Nearly seven years ago, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors sued the Charlottesville City Council over which political jurisdiction had the authority to decide what uses would be allowed on recreational trails around the Ragged Mountain Reservoir.
This week, both bodies agreed to settle the case by agreeing that Albemarle County can enforce an ordinance preventing bikes and horses from using the trails at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area, land owned by the City of Charlottesville.
“We are pleased to have settled the appeal with the City of Charlottesville on the matter of jurisdictional authority at the Ragged Mountain Natural area,” said Jim Andrews, the chair of the Board of Supervisors, in a press release sent out after 6 p.m. on March 6, 2024.
“This has been the central issue in the case for the county,” Andrews continued.
Under the agreement, Albemarle County will post signs letting people know that trails are for pedestrians only.
“The County will also conduct public awareness and be responsible for any enforcement actions,” the release continues.
The release points out that the city purchased additional parkland known as the Heyward Community Forest next to the Ragged Mountain Natural Area which is also accessible from Reservoir Road.
“We are happy to bring this matter to a close, and it’s our collective desire to provide safe, attractive recreation to our community,” said Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade in the release.
Charlottesville has experienced an almost total transition in government since the suit was filed. At that time, Maurice Jones was City Manager, Craig Brown was City Attorney, and none of the three Councilors that voted to allow bike trails in December 2016 are still involved with city government. Former Councilors Wes Bellamy and Bob Fenwick voted against the idea. Bellamy is now the Chair of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Fenwick ran for the Democratic nomination for City Council in 2023, but placed fifth in a five-way race.
Two members of the six-person Board of Supervisors were in office at the time of the lawsuit. They are Supervisor Ann Mallek of the White Hall District and Supervisor Diantha McKeel of the Jack Jouett District. There has been executive turnover. Doug Walker was serving as interim County Executive in April 2017 after the resignation of Tom Foley earlier that year. Jeffrey Richardson took over the role in late October 2017.
Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement as well as those contributing monthly through Patreon. No artificial intelligence is utilized, nor will it be. This particular article straddles two editions of the newsletter and was published to this website first.
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