. He
said people read politics into that word, but the Board really did not have
any discretion. He said the ordinance needs to 'say what it really means.
Mr. Bowerman said he thinks a policy decision needs to be made by the
Supervisors as to whether or not that part of the ordinance is what it says,
which is an environmental concern about runoff, or whether it is a land use
issue because it allows further development. If it is a land use issue in
terms of full-scale development of the site, then it should relate to legisla-
tive action and a l~and use issue. If it is strictly for protection of the
watershed from runoff and siltation if Engineering indicates that it can be
dealt with, then it is not properly a Board matter. He said the Supervisors
just need to decide how they feel about that issue°
Mrs. Thomas said she is not suggesting that this decision be made this
evening, unless other Board members have totally made up their minds. She
would like to have a discussion on this matter, and a decision be made at a
later date.
Mrs. Humphris commented that a work session is needed because the people
who were at the meeting went away totally astonished at what happened. These
people thought the Supervisors had betrayed them, and they did not understand
the situation at all. She said the Supervisors had to admit that it was hard
enough for them to understand it. The people thought that the Supervisors
were going to make their decision based on other criteria. She reiterated
that a work session is a good idea so this Board can decide whether it wants
to take this matter into the land use area or the conservation area.
Mr. MarShall remarked that before that meeting he had made it very clear
that this was not a zoning issue. He said he knew a lot of people were going
to speak out, but he tried to inform them that it was a legal matter. As
someone who has been in the same building for 30 years, he is hesitant about
changing things. He pointed out that if he had a fire in his building., he
would not have a livelihood if City officials were to do the same thing to
him. He noted that there are a lot of "Mom and Pop" grocery stores in the
County, and there are a couple of them located on Route 20.
Mrs. Humphris stated that there is a difference in replacing the Mom and
Pop grocery store if it burns with a Food Lion type store. Mrs. Thomas agreed
that the zoning is such that a restaurant, hotel or house could be replaced if
it burned, but with the issue to which she is referring, the people were
concerned about adding one-third more to the property so they could build
something a great deal bigger. She recalled that someone in the Planning
Office mentioned that it was essentially a rezoning because the size would
increase so greatly, but the Supervisors could not treat it as that sort of
situation.
Mr° Marshall agreed that this situation needs to be discussed. He said
he would not want to put anybody whose property had been grandfathered in
jeopardy. Mrs~ Thomas stated that she did not see changing the regulation as
doing that.
March 8, 1995 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 21).
Agenda Item No.~O Adjourn to March 13, 1995, 1:00 p.m.
000:142
With no further business to come before the Board, at 9:45 p.m., mo%ion
was made by Mrs. Numphris, seconded by Mr. Marshall, for the Board to adjourn
to March 13, 1995, at 1:00 p.m. Roll was called and the motion carried by the
following recorded vote:
AYES:
NAYS:
Messrs. Marshall, Martin, Perkins, Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Bowerman and
Mrs. Humphris.
None.