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To: Mayor David Brown; Vice Mayor Kevin Lynch; City Council Members
Blake Caravati, Kendra Hamilton, Rob Schilling; City Manager Gary
O'Connell
P.O. Box 911
Charlottesville, VA 22902
25 July 2005
Dear ___________:
We want you to know from an on-the-ground perspective what is
happening in our neighborhood right now. As you can see in the
accompanying real estate advertisement and keyed tax map, our Fry's
Spring community is under siege.
One, the 188-unit Cherry Avenue PUD will be breaking ground in
the next few months. While it has passed through a series of board
reviews, no serious public consideration has been given to its impact
on the water, traffic, pedestrian safety, or quality of life for the
existing residents. If you review the minutes, you will see that
concerted community objections were disregarded by the planning
commission.
Two, a large parcel at the end of Hill Street that encompasses
the ravine between Hill and Shamrock Avenue, was recently sold to
Thomas Hickman, the developer of the Stribling Avenue site.
Three, a property at 212 Raymond Avenue is being marketed with
an open invitation to developers.
Four, the Jefferson Park Avenue railroad bridge will be closed
for reconstruction. Traffic in and out of our neighborhood will be
seriously disrupted. Current plans also call for the permanent
closing of Todd Avenue, which can only aggravate congestion, impede
police, ambulances and fire engines, and imperil those who live here.
Fry's Spring is marketed and exploited as convenient to UVA. We
are not extended the protections of designated University neighborhoods.
Our taxes pay the salary of a full-time director of Neighborhood
Development Services, who shepherds developers' projects through the
city's approval process.
Who on the City Council, on the Zoning Boards or Planning
Commission, speaks up for those of us who live here?
Does it make sense to implement planning by driving up real
estate assessments and driving out current residents? We pay for
those profits realized by the seller, and by the developer, in taxes
and in quality of life.
Is this what is meant by the “Master Plan?” If so, it is failing
us. Just look at the traffic that doesn't flow, and ask where all the
new vehicles that accompany your in-fill developments are going.
When will you come to Fry's Spring, and see for yourself?
Sincerely yours,
Andrea K and Laurance Wieder
2331 Highland Avenue
Charlottesville, VA 22903-3613
434 295 5057
mosesmuses@adelphia.net
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