Hello everyone,

Thank you again for taking the time to sign this petition for smart development in Scottsville, VA. This update has been a bit delayed for various reason. Hopefully, this will help get everyone back up to date.

As some may know, the chair of the Planning Commission (who was also an appointed Town Council member) resigned her positions with the town as of Nov. 5, 2021, and has since moved away from the town. This was a surprise to the Town Council, and in part led to a discussion on public engagement practices.

Based on some comments made alluding to this petition in the discussion on public engagement, we decided present some recommendations to the town council at their regular session. The recommendations were ideas gathered from community members that could help to facilitate public engagement, and assist in minimizing unwanted interactions for those working on the town's behalf. Below are those recommendations.

"We would like to recommend the town council consider using public office hours. Each member could set and publicize their own hours, and choose a location that works best for them. Community members could be directed to those public hours. Should those hours not work for a community member,  the councilors (or volunteers/staff) would have the discretion to choose a time and  location that best suits the needs. Office hours could be drop-by or scheduled, zoom, in person or by phone. Office hours provide a clear, consistent and documented opportunity for the public to talk with town officials outside of public meeting forums. These hours may also help to protect the private time, and space, of public officials. 

We would also like to recommend public information sessions. The Harwood institute offers some great resources on community discussions. People want a sense that there was an opportunity to contribute to an issue. Public deliberation, not a public hearing or debate, is an opportunity to hear information from all sides of a discussion. By fostering this idea, people have an opportunity to realize that difference does not have to mean dissonance."

The Town Council provided dates for upcoming public hearings at the last Council meeting. On Dec. 20, there will be public hearings for three issues, including a re-zoning of land next to the new Tiger Fuel location. On Jan. 17, 2022, a public hearing for the developments at Bird St. and Blenheim Rd will take place. We highly encourage you to attend that session if you are able.

Before the Jan 17, 2022 meeting, there is also a community meeting planned about the developments. As we recommended to the council, this meeting will hopefully allow Scottsville community members to learn more about the developments proposed before the public hearings. We will announce that date here as soon as it is available.

Thank you again everyone for your time and efforts on this matter. Your voice matters.