Monthly Archives: October 2022

Local Food Hub awarded federal funds for new app, Virginia Black Farmer directory

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An organization that seeks to promote the local food economy across Virginia has been awarded $67,810 for three of its programs. The funding for the Local Food Hub comes from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. 

“The Virginia Black Farmer Directory will build new bridges to market access for underserved farms,” reads the public notice of the award. “The Grower/Buyer Expo will help farmers and purchasers emerge from the pandemic by connecting face-to-face once again.” 

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Site plan meeting held for former K-Mart site

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The city of Charlottesville is reviewing a private company’s latest plans for redevelopment of the K-Mart Plaza, though few new details emerged at a site plan conference last month. 

“This is a site that we previously have taken a site plan through the city for a slightly different design,” said Ashley Davies, vice president of Riverbend Development. 

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UVA Public Safety report published

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The University of Virginia has published an annual report that takes a look at crime on Central Grounds as well as its satellite locations across the Commonwealth. The 2022 Annual Fire Safety and Security Report covers the activities and statistics compiled by the UVA Department of Safety and Security, which includes the UVA Police Department with its 170 employees.

“UPD participates in a mutual aid agreement with other local departments and a cooperative patrol agreement with the City of Charlottesville, which gives University officers jurisdiction in much of the city area surrounding the University,” reads a description on page 11 of the report. (review the report)

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Albemarle County Planning Commission discusses Comprehensive Plan

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Virginia law assigns a locality’s Planning Commission the primary responsibility for creating and maintaining a Comprehensive Plan, but many communities hire consultants to help with the heavy lifting. 

Charlottesville hired Rhodeside & Harwell to complete the city’s plan after the Planning Commission got bogged down after two years. Nelson County has hired the Berkley Group to review their Comprehensive Plan. 

Albemarle’s current Comprehensive Plan update is being managed by staff with assistance from the firm EPR. The Planning Commission got a check-in at their meeting on September 27, 2022 that served as their most extensive conversation on the plan review in a couple of months. They had previously been briefed in late July on several options to proceed with alterations to the growth management plan.  (See also: Albemarle Planning Commission reviews seven options for growth management) 

“Throughout the AC44 process, we’re using two main lenses to guide our work which are equity and climate action,” said Tori Kanellopoulos, an Albemarle County planner.

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