The two candidates hoping to succeed Diantha McKeel as Jack Jouett District supervisor offered differing views on economic development and growth in Albemarle County at a recent campaign event sponsored by the Free Enterprise Forum.
School teacher Sally Duncan and economist David Shreve are on the ballot in the June 17 Democratic primary.
Since 1980, Albemarle has reserved about 5 percent of the county’s 726 square miles for commercial and residential development. The candidates were asked if that should change.
Duncan said population forecasts from the Weldon Cooper Center of Public Service suggested tens of thousands of new residents in the area by 2050. She relayed what a Weldon Cooper Center demographer recently told one of the county’s community advisory committees.
“Either we need to make room for them here or we’re going to have to make room for them on our roads,” Duncan said. “And if we don’t do either, we’re in for a very painful future.”
Duncan said she would like to swap out growth area land that will not be developed, such as 800 acres that are now part of Biscuit Run Park. She added that she does not want development for development’s sake, but said more housing may alleviate rising costs.
Shreve, a former board member of the defunct Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population, is opposed to any expansion of the growth area for environmental reasons.
“The big issue that emerged in the ’70s, as it did in many communities like ours, was providing water—clean water—and enough of it,” Shreve said. “We still live in an area where we have a relatively fragile ecosystem in that regard. I don’t think we can take that lightly.”
Shreve said he would encourage the county to continue a focus on developing the growth areas at higher residential densities. He added that more people means more services, which lead to higher taxes.
On the question of economic development, Shreve said his priority would be growing existing businesses rather than attracting new ones.
“They’re typically not going to hire from within the ranks of your own citizens … so you’ve got to make room for the new folks,” said Shreve, an eight-year veteran of the county’s Economic Development Authority.
Duncan said the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Virginia will be an economic development asset, another reason why more housing is needed.
“It’s going to be hard for businesses to want to come here when they can go to other areas that have more accessible and affordable housing,” Duncan said.
Both candidates said they support calls for Albemarle to spend $10 million a year on affordable housing projects and both support the county’s purchase of around 473 acres of land around Rivanna Station for a future campus for defense and intelligence companies.
Duncan said she supported the recent 4-cent increase in the county’s real estate tax because the additional revenue would go to paying for firefighters, housing, and schools. Shreve said he was neutral on the issue.
