In the zone
While C-VILLE took a brief break for the holidays, Charlottesville City Council unanimously approved the long-debated zoning ordinance on Monday, December 18.
New zoning has been a hot topic in Charlottesville for months, with hundreds of residents weighing in during the discussion window. Broadly, supporters of the ordinance believe that increasing density will improve housing affordability in the city. Some concerns raised by opponents include the impact of upzoning, increased demand on infrastructure, and potential for increased traffic.
City councilors expressed some hesitancy about the code prior to the final vote, but ultimately all voted to approve the ordinance.
Though Mayor Lloyd Snook acknowledged the imperfection of the new code, he said, “we have to get started, and this is a good start.”
“As positive and big as the change I think is, we have to have the humility to recognize that we’re not going to know every impact,” said Councilor Michael Payne. “There’s going to be a lot of things that we don’t foresee about multiple elements of it, and I think it’s important to just have the humility to acknowledge that and be ready to respond to that in the coming years.”
Despite City Council’s cautious optimism about the ordinance, critics remain frustrated. One detractor at the meeting was former councilor Kevin Lynch, who voiced his displeasure with the approval of “probably the most radical upzoning plan in the country.”
The new zoning ordinance goes into effect on February 19, 2024.
Rocky road
The University of Virginia men’s basketball team closed out 2023 on a low note, losing 54-76 at Notre Dame. Prior to the December 30 game, Notre Dame was ranked last in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The loss to the Fighting Irish is the latest in a rough patch for the Cavaliers, whose other two defeats this season (to Wisconsin and Memphis) were also by more than 20 points.
Losing to an underdog team is bad enough, but the Hoos 22-point trouncing in Indiana has raised early doubts about the Cavs’ conference and tournament chances. Even after its upset victory over Virginia, Notre Dame had a lackluster 6-7 record at press time, and is ranked 10th in the ACC.
“We’ve all got to come together and find ways, but it’s going to take a real connected, unified effort,” said UVA Coach Tony Bennett at a post-game press conference. “We’ll get back to work … we’re 1-1 in the league and hopefully we can regroup and fight and get back to it.”
All eyes will be on the Hoos during their next game, at home on January 3, against Louisville, the current ACC bottom-dweller.
In brief
Arraignment
On January 9, Tajuan Allen of Albemarle County will be arraigned in Charlottesville Circuit Court on second-degree murder charges in connection with an incident that occurred on November 5, 2020. Allen was more recently in the headlines when he and another man were charged in connection with a December 8 assault at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. The 25-year-old remains in custody, and faces charges of aggravated malicious wounding in connection with the assault.
CPD seeking information
Charlottesville Police are seeking information about a shots fired incident in the 10th and Page neighborhood early on the morning of December 29. Police found bullet casings at the scene, and two buildings in the 800 block of Hardy Drive were struck in the shooting. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. Anyone with information can contact CPD at 970-3280, or anonymously report information through Crime Stoppers at 977-4000.
Taking office
Charlottesville’s newest City Councilor Natalie Oschrin, who on January 2 replaced Leah Puryear as the only woman on council, said on X/Twitter that she has “an unbelievable amount of gratitude for the voters, volunteers, election officers, clerks, councilors, city staff, activists, neighbors, strangers, classmates, teachers, friends, and my family, who all helped make this candidacy successful.” Puryear, who was appointed to council after Sena Magill abruptly resigned at the beginning of last year, said then that she would not seek another term.
