The Rivanna District is the only Board of Supervisors race featuring two candidates with voting records on county development projects. That keeps Joseph, who is chair of the Planning Commission, from painting herself as an outside reformer, but it also keeps Boyd from calling her too inexperienced, and it makes for more nuanced differences on county growth.
Rural protections: Joseph supports a package of ordinances that would expand stream buffers and critical slope protections in the rural areas—what’s left of the Mountain Overlay District. Ken Boyd has said he’s in support of the idea, but so far has only backed the concept. He recently tried to stall a decision on the issue, but it will be up for a vote this week.
Rezonings for development: The candidates have a surprisingly similar record on most of the big developments that have come before them—including Biscuit Run, which they both voted to approve. Joseph, however, has been more likely to vote against a project when she doesn’t think it’s quality enough—or that developers aren’t offering enough in proffers. Case in, uh, pointe: North Pointe. Joseph thought the so-called mixed-use development with 892,000 square feet of nonresidential space and up to 893 housing units wasn’t up to snuff, and voted against it. The Board broke down 4-2 in favor, and Boyd’s vote was crucial to North Pointe’s approval.
Tax money: Specifically, how it’s spent. Boyd has generally supported spending money to encourage new business, while wanting at the same time to keep the tax rate low. To keep down taxes, Joseph pushes for development to pay more, particularly when it comes to sewer and water—though that’s something not directly in the supervisors’ control.
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