This Week in Crozet
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This Week In Crozet (8/14)

This Week In Crozet (8/14)

Aug 15th - 21st

Crozet United
August 14, 2024

Connecting you to what’s happening around town

Forecast

The weather report was cloudy; everyone mist the memo

Things to do

Thursday, Aug 15th

Live Music: Earn The PRN Main Stage w/ Back 40 East & Maggie’s Last Shift | PRN Brewery | 6:30 - 9 PM

Trivia | Stable Craft Brewery | 7 PM

Friday, Aug 16th

Live Music: Fast Fashion : The Depeche Mode Experience | PRN Brewery | 7 - 10 PM | $10

Saturday, Aug 17th

Fox Hunting Clinic | Free Union | Aug 17-18th | $120

Photo by Om Duggineni

Sunday, Aug 18th

Cal Triathlon Event | Walnut Creek | 8 AM | Ages 7-17 $Free

Photo by Jorge Romero

Monday, Aug 19th

Made with Canon 5d Mark III and Meyer Optik Görlitz Primoplan 1.9 / 75mm

Photo by Markus Spisk

Tuesday, Aug 20th

Wednesday, Aug 21st

DMV Connect | Crozet Library | 9AM - 4PM | DMV Connect will be available for walk-in appointments for a variety of services including REAL ID, Drivers’ licenses, ID cards, vehicle titles, vehicle registrations, and more (driving tests are not available at this location). Closed for lunch 12-1pm.

Planning Ahead

First Day of School ACPS | August 21

Nighthawk Watch | Piedmont VA Bird Club | August 28th | 7 - 8:30 PM | Don’t miss the exciting evening flights of migrating nighthawks! With luck, we will observe their acrobatics as they feed over the native grass field of Ivy Creek Natural Area. Join Scott for the evening. He will welcome everyone in the Ivy Creek parking lot at 7 pm before leading us to the field

C’ville Women’s 4-Miler | August 31st | 8 AM

Pickled Pink Pickleball Event | Registration Open August 10th/Event on Sunday October 13th | Boar’s Head Resort | $75 | All event proceeds benefit the Breast Care Program at UVA Cancer Center

Want your event listed? Send us an email with the details. Basic event listings go for as low as $15 (non-profits are often listed at no charge). Lastly, this is a static newsletter, but life isn’t. Check to make sure the event is still happening before loading up your family of 7 for the trip.

Our Town

Course Correction – Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) announced that it is lifting the cap on the amount of advanced placement (AP) courses that students can take during their high school careers.

Prior to the reversal, the County limited students to a maximum of nine AP courses based on concerns that taking too many college level classes could negatively impact student mental health. The reason for changing the policy is based on feedback ACPS received from the community and to allow families to make these decisions with their children on an individual basis.

County to Test Public-Private Partnership (P3) in Crozet - The Board of Supervisors is moving forward with a plan to solicit bids from the private sector to build the Eastern Avenue Connector. [Click the link for NBC29’s coverage.]

The County’s budget for the project is capped at $17.3 million and is tentatively based on a conceptual bridge design by Kimley-Horn that would place it 180 feet inside FEMA’s floodplain. According to a report the County sent to VDOT in 2021, this bridge design is expected to increase floodwater height by 4.8 inches during a 100-year flood event (not 3 inches as was repeatedly stated in the meeting).

Mr. Brian McPeters, the County’s consultant from Kimley-Horn, explained that FEMA will need to review and approve the final bridge design before construction on the bridge portion of the project can begin—a process that is expected to take at least one year.

As we reported last week, the County believes there is a 0% chance that FEMA will not approve their bridge design and instead require a safer, longer, and much more expensive one. The County evidently applies the same probability to bridge designs that they haven’t even seen yet, such as ones that may be submitted by private contractors as part of their overall P3 bid packages.

Consequently, McPeters indicated that the County might allow a private contractor to start constructing less risky portions of the Eastern Avenue Connector before their (unknown) potential bridge designs are submitted to FEMA, and may not require them to build the bridge at all in the event that FEMA deems their designs unsafe. [You can find relevant video clips from the meeting by clicking the links above.]

If Albemarle County truly believes there is a 0% chance that FEMA won’t approve their preferred low-cost bridge design, it should require private contractors to accept that apparently nonexistent risk in their bids by agreeing to ultimately build a bridge to FEMA’s required specifications at no additional cost.

And if the private sector won’t run that risk, why should Crozet citizens?

In such a case, a private contractor could conceivably build just a short stretch of road in order to provide access to the site of the proposed Oak Bluff development, but never actually complete the rest of the Eastern Avenue Connector and the most important part of it…the actual bridge and connection to Route 250.

County Supervisors have the responsibility to ensure that Crozet won’t be left holding the bag for a $17M taxpayer-funded “road to nowhere”.

Until they do, the highly touted public private partnership to build the long overdue Connector is worthless and any requests for high density developments that rely upon it should be summarily denied.

At the meeting, Supervisor Gallaway shared that he didn’t understand how to allay citizens’ rightful concerns and suspicions about these sorts of public private partnerships.

Mr. Gallaway, the answer is this: Provide the necessary oversight to ensure that County will hold private contractors 100% accountable for delivering the full Eastern Avenue Connector (including the bridge) for $17M. If the Board can’t make that basic guarantee to Crozet citizens, it needs to go back to the drawing board until it can or until it has enough money to do so.

It’s just not that complicated.

PS - We sincerely thank NBC29 news for keeping a close eye on this issue, as it is one that is very important to Crozet citizens and to all of those around the County that demand more transparency and accountability from our local government and elected Supervisors.

Mother Nature Weighs In – As if on cue, Tropical Storm Debby moved through Crozet last Thursday, dumping 5-7 inches of rain by some estimates. Twelve people needed to be rescued from Misty Mountain Campground.

At the site of the future Eastern Avenue Connector, Lickinghole Creek rose approximately 8 feet, where floodwaters breached its banks and completely submerged a large area north of the trail behind Westlake Hills. The storm surge also knocked out several wooden bridges along the way and scattered mud and debris across many of the trails.

Unfortunately, storms like this happen regularly in Crozet.

The Crozet Trails Crew Needs Your Help with debris removal and the footbridge reconstruction efforts. Volunteers are needed to join a work session this Saturday, August 17 at 8:30AM. Meet at the trail entrance off Park Ridge Road in the Foothills Crossing neighborhood (between Cardinal Crest and Raven Stone). For more information on how to volunteer, click here.

WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT NOW. Want to make a real difference in your community? Pressure treated 2x4’s cost around $5 a piece. If your family regularly enjoys our trails, a $25 donation will buy 5 boards, some nails and a bottle of water for the hard working folks that will put it all back together. Please consider donating to Crozet Trails Crew before you close this email by clicking the button below. All donations to the CTC are tax deductible.

Crozet United is here not only to keep you informed, but it is also your platform to celebrate Crozet and the people in it.

Share your good news—like team victories, community cleanups, or any positive updates—with us. Small or big we want to share the good things happening around town.

On The Lighter Side

Horoscopes

Aries (March 21 - April 19): This week, you’re full of ambition and drive. Channel that energy into your goals, but remember to pace yourself. Balance work with moments of relaxation to avoid burnout.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20): Relationships take center stage. Whether it's a romantic partner or a close friend, deepen your connections by being open and honest. A creative project might also bring unexpected joy.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20): Your mind is buzzing with ideas. Use this mental clarity to tackle any lingering projects or start something new. Communication flows smoothly, making it a great time for important conversations.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22): Focus on your financial situation this week. It’s a good time to reassess your budget and consider long-term planning. Emotional support from loved ones will keep you grounded.

Leo (July 23 - August 22): This is your time to shine! Your confidence is at an all-time high, and others will be drawn to your charisma. Use this to your advantage in both personal and professional endeavors.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22): You may feel the need to step back and recharge. Prioritize self-care and take time to reflect on recent events. This introspection will bring clarity and prepare you for the weeks ahead.

Libra (September 23 - October 22): Social interactions are lively and fulfilling. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and share your values. A group project or collaboration could be particularly rewarding.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21): Career matters take precedence this week. You’re driven to succeed and may see progress on a long-term goal. Stay focused, but don’t neglect your personal life in the process.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): Adventure and learning are on your mind. Explore new interests, whether through travel, reading, or a new course. This is a great time to broaden your horizons and expand your knowledge.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): Deep emotions surface, urging you to explore your inner world. Personal growth is possible through honest self-reflection. Trust your instincts when it comes to important decisions.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18): Partnerships and collaborations are highlighted. Work closely with others to achieve mutual goals, and be open to compromise. Shared efforts will lead to success.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20): Focus on your health and well-being. This is a good time to establish new habits that benefit your body and mind. Small changes can have a big impact, so start with manageable goals.