The Charlottesville Planning Commission is back at seven voting members after the City Council named two new people to the appointed body at a special meeting on January 11.
“I move that we appoint Josh Carp and Ross Harness to the Planning Commission,” said Councilor Natalie Oschrin at the end of a closed session.
Harness is a realtor with Long & Foster. He will occupy Seat 1 and his term will end on August 31 of this year. He replaces Philip d’Oronzio who resigned on January 6.
Wade thanked d’Oronzio for his service on the Planning Commission, the Housing Advisory Commission, and one of two positions representing the city on the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.
“He has almost a photographic memory and his commitment to the city and the community has just been amazing so I want to thank him for his long-term service to the community,” Wade said.
On January 5, Councilors decided to have elected officials in both seats and new City Councilor Jen Fleisher will join Councilor Lloyd Snook on that body.
Carp sits in Seat 6 and that term expires on August 31, 2027. He replaces Rory Stolzenberg who resigned effective at the end of 2025. Carp is a software engineer who also runs the E-Bike Lending Library and ran for City Council in 2021.
“I want to thank the applicants for applying,” said Mayor Juandiego Wade. “It was really difficult. We are fortunate in this community to have great candidates to apply for our openings. For those who didn’t get it, please continue to apply.”
The deadline for the next batch of applications is February 1. The following boards have open positions. Click through for more information on what each does. You can even apply if one of the positions sounds interesting to you.
- Community Development Block Grant & HOME Taskforce — four vacancies
- Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority — one vacancy
- Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee — three vacancies
- Economic Development Authority — one term expires on March 31, 2026
- Housing Advisory Committee — five vacancies
- Human Rights Commission — one vacancy, two positions expire February 28, 2026
- JABA Advisory Council on Aging — two positions expiring March 31, 2026
- JABA Board of Directors — three positions expiring March 31, 2026
- Local Building Code Board of Appeals — property manager position vacant
- Minority Business Commission — one vacancy
- Sister Cities Commission — two vacancies
- Social Services Advisory Board – one vacancy
- Towing Advisory Board — three vacancies
- Tree Commission — two vacancies, five positions expire March 31, 2026
- Vendor Appeals Board — two vavancies
- Water Resources Protection Foundation — one vacancy and one expiring January 30
- YMCA Board of Directors — one vacancy
- Youth Council
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