Hi everyone!

The town announced, fairly last minute, a community meeting on January 15, 2022 at 11am, 1230pm and 2pm. These meetings are in answer to a request made for a community event where citizens could be informed on the planned development proposals. 

The town is marketing the meeting to be about "new houses" which it is not. The developers, Virginia Land Company, will not be building homes, only creating lots. Those lots will be sold to builders who then choose the style of houses they will build. The town, nor its citizens, will have a say in what they choose to build. 

This land developer has a "by-right" option to build 74 total houses on the 144 acres of Blenheim Road and the 60 +/- acres of Bird Street. However, they are now asking for a Special use permit to build 72 homes between 12 acres on Bird Street and 9 acres on Blenheim Road. Why now? 

The clustered development plan for the town of Scottsville requires applicants to hold 33% of the land they plan to develop in open space. For example, the Bird St development is on a parcel that is 12 acres of the larger plot of land owned by Virginia Land Company. With 33% land in open space, 9 acres is proposed for the 48 houses. However, the Town of Scottsville recently made a deal with Virginia Land Company to lease 18 acres of wetland in perpetuity as a town park. This land deal allows Virginia land company to retain ownership of the land, and use it toward any development requirements for open space. What does that mean? The 33% open space in this current development proposal can be developed in future phases. These sorts of deals are the reason a meeting was requested. 

Development is not a bad word when it is planned and the citizens of a community have input. It seems some have interpreted the request for "planned" development, which takes into account community concerns like infrastructure, as "no" development. This isn't the case. These meetings will allow councilors the opportunity to understand more of the community's concerns, and hopefully change that perception.

Folks, please consider attending these events. Town council will be compiling the comments made and discussing the issues in a closed session after the events. Some of the council members expect a vote to happen after the Public hearing on January 18. This does not allow for time to consider public statements, so these meetings are the best chance for the public to be heard. 

If you plan to attend, the Scottsville facebook page is taking an rsvp type count. https://facebook.com/events/s/community-meeting-about-new-ho/278185574301283/

Please attend if you can. 

Sincerely,

Citizens for Responsible Development in Scottsville