Thread by @NeilSWilliamson

Attending #Charlottesville Planning Commission work session #SeatsAvailable

Staff indicates Module 1 of Zoning Ordinance is on schedule for delivery to the public next week @keithsmith11163 @JerryMillerNow #Moustache

Staff believes a two phase approach on critical slopes - tweak now and then after the zoning rewrite do a comprehensive review to likely include stream buffer expansion

I provided the PC our thoughts on Critical slopes earlier today freeenterpriseforum.wordpress.com/2023/01/24/bei…

Staff interpretation of existing ordinance public benefit is not a question -- they prefer environmental benefits prior and post development

Staff indicates all critical slopes are not created equal by location, origin, and design

@RoryStolzenberg asks what is special about a critical slope of 25% that is different from an area near a stream slope of 20%?

@RoryStolzenberg Staff reply - engineering guidance from Jack - steep slopes should be avoided.

James Freas speaks of the ancillary benefit of protecting slopes includes urban forest/habitat value

Jack is calling out stream buffer extensions ordinances that are in states other than Virginia

#Charlottesville Planning Commissioner Hosea Mitchell recalls balancing the critical slopes vs the community benefit of the most recent fire station construction. He indicates the engineering technical data usually presented was NOT part of that proposal

"I can tell you the developers thin we are doing a good job by the rate they are complaining about inspections and things" - #Charlottesville Engineer Jack Dawson

"The Fire Station critical slope waiver would not have been approved absent the community benefit of the Fire Station NOT the environmental benefits" Hosea Mitchell

#Charlottesville Planning Commissioner Philip d'Oronzio asks how we will measure the public good and fears a "bus load of trial lawyers" representing developers questioning that subjective evaluation

Staff suggests the volume of #AffordableHousing may weigh in considering critical slope waiver --If it has 600 affordable units vs the city minimum but indicates the two issues can't legally be negotiated as a part of the critical slopes waiver.

"It feels like we are using the critical slopes ordinance to gain buffers" - #Charlottesville NDS Director James Freas

#Charlottesville adopted the Critical Slopes ordinance prior to signing on to the state stormwater program.

#Charlottesville Planning Commissioner Liz Russell indicates the Critical Slopes ordinance stands in and provides tree canopy, habitat protection, and many more environmental benefits beyond stormwater

Russell continues this is about the character of Charlottesville we have hills

@RoryStolzenberg suggests that the prohibition of redevelopment of South Street (for example) regardless of the public benefit seems extreme.

@RoryStolzenberg suggests staff could have an objective environmental benefit pre and post development.

@RoryStolzenberg Important to note no decisions will be made tonight.

@LyleSollaYates worries that the critical slopes waiver process killing good projects that choose not to take the risk

Planning Commissioners are now discussing if there should be a public hearing for critical slopes waiver -- not required now -- they seem split between getting the public input in "other matters" - no one has mentioned the increased cost for advertising a public hearing

20 seconds after tweeting @RoryStolzenberg raises the cost and notice requirements of public hearing option

@RoryStolzenberg Planning Commission now moves to discussing floodplain regulation

Important clarification the flood plain is 3 dimensional you can built taller or further away and be "out" of the floodplain.

Love the visual image of the term "flow through crawlspaces only" tenor.com/view/piglet-ba…

The first box in this slide would require applicants to get the blessing of #Charlottesville first before applying for map amendment (not under the current code).

#Charlottesville Planning Commissioners discuss how to deal with historical building in the flood plain that flooded out - would the city want to eliminate the structure (voluntary buyout) or remediation (increase first floor height)

@RoryStolzenberg asks the question do we want people living in the flood plain or not?

@RoryStolzenberg @RoryStolzenberg suggests no activity (commercial or residential) in the floodplain

@RoryStolzenberg @LyleSollaYates ask about parking - is filling the flood plain a good idea to allow surface parking. He suggests a beach house style parking arrangement that would allow parking under the structure

@RoryStolzenberg @LyleSollaYates #Charlottesville Planning Commission about to tackle Entrance Corridor regulation -- I wrote a 2015 white paper about #Albemarle's Architectural Review Board …eeenterpriseforum.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/behold…

Question 1 should residential > 4 units be exempt from entrance corridor review (currently only Single Family Units)

"I think the BAR (Board of Architectural Review) lost all its legitimacy this week" @RoryStolzenberg #Charlottesville

Fascinating how many members of the #Charlottesville Planning Commission have a critical view of the BAR

#Charlottesville has 12 different Entrance Corridors. I am reminded of an old bumper sticker "All dirt roads lead to Tech"

#Charlottesville Planning Commission learning about #Albemarle ARB Entrance Corridor designation difficulty freeenterpriseforum.wordpress.com/2018/01/31/ove… #ContentSlinger

I am not sure that the Comprehensive Plan clearly enunciates the goals of #Charlottesville Entrance Corridors - Planning Commissioner Liz Russell

Now worrying if my laptop battery or this #Charlottesville Planning Commission work session will end first #FirstWorldProblems

"I say make the Target a giant rotunda, but no one agrees with me" - @RoryStolzenberg