THE POPULATION of Albemarle County grew from 30,000 in 1960 to nearly 80,000 in 2000. Because the Board of Supervisors has managed that growth much more responsibly than in many other counties in Virginia; we aren't living in a diminutive Loudoun County. With the exception of the 29 corridor, Albemarle is still a rural county. But with smart growth advocate Dave Bowerman retiring from his Rio District seat after 17 years of service to the county, Albemarle's rural legacy is in jeopardy.
The primary job of the Board of Supervisors is to manage growth and ensure an adequate funding stream for public education. With one more vote on the Board, area developers would have a majority with which they could gut existing open space protections and build subdivisions right up to the boundary of Shenandoah National Park. Because the control of the Board is in question this November, it is particularly important that Rio District voters turn out in force for Democrat David Slutzky, the best candidate to protect Albemarle County from the sprawl builders. This is our community, and we have a responsibility to give it to our children in as pristine a state as possible.Sprawl in Albemarle represents both an attack on our community's way of life and theft from our children's generation.
Because Albemarle is one of the state's leaders in protecting open space, simply supporting existing Board policies would be enough to insulate the county from the worst development patterns. Under the leadership of Board members Dennis Rooker, Sally Thomas and Bowerman, the county has contained most development within a growth boundary. Through the use of a Purchase of Development Rights program, the county has preserved over 6,700 acres of farmland. Particularly in recent years, the Board has fairly successfully encouraged dense development within the growth boundaries, which allowed the County's population to grow 16 percent during the 1990s while only destroying the 29 corridor. Urban growth boundaries are lines beyond which development of a certain sprawling type cannot occur. The limitation of growth boundaries is that some subdivision of rural land is still possible outside the growth boundaries. The rural subdivision style of residential development, which continues to consume farmland in Albemarle, represents the greatest failure of the current Board of Supervisors.
In an interview, Slutzky said he supports the smart growth programs the County has in place, but also supports more aggressive efforts to concentrate development within the growth boundaries. At present, about a third of residential development occurs outside the growth boundaries. While this growth is on a smaller scale than the pre-planned monstrosities like Forest Lakes on Route 29 North, it represents one area where the county needs to improve. Slutzky supports increasing incentives for denser growth within the growth boundaries to decrease current rural subdivision rates. Slutzky will also oppose the proposed pipeline from the James River, which would dangerously lower the river level and open southern Albemarle to sprawl. Most importantly, Slutzky will not expand the area within the growth boundaries.
Slutzky also supports a comprehensive alternative transportation system for Albemarle. Some concepts he supports are dedicated high speed bus lanes in the 29 corridor and a system of bike lanes ringing Charlottesville. If elected, Slutzky would work to integrate alternative transportation infrastructure in all new roads constructed in Albemarle. The Republican candidate for Rio District is Gary Grant. In response to an e-mail questionnaire, Grant expressed support for the same general goals as Slutzky. Like Slutzky, he values Albemarle's rural character. He also supports some concrete policies to develop in a responsible manner, including continuing the Purchase of Development Rights program and expanding bike lanes. The difference between Grant and Slutzky is that Grant does not understand the extent to which aggressive county efforts are necessary to protect our county.
For instance, Grant would look at expansions of the growth area on a "case by case basis." Unfortunately, such an approach would likely result in the continual incremental expansion of sprawl, defeating the purpose of creating growth boundaries. In the absence of growth boundaries, families living just outside the urban area have no guarantee that their neighbors won't sell their farm tomorrow. In the context of a rapidly growing community, the common perception is that everyone is selling their farms. For people who don't want to live on the one remaining farm amidst a sea of vinyl, urban growth boundaries represent a commitment from the County to prevent inertial, runaway growth. Based on Grant's responses to the questionnaire, I do not doubt that he appreciates Albemarle's rural character. However, his answers indicate a certain naiveté with respects to those steps that are necessary to protect that rural character.
Specifically, by saying that he'll consider expanding the growth boundary on a "case by case" basis, he demonstrates ignorance regarding the mechanics of growth management. In a county with zoning, such as Albemarle, the zoning already creates an opportunity for the Supervisors to address growth on a case by case basis, as developers petition to change zoning on a piece of property in order to build more houses. It is the obvious failure of zoning to control growth that created the necessity of the growth boundaries. Unfortunately, Grant's seeming lack of comprehension of this rather basic issue belies a dangerous lack of knowledge about basic procedures of the job for which he is applying.
In contrast, Slutzky has years of experience working with smart growth, open space preservation issues. He worked as the Director of Urban Initiative at theEnvironmental Protection Agency and as a Senior Policy Advisor for Clinton's Council of Sustainable Development. Currently, in addition to teaching at the University, Slutzky runs the environmental consulting firm E². He has the experience to implement effective policies expeditiously.
Neither the value of rural Albemarle nor the rapaciousness of the developers can be overestimated. The voters of Rio District will play a decisive role in determining the future of our entire community on November 8, because the Rio Supervisor votes on land use decisions for the entire County. If they wish to protect rural Albemarle while investing in alternative transportation, they will elect Slutzky supervisor.
Zack Fields is a Cavalier Daily Columnist. He can be reached at zfields@cavalierdaily.com.
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