Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission: Difference between revisions
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The '''Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission''' (TJPDC) coordinates planning across a wide variety of jurisdictions and regulatory agencies. The TJPDC provides resources to the City of Charlottesville and surrounding counties. Services rendered include grant applications and management, assistance with strategic and comprehensive plans, and technical assistance with transportation, land use and economic development plans. The TJPDC totals 2,169 square miles and includes 227,107 people in five counties and one city<ref>Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. February 2010 Long-Range Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan (Working Draft). Rep. Web. 23 July 2010. <http://tjpdc.org/pdf/transportation/TDMLRP_100713.pdf>.</ref> | The '''Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission''' (TJPDC) coordinates planning across a wide variety of jurisdictions and regulatory agencies. The TJPDC provides resources to the City of Charlottesville and surrounding counties. Services rendered include grant applications and management, assistance with strategic and comprehensive plans, and technical assistance with transportation, land use and economic development plans. The TJPDC totals 2,169 square miles and includes 227,107 people in five counties and one city.<ref>Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. February 2010 Long-Range Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan (Working Draft). Rep. Web. 23 July 2010. <http://tjpdc.org/pdf/transportation/TDMLRP_100713.pdf>.</ref> | ||
==Programs== | ==Programs== | ||
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===Stream buffer study=== | ===Stream buffer study=== | ||
[[image:Albemarle-county-riparian-stream-buffers.jpg|thumb|left]]In 2012, [[Albemarle County]] staff asked the TJPDC to evaluate whether a program to waive property taxes on [[stream buffers]] would encourage conservation and increase water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. In 1998, the General Assembly passed enabling legislation allowing localities to do so. The study concluded that a program would benefit landowners with high-value and smaller properties. Large parcels would likely not see a benefit because of the high costs with planting vegetation as well as the fact that many of the parcels are already in [[land use taxation]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=Fiscal Analysis of Tax Exemptions for Stream Buffers: Albemarle County|url=http://www.tjpdc.org/agendas_and_minutes/pdc/12_10_04/Buffers%20Commission%20Presentation.pdf|author=TJPDC Staff|work=|publisher=Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission|location=|publishdate=October 4, 2012|accessdate=October 17, 2012}}</ref> {{clear}} | [[image:Albemarle-county-riparian-stream-buffers.jpg|thumb|left]]In 2012, [[Albemarle County]] staff asked the TJPDC to evaluate whether a program to waive property taxes on [[stream buffers]] would encourage conservation and increase water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. In 1998, the General Assembly passed enabling legislation allowing localities to do so. The study concluded that a program would benefit landowners with high-value and smaller properties. Large parcels would likely not see a benefit because of the high costs with planting vegetation as well as the fact that many of the parcels are already in [[land use taxation]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fiscal Analysis of Tax Exemptions for Stream Buffers: Albemarle County|url=http://www.tjpdc.org/agendas_and_minutes/pdc/12_10_04/Buffers%20Commission%20Presentation.pdf|author=TJPDC Staff|work=|publisher=Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission|location=|publishdate=October 4, 2012|accessdate=October 17, 2012}}</ref> {{clear}} | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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==Livable Communities Planning Project== | ==Livable Communities Planning Project== | ||
{{current|section}} | {{current|section}} | ||
In October 2010, TJPDC received a three-year $999,000 grant to develop a regional sustainability implementation plan. The '''Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant''' is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. <ref>{{cite web|title=|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2010/oct/15/999000-awarded-area-promote-jobs-economic-growth-ar-565293/|author=|work=|publisher=Daily Progress|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=21 Oct. 2010}}</ref> | In October 2010, TJPDC received a three-year $999,000 grant to develop a regional sustainability implementation plan. The '''Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant''' is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.<ref>{{cite web|title=|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2010/oct/15/999000-awarded-area-promote-jobs-economic-growth-ar-565293/|author=|work=|publisher=Daily Progress|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=21 Oct. 2010}}</ref> | ||
Billie Campbell, TJPDC's Chief Operating Officer, said it was a highly competitive grant application process with 225 submissions, 45 awards, and only 3 in Virginia (Roanoke, Radford, and Charlottesville).<ref>[[Planning and Coordination Council]] Meeting. City Space, Charlottesville. 21 Oct. 2010. Public Meeting.</ref> | Billie Campbell, TJPDC's Chief Operating Officer, said it was a highly competitive grant application process with 225 submissions, 45 awards, and only 3 in Virginia (Roanoke, Radford, and Charlottesville).<ref>[[Planning and Coordination Council]] Meeting. City Space, Charlottesville. 21 Oct. 2010. Public Meeting.</ref> | ||
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===Tea Party opposition=== | ===Tea Party opposition=== | ||
The [[Jefferson Area Tea Party]] is skeptical of the grant, and is concerned it is a sign that international organizations have usurped power that they say belongs to local officials. <ref>{{cite web|title=Tea Party hosting forum to review local sustainability initiatives|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/6277-tea_party_sustainability/|author=Brian Wheeler|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=March 17, 2011|accessdate=March 17, 2011}}</ref> | The [[Jefferson Area Tea Party]] is skeptical of the Livable Communities Planning Project grant, and is concerned it is a sign that international organizations have usurped power that they say belongs to local officials.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tea Party hosting forum to review local sustainability initiatives|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/6277-tea_party_sustainability/|author=Brian Wheeler|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=March 17, 2011|accessdate=March 17, 2011}}</ref> | ||
==Controversy over management of funds== | ==Controversy over management of funds== | ||
At the September 2012 meeting of the TJPDC, Williams told his board that two planners hired as part of the initiative would be let go several months earlier than expected. City and county staff have disputed his interpretation of why the grant money was running out. <ref>{{cite web|title=TJPDC livability planners to be let go early|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/12856-tjpdc-livability-planners-to-be-let-go-early/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=September 8, 2012 |accessdate=September 10, 2012}}</ref> | At the September 2012 meeting of the TJPDC, Williams told his board that two planners hired as part of the initiative would be let go several months earlier than expected. City and county staff have disputed his interpretation of why the grant money was running out.<ref>{{cite web|title=TJPDC livability planners to be let go early|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/12856-tjpdc-livability-planners-to-be-let-go-early/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=September 8, 2012 |accessdate=September 10, 2012}}</ref> | ||
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* [[Keith B. Smith]], Representing: Fluvanna County | * [[Keith B. Smith]], Representing: Fluvanna County | ||
* [[Andrea Wilkinson]], CPA, Representing: Greene County | * [[Andrea Wilkinson]], CPA, Representing: Greene County | ||
==Current Staff== | ==Current Staff== | ||
*[[ | *[[David Blount]], Acting Executive Director (June 2013-Present) | ||
*[[Billie Campbell]], Chief Operating Officer | *[[Billie Campbell]], Chief Operating Officer | ||
*[[Will Cockrell]], Senior Planner | *[[Will Cockrell]], Senior Planner | ||
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==Former Leaders== | ==Former Leaders== | ||
[[Harrison Rue]] served as executive director from 2002-2008. Harrison Rue stepped down June 30, 2008 to take a position with ICF International. | *[[Harrison Rue]] served as executive director from 2002-2008. Harrison Rue stepped down June 30, 2008 to take a position with ICF International. | ||
*[[Stephen W. Williams]] served as executive director from 2009-2013. The TJPDC Board of Directors voted unanimously not to renew Williams' contract. His contract expired August 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Williams out as regional planning director|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/15120-williams-not-renewed/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=13 June 2013|accessdate=23 July 2013}}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== |
Revision as of 14:23, 23 July 2013
The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) coordinates planning across a wide variety of jurisdictions and regulatory agencies. The TJPDC provides resources to the City of Charlottesville and surrounding counties. Services rendered include grant applications and management, assistance with strategic and comprehensive plans, and technical assistance with transportation, land use and economic development plans. The TJPDC totals 2,169 square miles and includes 227,107 people in five counties and one city.[1]
Programs
Comprehensive Plan Database
In July 2012, the TJPDC unveiled a searchable database that allows the public to view and compare documents from the Charlottesville and Albemarle County Comprehensive Plans. The database was developed through a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and contains over 12,000 documents.[2]
Stream buffer study
In 2012, Albemarle County staff asked the TJPDC to evaluate whether a program to waive property taxes on stream buffers would encourage conservation and increase water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. In 1998, the General Assembly passed enabling legislation allowing localities to do so. The study concluded that a program would benefit landowners with high-value and smaller properties. Large parcels would likely not see a benefit because of the high costs with planting vegetation as well as the fact that many of the parcels are already in land use taxation.[3]
History
The TJPDC was created in 1972 in order to "promote the orderly and efficient development of the physical, social, and economic elements of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District by planning and encouraging and assisting governmental subdivisions to plan for the future.[4]
Livable Communities Planning Project
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This section documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. |
In October 2010, TJPDC received a three-year $999,000 grant to develop a regional sustainability implementation plan. The Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.[5]
Billie Campbell, TJPDC's Chief Operating Officer, said it was a highly competitive grant application process with 225 submissions, 45 awards, and only 3 in Virginia (Roanoke, Radford, and Charlottesville).[6]
Campbell shared the following additional details about the grant:
- Lead applicant: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Major Partners: City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, University of Virginia
- Other partners: Jefferson Area Board for Aging, Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development, Rivanna River Basin Commission, and Local Energy Alliance Program
- A Sustainability Advisory Committee will be created.
- The Technical Committee of the area Planning and Coordination Council will serve as a steering committee for the project.
- Three contract staff (one each for Charlottesville, Albemarle and UVA) will be hired for 2.5 years and work out of TJPDC. No outside consultants are expected to be utilized on the project.
Summary of Objectives and Expected Results
- "The existing Regional Plan for Sustainable Development in the Charlottesville/Albemarle metro area is the Sustainability Accords. These policies were adopted in 1998 as a result of a four-year process with broad regional support and wide participation by members of the public..."
- "Four problems have been identified that are preventing sustainability initiatives from moving into implementation in the region:
- Problem: Sustainability planning has been proceeding, but under a series of separately focused initiatives...
- Problem: Sustainability goals have been established in major plans (Comprehensive Plans for Charlottesville and Albemarle County, MPO Long Range Transportation Plan) in the region but strategies for implementation have not been developed and adopted...
- Problem: Sustainability is not being fully implemented in either the built environment or in the habitats of citizens and businesses...
- Problem: Lack of available metrics to identify the region's status in pursuing sustainability..."[7]
The Charlottesville Planning Commission and Albemarle County Planning Commission will discuss how implementation will affect their work at a joint session on March 22, 2011.
Tea Party opposition
The Jefferson Area Tea Party is skeptical of the Livable Communities Planning Project grant, and is concerned it is a sign that international organizations have usurped power that they say belongs to local officials.[8]
Controversy over management of funds
At the September 2012 meeting of the TJPDC, Williams told his board that two planners hired as part of the initiative would be let go several months earlier than expected. City and county staff have disputed his interpretation of why the grant money was running out.[9]
Board members[10]
- Joe Chesser, Chair, Representing: Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors, Rivanna District
- Tommy Barlow, Representing: Louisa County, Mountain Road District
- Fred Boger, Representing: Nelson County Planning Department
- Eddie Deane, Representing: Greene County Board of Supervisors
- Christopher J. Dumler, Representing: Albemarle County Board of Supervisors
- Kathy Galvin, Representing: Charlottesville City Council
- Willie Gentry, Representing: Louisa County, Cuckoo District
- Allen Hale, Representing: Nelson County Board of Supervisors
- Genevieve Keller, Representing: Charlottesville Planning Commission
- Ann H. Mallek, Representing: Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, White Hall District
- Keith B. Smith, Representing: Fluvanna County
- Andrea Wilkinson, CPA, Representing: Greene County
Current Staff
- David Blount, Acting Executive Director (June 2013-Present)
- Billie Campbell, Chief Operating Officer
- Will Cockrell, Senior Planner
- Erin Yancey, Environmental Planner
- Daniel Nairn, Regional Planner
- Sarah Rhodes, MPO Coordinator
Former Leaders
- Harrison Rue served as executive director from 2002-2008. Harrison Rue stepped down June 30, 2008 to take a position with ICF International.
- Stephen W. Williams served as executive director from 2009-2013. The TJPDC Board of Directors voted unanimously not to renew Williams' contract. His contract expired August 1, 2013.[11]
References
- ↑ Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. February 2010 Long-Range Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan (Working Draft). Rep. Web. 23 July 2010. <http://tjpdc.org/pdf/transportation/TDMLRP_100713.pdf>.
- ↑ Web. Many plans, one database, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, July 30, 2012, retrieved July 31, 2012.
- ↑ Web. Fiscal Analysis of Tax Exemptions for Stream Buffers: Albemarle County, TJPDC Staff, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, October 4, 2012, retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ↑ United Jefferson Area Mobility Plan 2035. Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, 27 May 2009. Web. 30 June 2009.<http://www.unjam.org/>
- ↑ Web. [1], Daily Progress, retrieved 21 Oct. 2010.
- ↑ Planning and Coordination Council Meeting. City Space, Charlottesville. 21 Oct. 2010. Public Meeting.
- ↑ Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Applicant Abstract: Charlottesville Region Sustainability Implementation Plan. Charlottesville, Oct. 2010. Print.
- ↑ Web. Tea Party hosting forum to review local sustainability initiatives, Brian Wheeler, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 17, 2011, retrieved March 17, 2011.
- ↑ Web. TJPDC livability planners to be let go early, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, September 8, 2012, retrieved September 10, 2012.
- ↑ "Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission." Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission Redirect. Web. 10 September 2010. <http://www.tjpdc.org/home/commissioners.asp>.
- ↑ Web. Williams out as regional planning director, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, 13 June 2013, retrieved 23 July 2013.