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Albemarle's Development Double Standard Allows The Library To Cross The Road
By. Neil Williamson, President
On Wednesday (5/1) the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors have an $11.8 Million dollar consent agenda item regarding the relocation of Northside library from its current rental space in the Albemarle Square Shopping Center to a location just west of the intersection of Rio Road and US 29.
The Free Enterprise Forum is concerned a double standard may be in play as this is a "public" project as opposed to a private development. As private development interests are regularly told that the financial demands of regulatory approvals are not the concern of the County.
In the past, Albemarle has taken such opportunities to showcase how well their projects embrace the goals of the comprehensive plan and build to the highest criteria. In this case, we believe the county has identified a parcel and is trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
Would a private development get the same free pass?
Currently the Northside Library is in a retail center with significant parking as well as other community facilities within reasonable walking distances such as a bakery, a number of restaurants, a movie theater, a private health club, as well as a new grocery store.
It is important to the discussion that the County is in a lease agreement in this space and that agreement is up for renewal/renegotiation in 2014.
The new site is located on the south side of Rio Road West, just west of the intersection with US29. The staff proposal is to reuse the existing structure to house both the Northside Library (30,000 sq. ft.)as well as long term County warehouse and storage space (20,000+ sq. ft.).
The site is bounded by commercial land on all sides and is zoned for HC Highway commercial.
The headquarters for the Daily Progress is located immediately to west on Rio Road.
Interestingly, this same parcel (in combination with the adjacent parcel) was under consideration for a Homewood Suites hotel location in January of last year.
That project went to Albemarle's Architectural Review Board (ARB) on January 4th. At some point after the ARB issued their initial 15 demands (including the need for 3D Modeling) for future submittals, the investors in the hotel project chose to move the project into the more business friendly City of Charlottesville (read the January 3, 2012 ARB minutes here).
While we are not suggesting the ARB review was the exclusive cause of the hotel project relocation, it certainly was one of the contributing factors. So now, as the private development (tax generating) option has been eliminated we are looking at a public use on the parcel.
Seeing this item on the Board of Supervisors consent agenda leads us to believe last Tuesday's discussion at the Albemarle County Planning Commission may be the only public discussion regarding this project.
Staff met with the Board of Supervisors in closed session early this year to initiate this discussion and to place contractual "holds" on the land to allow for due diligence. Staff has projected the upfit of the property to be in the $8 million dollar range (~$166 per sq. ft.) as compared with $250 a square foot for new construction.
The staff conveniently found the project to be generally consistent with the demands of the facilities and would be a positive redevelopment of this parcel. Unlike a private development, the focus of the Planning Commission discussion was not as directed "whether the general location, character and extent of the proposed facility are in substantial accord with the adopted Comprehensive Plan" but instead focused on the economics of this infrastructure addition.
The Neighborhood Model portion of the Comprehensive Plan places significant importance to interconnectivity of roadways, pedestrian orientation, relegated parking and multi model access.
Section 5.9.15 of the proposed Comprehensive Plan includes:
Strategy 2a: All government facilities in the Development Areas should conform to the principles of the Neighborhood Model.
The reality is the West Rio site is not well placed to become a neighborhood center, it is not located near significant residential activity and the existing bike lanes end at Berkmar. While the location is "not completely devoid of residences," according to County staff the density of this residential is low, and access from those homes to the site is challenged.
Commissioner Tom Loach perhaps put it most succinctly when he said "Theoretically, this is not the Neighborhood Model". But Loach also said, " we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good".
Commissioner Rick Randolph voiced cost effectiveness concerns saying "Focusing on the ideal should not get in the way of this moving forward". Commissioner Ed Smith echoed this sentiment stating "It's not a campus atmosphere but it is the lesser of two evils". Commissioner "Mac" Lafferty believes this is an opportunity that will not repeat itself.
As a part of the discussion, Commissioner Don Franco pushed County staff suggesting there might be ways to make the project more Neighborhood Model friendly and asked if the applicant (the County) was prepared to make commitments to mitigate the negative impacts of the redevelopment. He was concerned that by approving this use, the County might end up in a "firing range" situation where as a commission they have no choice but to approve the site plan regardless of the many concerns.
Commissioner Bruce Dotson enumerated a laundry list of things he would like to see in a library site: Activity center, pedestrian friendly, open space, green space were all important items he wanted to be in the Comprehensive Plan. How this project failed to measure up to those standards was relatively clear.
To address these concerns staff has suggested that future improvements to make the project more pedestrian and bicycle friendly could be reprogrammed from the proposed Berkmar Extension. The Free Enterprise Forum is very troubled by the suggestion of removing a transportation backbone to make a library fit on a less than ideal site.
Loach was OK with the idea that the applicant (the County) would do their best to address them. Would a private developer get this level of trust?
In the end the unanimous Planning Commission decision supported the library use with the condition that the applicant (the county) "come as close to the Neighborhood Model as possible" Perhaps this will be the language used in all future land use discussions – I have my doubts.
Respectfully submitted,
Neil Williamson
Neil Williamson is the President of the Free Enterprise Forum, a local government public policy organization located in Charlottesville. www.freeenterpriseforum.org
Photo Credits: Free Enterprise Forum
Map Credit: Bing.com
Greene Raises Tax Rate to Counter Property Assessment Decline
By. Brent Wilson, Field Officer
On Tuesday night, April 23rd, the Greene County Board of Supervisors heard from only 12 speakers, a fraction of citizens that they heard from a year ago (over 90 speakers), in the public hearing on the property tax rate. With property assessments declining 6.99%, a tax rate increase of $.03/$100 would be required to roughly equalize tax revenue – this is the rate that was published in advance. Chairman Jim Frydl clarified that the meeting was only to take action on the tax rate and that setting the budget will be at the May 14th meeting.
The comments from the public overwhelmingly supported the increase to generate level funding. Andrea Whitmarsh, current assistant superintendent who has been named to be the new superintendent, thanked the BOS for public funding for the schools. She vowed to continue to strive for improved cost control in the school system. She announced to the BOS that after the School Board submitted their budget they have learned that health insurance costs will be reduced by $150,000. These funds will be used to reinstate some of the cuts announced to offset reduced state and federal funding (of over $700,000).
School Board Chairperson, Michelle Flynn, thanked the BOS in advance for level funding and for their time spent coming to the schools – all five have attended some event in the school system. She also echoed the Stanardsville Fire Department who earlier commented on the private fundraising that they do to help fund the schools.
Several citizens did express concern over a tax rate increase and that once a levy is raised it is hard to lower it and that seniors have a hard time making their tax payments. One citizen asked that the county do a zero based budget. He was willing to go along with an increase of $.015/$100 instead of the $.03/$100 proposed. His fear was that increased taxes would deter new businesses from locating in Greene County.
Several of the citizens spoke in favor of the equalized rate and made the comment that this is not raising taxes, but merely to balance out the decline in assessed property valued to generate the same tax revenue – the bill will be the same amount. One citizen encouraged the BOS to equalize taxes to ensure that the quality of life is maintained in Greene County to attract businesses to the county.
The meeting then turned to a discussion among the supervisors. Supervisor Davis Lamb referred to a study he found on line that indicated that in the past decade funding for schools has increased faster than enrollment. He indicated he was not in favor of increasing the property tax rate as Social Security COLA is increasing only 1.4% and Medicare Part B has a 9.3% increase. Supervisor Buggs Peyton also did not support the tax rate increase since the schools received their largest increase ever last year. He expressed concern over the funding the past two years of athletic facilities instead of academics. He also expressed concern that it is time to stop bullying and intimidation and promote collaboration within the schools. Lastly, he indicated that to meet all the needs of Greene County the tax rate would need to be at $.85/$100.
Supervisor Eddie Deane, the supervisor who proposed the $.72/$100 tax rate, believes that the increase will help avoid a larger increase in the future. He appreciates the transparency with the school system. When a more detailed budget by line item was requested, it was presented the next day. He does not want more people in the schools to lose their jobs. He also suggested that the county look into citizens being able to pay more than their tax bill and identify what function it should be assigned to.
Supervisor David Cox appreciated the comments from the public and applauded them for being respectful this evening. And also he complimented the School Board for being open during the school year. He also supported the $.72/$100 tax rate to help offset problems down the road.
Chairman Jim Frydl was last to speak and he also thanked the audience for attending. He also stated that the county has underspent by $979,000 to date. He agreed with Supervisors Dean and Cox that the alternative to raising the tax rate is to put our head in the sand. He indicated that the School System is not asking for increased funding, but for level funding. With that being said, they are already having to eliminate 22.5 positions due to reduced state and federal funding. He supports the $.72/$100 equalized tax rate which would charge residents the same amount as last year.
Supervisor Lamb said that some of the positions being eliminated are due to people leaving the school system. Supervisor Dean indicated that the lack of sale of EDU's has caused the county to bear the full cost of the water and sewer system. Supervisor Frydl agreed stating that any units sold at the $10,000 rate will help offset the $2,000,000 cost which is the worst case.
At that time Chairman Frydl summarized each supervisors position with 3 supporting the $.72 rate and 2 supporting maintaining the $.69 rate. David Cox proposed the motion for the $.72 rate with Eddie Deane seconding the motion. Peyton and Lamb voted no and Frydl, Deane and Cox voted in favor of the equalized rate.
The Free Enterprise Forum commends the citizens of Greene County for their behavior during the meeting, quite a difference from a year ago. The vote to equalize the tax rate will allow Greene County to replenish their Reserve Fund which has proven to allow the county to address major financial issues.
Brent Wilson is the Greene County Field Officer for the Free Enterprise Forum a privately funded public policy organization.
The Free Enterprise Forum Field Officer program is funded by a generous grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) and by readers like you. To support this important work please donate online at www.freeenterpriseforum.org
Fluvanna Passes Budget and CIP
By. Bryan Rothamel
PALMYRA – The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors passed the 2014 fiscal year budget and associated tax rates unanimously during the April 17 meeting.
The budget had minimal changes from the advertised budget. The tax rates did not change from advertised amounts, with the real property tax rate at $0.795 per $100 assessed and personal property tax at $4.15 per $100 assessed.
"I love this budget," said Mozell Booker (Fork Union District) after the meeting. "We put in some things that we took out last year and the schools are in a better position. I loved the whole budget process, the way it was organized, the way it was presented. And we got a 5-0 on the tax rate."
The minor changes to the budget were increased funding for the Fluvanna-Louisa Foundation and Jefferson Area Board of Aging. These two changes came from other budget lines but totaled $17,000 of changes.
Notable budget items include $13.75 million for the school district, educational supplements for deputies and structured pay increases for county employees who are currently paid less than market value.
"It was a win-win situation for everybody involved: for schools, for deputies, for staff. Those are the best sorts of budgets. I think that's why we had such smooth sailing this time around," said chairman Shaun Kenney (Columbia District).
The FY2014 budget is for $65,312,998. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), included in the total budget figure, has $3,834,662 worth of projects for FY2014.
The CIP caused more discussion than the budget. Don Weaver (Cunningham District) did not like the inclusion of a $20 million new elementary school for FY2018. The supervisors only commit to fund items in the FY14 column unless an item stretches from FY14 into following years. The other years were described as 'hopeful', 'dreams' and 'planned for'.
Bob Ullenbruch agreed with Weaver's dissension on the elementary school.
Weaver said he would prefer the School Board raise the issue instead of the Board of Supervisors just including an item from very basic discussions. Weaver hoped in the next nine months the School Board would have a better idea of student enrollment, projections and usage of current facilities including the pending closures of Columbia and Cunningham elementary schools.
The CIP for FY14 includes $575,000 for construction of a Zion Crossroad water and sewer system with another $3.1 million in FY15 and $975,000 in FY16. All three years are slated to be paid for by cash, with the first year coming from the Fund Balance instead of operating expenses.
Also in the plan are a groundwater study and adding a water source to the Fork Union Sanitary Department system. The plan also includes replacing an emergency services apparatus.
The CIP has $1.26 million of spending on school projects including new buses, implementation of a new financial system the county finance department uses, renovations to Carysbrook Elementary School and information technology like server virtualization and internet equipment upgrades.
The CIP was adjusted to take school flooring replacement and playground equipment upgrades out of the FY14 year. The supervisors will vote at the next meeting to pay for those items, totaling $150,000, from the FY13 budget. This will allow the school district to award a contract and begin work sooner in order to give proper time before school resumes this August.
The CIP passed 3-2 with Weaver and Ullenbruch voting against it. Weaver announced before the vote his vote against was a protest vote of the FY18 elementary school line.
The first tax bill to include the new tax rates will be due June 5. The FY14 calendar year begins July 1, 2013.
The Free Enterprise Forum's coverage of Fluvanna County is provided by a grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® and by the support of readers like you.
Bryan Rothamel covers Fluvanna County for the Free Enterprise Forum. He is the founder of the Fluco Blog. Additional writings can be found at www.Flucoblog.com
Monticello Proposal Still Infringes Property Rights
A open letter to Albemarle County Planning Commission:
Dear Chairman Morris and members of the Albemarle County Planning Commission,
Many thanks to Albemarle Director of Planning Wayne Cilimberg for forwarding me the new submissions the Thomas Jefferson Foundation has presented for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan for discussion. The Free Enterprise Forum regrets the majority of the public will not get to see them in advance of the Planning Commission discussion this evening. Again, I regret I will not be able to join you this evening due to a previously scheduled family event.
Considering our outspoken position in favor of individual property rights, we believed a response to Mr. Cilimberg would be appropriate given this newly available information.
After reviewing the e-mailed documents, we agree that this iteration of language is significantly better than the language the Thomas Jefferson Foundation originally wanted. In addition it is also improved from the language the Foundation inserted into the existing Comprehensive Plan.
Recognizing this marked improvement, the Free Enterprise Forum must continue to oppose the intrusion of local government into this basic property rights issue. We ask the section be removed entirely from the Comprehensive Plan.
Please let me explain.
Regardless of their status or import, The Thomas Jefferson Foundation is a property owner with property rights. Their neighbors are also property owners with rights. Because of their position in the community, they have successfully lobbied Albemarle County to insert language into the state mandated planning document that will require the County to act as the Foundation's agent in delivering voluntary design guidelines to limit the property rights of parcels that may be seen from the "Big House".
The rationale for this inclusion , according to tonight's staff report is "In recent years, keeping up with all site plans, subdivision plats, rezonings, and special use permits has been difficult for TJF staff". As Planning Commission Mac Lafferty regularly reminds the public, the planning staff has increasing responsibilities without the requisite increasing in staffing.
Is Albemarle County now in a position to provide additional staff work for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation?
Will Albemarle extend this courtesy to other property owners as well?
The Free Enterprise Forum is aware that Albemarle County is blessed to have the homes of two presidents within its borders. Why has the County not provided the same accommodations to the staff at Ash Lawn?
This issue of visual impact is an issue between property owners not an issue for government. The reality of voluntary guidelines being delivered by government when a building permit is pulled or a pre-application process is initiated is nothing more than a thinly veiled requirement.
Considering all of the above, we find it ironic that Albemarle County and the home of the drafter of the Declaration of Independence are advocating Comprehensive Plan language that makes some property owners more equal than others.
Thank you again for the opportunity to comment on this issue.
Respectfully Submitted,
Neil Williamson
Neil Williamson is the President of the Free Enterprise Forum, a local government public policy organization located in Charlottesville. www.freeenterpriseforum.org
Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan–Deep in the Weeds
By. Neil Williamson
An open letter to the Albemarle County Planning Commission:
April 15, 2013
Mr. Calvin Morris, Chairman, Albemarle County Planning Commission
Dear Chairman Morris and members of the Albemarle County Planning Commission,
Thank you for the extended deadline to provide written comments on the Albemarle Comprehensive Plan. Staff should be commended for marshaling this process forward and seeking to limit the size of the plan (which is still too big).
Before we get to our analysis of the plan, the Free Enterprise Forum wishes to highlight the failure of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission to meet the deadlines associated with the joint City/County/TJPDC/UVA livability plan. In concept this over 1 million dollar expenditure was to "inform the comprehensive planning in the City and County", the money has been spent but the work is not yet complete. The plethora of meetings, public input sessions and joint Planning Commission meetings produced a number of benefits but absent the final work product the effort must be deemed a failure. While appreciative of the supplementary benefits, the Free Enterprise Forum remains concerned that this project was mismanaged by the lead agency.
We have reviewed the entire plan and our comments are organized sequentially with the plan.
Chapter 2 Growth Management Policy – page 2.2.2 the joint City Count statement "the scale and scope of the impacts of new development on this infrastructure necessitate greater financial participation by new development in addressing this need." The statement infers that absent new development infrastructure would be adequate – which is not true. A lack of concurrency of infrastructure has been a concern of the Free Enterprise Forum for over ten years. If the answer to this concern is to make Development area projects even more expensive, this will force development into by right status , into the rural areas, or out of Albemarle County entirely.
Page 2.2.3 should recognize that the County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) has not kept up with the community needs.
Page 2.2.4 The Free Enterprise Forum is concerned with the concept of priority areas within the development area. We recognize the limitation of public funds and the need to focus those funds. Where we are concerned is the language: "Land Use decisions should be made consistent with the priority areas established in the Development Area Master Plans. The County may decide not to approve new rezoning or special use permit outside of the designated priority areas as planned facilities are not in place to support the proposed project and the existing neighborhoods. If approved, however, as a part of the land development process, developers will need to provide more significant levels of improvement to ensure adequate infrastructure and services are available to the area."
If, as we contend, the County has failed to properly fund and construct concurrent infrastructure, the cost to provide adequate infrastructure to both new and existing residents is now on the private land owner whose development area parcel happens not to fall in the "Priority Area". For the same reasons as cited above this will accelerate the kind of By Right development the Comprehensive Plan indicates it wishes to avoid.
As an aside, The Free Enterprise Forum is concerned with the growing power of appointed Community Councils. We are troubled that development proposals are regularly referred to these councils for their blessing prior to going before the Planning Commission.
Chapter 3 Comprehensive Plan and Background – Page 3.2 The 1998 Sustainability Accords these items have appeared in the Comprehensive Plan since their passage. While there has been little discussion of these accords the plan states "Goals for sustainability were most recently adopted in 2007 when the Comprehensive Plan reaffirmed the accords" Has the Planning Commission, or any other body really reviewed the sustainability accords recently? They were written 15 years ago. Should we accept these accords as if they came down from the mountain on stone tablets? Or should they be examined prior to passing the comprehensive plan that would "reaffirm the Accords"
Historic Preservation Page 3.9 (joint City County goals) "To do this the City and County will: Colloborate with the University of Virginia, Ashlawn-Highland, Monticello and other community organizations on historic preservation matters." The Free Enterprise Forum finds the failure to include property owners in the list of collaborators is an error and speaks to an institutional bias in opposition to property rights.
Chapter 5.1 Natural Resources – Page 5.1.1 This chapter is in need of editing. It speaks to the importance of an issue that the Natural Resources chapter of the comprehensive plan is 30 pages while only 11 pages are dedicated to the economic development chapter.
Page 5.2.4 Mountain Protection – This section correctly identifies the Mountain Protection Ordinance as being rejected by the community in January 2007. IS there a reason for including this text in the plan? The issue has been resolved. This text should be removed.
Page 5.1.10 Stormwater Management – The plan states "Evidence has shown that, once constructed, many facilities are not maintained properly." While this may be true in some areas, it is clearly not true in other areas. This text is prejudicial and should be reworded.
Page 5.1.13 Objective 1: Retain Biodiversity in the County – "This information should be used to create a database that includes both landscape features such as habitats and critical slopes areas and species occurrences from point observations. The database should then be included in the County's Geographical Information System so that County staff and the public can use the information for conservation purposes. The information could also be used in reviewing requests for legislative approvals." [emphasis added]
Is Albemarle County prepared to limit development in their development area based on the number of species established by a biodiversity inventory? What possible project could be approved under such a standard?
Page 5.1.14 Biodiversity Action Plan "Building on this analysis, the County should develop the action plan based on conserving ecological integrity at the scale of the landscape" Ecological integrity is an undefined buzz word that promotes existing conditions while failing to recognize potential ecological benefits of development (or redevelopment) This entire concept should be removed from the plan
Page 5.1.15 Strategies – In no other chapter does the work of the comprehensive plan fall so directly on one group of unelected individuals. The Natural Heritage Committee is continually mentioned as a resource and an "expert" on Biodiversity. Interestingly this group has lost more than half of its members in the last year and the clerk's office has not received any interested applicants in the last two months.
Page 5.1.19 Strategy 4d.3 – "Apply a general risk management approach to the public water supply watershed whereby land use management takes priority over design and best management practices (BMPs) to reduce or eliminate risk from land development activities." Reading between the lines of this dense statement, it suggests regardless of placement in the development areas, any parcel should not be developed if it is within the public water supply watershed. This could be read as a call for no development. This is absurd.
Page 5.1.19 Strategy 4e.1 – The explanation of groundwater is overly verbose and at times nonsensical. The suggestion that "A new well may also draw water from the flow that is going to a different resident's well" is gently worded enough to be technically correct but contradicts testimony provided to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors from then Water resource Manager David Hirshman.
Chapter 5.2 Historic, Cultural, and Scenic Resources – Page 5.2.3 "Moreover the number of resources destroyed in recent years suggests that continued reliance on solely voluntary measures would not be adequate to protect those resources. Instead a combination of strategies is necessary, including voluntary techniques, regulation, education and financial incentives." The Free Enterprise Forum calls for regulation to be removed from the strategies listed. This community has a firm desire for voluntary measures and incentives but Historic Preservation Ordinances are unacceptable.
Page 5.2.8 – No one of the strategies for historic preservation includes the phrase with the consent of the property owner.
Page 5.2.10 Strategy 2b1: "Adopt a historic overlay district ordinance to recognize and protect historic, architectural, and cultural resources, including individual sites and districts at the local level". We acknowledge that this language exists in the current comprehensive plan but we have not seen significant public support for a new confiscatory historic overlay. The Free Enterprise Forum asks that this language be struck from the Comprehensive Plan.
Page 5.2.10 Strategy 2.b.3: "Expand the authority of the Architectural Review Board (ARB) to include the review required under the recommended historic district overlay ordinance. Revise the make up of the ARB to include members with expertise in historic preservation and revise the name of the group accordingly". Considering our significant concerns with the existing regulatory over reach of the ARB, the Free Enterprise Forum does not support the creation of the Super ARB and ask that it be struck from the Comprehensive Plan.
Page 5.2.10 Strategy 2b.7: "To discourage the destruction of important historic resources, seek enabling legislation that would allow the County to impose meaningful civil penalty for inappropriate demolition, razing or moving of any designated historic resource. This enabling legislation should also authorize the County to use civil penalties collected to fund components of the County's historic preservation program." The fact that the County can't work with existing legislative authority and is seeking to develop a civil penalty slush fund to be used for preservation suggests this is not a true priority for the County. If the county wishes to preserve a historic building or landscape – they should buy it.
Page 5.2.12 Strategy 4a: "The County should help protect Monticello's viewshed using these measures:" The Free Enterprise Forum has been very outspoken on this issue. Time and again when we raise the issue we have been told this is a voluntary program. Reading the introductory statement this is not voluntary it is declarative.
While we believe all of strategy 4a should be dropped, we ask that if you consider retaining any language it be improved to recognize that the "protection" Monticello is seeking is at the cost of other tax paying property owners rights. Perhaps change this directive to encourage communication (not cooperation) between Monticello and other private property owners regarding visual impacts (not viewshed).
Page 5.2.12 Strategy 4a.5: "Staff should be aware of the Viewshed area and be especially careful when applying land use regulations to properties in the viewshed." Again we believe the whole section should be dropped but this is ridiculous is staff NOT to be careful in applying land use regulations elsewhere in the County. This is superfluous and suggests additional special treatment that does not exist in code!
Page 5.2.14 Cultural and Scenic resources (last paragraph): "Existing regulations only go so far in protecting the resources. Greater ability to regulate aesthetics is desired to help preserve these qualities". Recognizing the balance of this chapter calls for increased regulatory powers and aesthetic controls, the Free Enterprise Forum asks how this balances with the "desire" for economic development. Albemarle County is at a critical tipping point where over regulation, while seeking to maintain the existing condition, may forestall the economic advancement of the community.
Page 5.2.21 Plan for Scenic Resources Objective 1: Support wider enabling legislation for regulating aesthetics in specified areas of importance." Once again the desires of the property owners will be secondary to the powers of regulations for "areas of importance" This objective and the following strategy should be dropped from the plan.
Page 5.2.21 Strategy 1a: "Support enabling legislation for Albemarle County to provide for a scenic protection and tourist enhancement overlay district". Based on the Free Enterprise Forum's opposition to the Monticello viewshed overlay one can imagine we are equally, if not more, concerned with the concept of a tourism enhancement overlay district that would hinder the property rights of Albemarle citizens. We do not believe this is the general direction of the Board of Supervisors at this time and question whether the Planning Commission, utilizing Zero Based Planning, has fully vetted this question. If such a proposal were to go forward, the Free Enterprise Forum promises to fight it at the local and state level.
Page 5.2.22 Strategy 2f: " Consider additional EC [Entrance Corridor] designations as appropriate, or as road classifications change for roads such as the John W. Warner Parkway, Route 614 (Sugar Hollow Road), Route 692/712 Plank Road, and Route 810 (Brown's Gap Turnpike)". Albemarle County today has 19 Entrance Corridors. The Free Enterprise Forum believes this is a gross misuse of the enabling legislation. The Free Enterprise Forum asks that the number of entrance corridors be reduced to ten and that no new road may be added as an entrance corridor unless one is removed.
Page 5.2.23 Strategy 2g: "Review the EC guidelines for effectiveness in protecting the integrity of exceptionally scenic EC corridors, such as Route 250 West." Now the EC guidelines are not enough the concept is to plan for super guidelines for those "exceptional corridors". If Albemarle County is serious about create protection for the exceptional, the Free Enterprise Forum suggests simply reducing the number of Entrance Corridors and implementing the exceptional strategies on that reduced number.
The natural progression from this concept is recognized in the last line of this section "recommendations for stricter zoning regulations in the ECs may be an outcome of this review".
Page 5.2.24 Objective 5: Preserve important views as they relate to tourism and recreational assets. This objective and the strategies supporting it suggest a regulatory solution to the organic change of the community. How does this balance with the economic development [or ecological in the case of controlled burns, timber harvesting].
Page 5.2.24 Strategy 5b: Protect the Monticello viewshed as indicated in the historical Resources Section. – see our comments above
Chapter 5.3 Economic Development: While the Free Enterprise Forum is concerned that the Economic Development chapter is the shortest in the Comprehensive Plan, we applaud the inclusion of this important concept.
We are concerned that the length of the Natural Resources chapter is three times that of Economic Development chapter. While both are important, the Free Enterprise Forum believes ample opportunity exists to balance the chapters to better reflect their equal import.
Chapter 5.4 Land use for the Rural areas. The Free Enterprise Forum applauds the inclusion of economic sustainability as a goal for the rural areas. The best way to keep land in agricultural and forestry uses is to allow ancillary uses to help economically support the primary uses.
Chapter 5.5 Land Use for Development Areas, page 5.5.11: Tables for remaining non-constrained land the tables were not updated by the time the document was released to the public for review. We are eager to see the new numbers and anticipate they will consider the land that is now slated to be Biscuit Run State Park to be "constrained".
Page 5.5.11: "Several studies over the last seven years have indicated that the County has enough rezoned commercial square footage to last more than 20 years. The Studies did not include analysis of already zoned commercial areas or the potential for redevelopment. Because of the amount of work that has already been done on the topic, staff is not going to perform another retail analysis. Instead, attention will be paid to the land designated for industrial and/or employment uses ". This is a false choice. There is no reason the Planning Commission (or the BOS) should not demand that a retail analysis be conducted for this 5 year update of the comprehensive plan. While the studies are mentioned they are not cited and in just about every case I am aware of these reports were completed with an agenda (both pro and con). Albemarle should insist a proper accounting of commercial space be conducted as a part of this plan.
Page 5.5.15: Objective 1: Achieve high quality development through the application of Neighborhood Model principles. The phraseology of this objective is troublesome. The Free Enterprise Forum believes most if not all applications that come before the Planning Commission have to balance the principles of the neighborhood model to their projects goals and site limitations. We respectfully suggest that the word "flexible" be placed between through and application to better reflect the reality of development [and redevelopment] in Albemarle County.
Page 5.5.19: "A network of streets and convenient routes for pedestrians, bicyclists, buses and other transit, including the potential for light rail in the future allows alternatives to driving". Back in 2009, we wrote extensively regarding the population required to support the investment of light rail in any community. While we are aware of the highly popular Tide line in the Virginia Beach area, we also recognize they have significantly higher population to support light rail. This twenty year comprehensive plan does not include such population projections; therefore this reference, while fanciful to many in the planning community, should be removed.
Page 5.5.20 Relegated Parking The Free Enterprise Forum believes the parking regulations in Albemarle County are in need of review and revision. The Comprehensive Plan provides an opportunity to suggest such a review. No other principle has received more attention than so called relegated parking. We call on Albemarle County to review the parking regulations with the Albemarle County Police Community Safety through Environmental Design Officer and report back to the BOS prior to moving forward again endorsing relegated parking in the Comprehensive Plan.
Page 5.5.22 "Review the cash proffer policy to assess what effect it may have on density". Earlier this year the Free Enterprise Forum provided the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors our white paper "Contradictory Consequences" on cash proffers. We encourage examining our paper, and the examples included, to evaluate the effectiveness of cash proffers on density. We anticipate your findings will be similar to ours that a cash proffer policy encourages by right development at a density and form that is contrary to the County's approved Comprehensive Plan.
In 2007, Albemarle County looked to Chesterfield County a model for cash proffer legislation. It is interesting that Chesterfield is now contemplating repeal, or at least rolling back, its cash proffer policy. It may be time for Albemarle to take similar action.
Page 5.5.25 Strategy 6b: "Make land use decisions that are consistent with Priority Areas that are established in the Development Area Master Plans. Do not approve proposed rezonings and special use permits outside of the priority areas when planned facilities are not in place to support the project and existing neighborhoods, unless the proposed project will provide significant improvements to ensure adequate infrastructure and services are available to the area"[emphasis added].
As stated above [under growth management] If, as we contend, the County has failed to properly fund and construct concurrent infrastructure, the cost to provide adequate infrastructure to both new and existing residents is now on the private land owner whose development area parcel happens not to fall in the "Priority Area". For the same reasons as cited above this will accelerate the kind of By Right development the Comprehensive Plan indicates it wishes to avoid. The Free Enterprise Forum is opposed to the se of Priority Areas to reject land use applications that would otherwise have been approved.
Page 5.6.11: "Fund programs of the County's Housing Department to implement housing policies." Similar to our concerns regarding the Natural Resource Chapter mandating the County "Hire" an environmental planner, the Free Enterprise Forum does not believe the comprehensive plan is the proper place for the housing department to be requesting additional funding.
Page 5.7.3: "Dispersed development patterns have helped promote a transportation network that is mostly focused on the automobile. In the past a more abundant supply of cheap land and fuel encouraged development patterns that have become hard to sustain". This anti automobile philosophy is prevalent throughout academic papers in planning. The reality is the automobile is and for the foreseeable future will be the primary form of transportation for the majority of Albemarle's population. Given advances in fuel economy, hybrid vehicles and transit opportunities, we must question if the current development patterns are really "hard to sustain"?
The Free Enterprise Forum believes multi modal opportunities should be evaluated and implemented but only after recognizing that people who live, work and play in Albemarle County appreciate and invest in the independent mobility of the automobile.
If you have made it this far, thank you. The Free Enterprise Forum is appreciative of the considerable effort of staff, planning commissioners and the public to engage with this document. In addition, thank you for the extension for written comments, as the 3,000+ words above indicate this is a dense document and required time to digest.
We look forward to being a part of the continuing dialog on this issue.
Respectfully Submitted,
Neil Williamson
Neil Williamson is the President of the Free Enterprise Forum, a local government public policy organization located in Charlottesville. www.freeenterpriseforum.org
Fluvanna Supervisor Advocates "Tax" Donations to County
By. Bryan Rothamel
PALMYRA – A Fluvanna County supervisor has a plan to allow easier and unrestricted access to donate to specific line items in the budget through overpaying a tax bill.
"Folks are saying they want to be taxed higher, this is an opportunity to tax yourself higher and point that extra tax to what you feel most important about," said Bob Ullenbruch (Palmyra District).
"There's many different departments that people have a passion for and this gives them the opportunity to put their money where they're passionate."
Ullenbruch was alerted by a constituent of an option to give residents a section on tax bills to overpay on purpose. The constituent asked House of Delegate Rob Bell (R-Charlottesville) if an option of unrestricted overpayment for a specific department was allowed. Bell responded that state statute does allow such an option and Prince Edward is the only county to utilize the practice.
On April 8, Ullenbruch met with Commissioner of Revenue Mel Sheridan, Treasurer Linda Lenherr and finance director Barbara Horlacher to discuss the implementation of such an option. Discussions with Prince Edward about carry out will have to occur but the option could begin as early as the second tax cycle in 2013 (the December tax bill).
The option to overpay would be on both real property and personal property tax bills. There would be the amount to pay based on assessed taxes then a second line asking if the taxpayer would like to contribute extra to any budgeted department the Board of Supervisors funds.
This includes school funding, Sheriff Department, parks and recreation, any non-profit, information technology, finance, etc. The donation is unrestricted for the department.
Ullenbruch said the process after each tax collection would include the Treasurer presenting the Board of Supervisors with the excess tax collection earmarked for each department. The supervisors would then vote to release the funds to the departments. The personnel in charge of the department, or School Board in the case of the school system, then decides how to spend the money, without restriction.
"There's a difference between [the proposal] and say, I show up to the School Board meeting with a check for $100. They can't use that money for [much] — they'd have to come in with school supplies or this or that. You can't donate money into the school budget. In this case, you can," said Ullenbruch.
Most real property tax bills are never seen by the homeowners. Ullenbruch said a majority of tax bills are paid through mortgage bills. The county could choose to mail a separate 'bill' to the homeowner for this excess contribution. Tenants could also decide to contribute excess of whatever the owner pays.
All personal property owners would also see the line for additional tax payment on bills. The line, however, is not directing spending of the taxed amount. In order to utilize the option, the taxpayer has to pay the tax in full.
"On the back of the tax bill it'll be very clear that it is not a portion of your taxes. It is actual overpayment of your taxes. That one of those things we have to be very clear about that," said Ullenbruch.
Ullenbruch will propose the option on April 10. He is confident it will pass but expects discussion on how the process will be fully carried out.
The Free Enterprise Forum's coverage of Fluvanna County is provided by a grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® and by the support of readers like you.
Bryan Rothamel covers Fluvanna County for the Free Enterprise Forum. He is the founder of the Fluco Blog. Additional writings can be found at www.Flucoblog.com
Photo Credit: Fluvanna County
Who's Responsible for TJPDC Failure To Deliver Million Dollar Planning Promise?
By. Neil Williamson, President
As Albemarle County and The City of Charlottesville continue to move forward on their comprehensive plans, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) effort entitled "Many Plans One Community" is failing to meet deadlines and has lost their project manager. The HUD funded "Livability Communities" Planning Project continues to disappoint citizens and decision makers alike.
The "Performance Measurement System Report" document was designed to be the first deliverable for the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant (p.4). The work on this deliverable was mainly completed from January 2011 to April 2011. Yet today the draft provided to the public for consideration as a part of Charlottesville's Comprehensive Plan includes typographical errors and is missing critical information. Throughout the document are the terms "placeholder" (p.25,26, 26, 28) or "need updated Information from City and County" (p.37) All of the executive summaries in the March 15, 2013 draft (almost two years since the work was completed) contain Latin placeholders.
A review of the work plan included on the "Many Plans One Community" website indicates that all text was to be completed by January 31, 2013 to coincide with the respective Planning Commission Comprehensive Plan reviews.
The TJPDC process was designed from the outset to improve, not delay, the comprehensive plan process. In their 2011 media release kicking off the process the TJPDC described the process:
Many Plans, One Community is the portal for information exchange and public input that will inform the updates of the Charlottesville and Albemarle County comprehensive plans, the Charlottesville Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization Long Range Transportation Plan update and the development of a regional Livable Communities Plan. Many Plans, One Community will be a One-Stop Shop for all information about each of these four different plans, as well as a forum for the public to provide feedback throughout the process. It is envisioned that this process will extend limited staff resources and encourage collaboration, facilitate public information sharing and increase transparency across municipal boundaries.
Back in September, 2012 Charlottesville Tomorrow's Sean Tubbs reported that three "One Community" TJPDC Planners had been let go earlier than planned due to budget overruns:
Two temporary employees of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission hired to help update the Albemarle and Charlottesville comprehensive plans will leave their jobs seven months earlier than expected as money from a $1 million federal grant begins to run out. . .
…"We are anticipating that we will be able to close out the project, complete all of the products
that have been promised both to HUD, the city and the
county and the MPO within the budget and within the time frames that are proposed," Williams said.
Then on January 31, 2013 Project Manager Summer Frederick left the TJPDC to return to work for Albemarle County. The TJPDC media release indicates:
As of February 1, 2013, Mr. Williams, will be the primary point of contact for all project management issues related to the Many Plans, One Community Livability Project. Mr. Williams may be reached via phone at 434-979-7310 x110, or via email at firstname.lastname@example.com
After three years and nearly a million dollars, what do the citizens have to show for it? A litany of meetings, a website, partially completed reports and now TJPDC Exec Williams is taking management responsibility?
One has to wonder has the TJPDC met the terms, objectives and deadlines of the HUD Federal Grant?
And if not, who should be held responsible?
Respectfully submitted,
Neil Williamson
Neil Williamson is the President of the Free Enterprise Forum, a local government public policy organization located in Charlottesville. www.freeenterpriseforum.org
Fluvanna Supervisors Discuss Economic Development in Zion Crossroads
By. Bryan Rothamel
The talk of Fluvanna County since the 1990s has been economic development. Finally, Fluvanna is starting to make concrete steps towards actually seeing the long discussed economic development.
During the April 3 work session, the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors heard staff updates on many topics including economic development and a Zion Crossroad update.
"We need economic development because we have to find another way to pay for the services we do need in this county — including schools, education, employees, rescue squad — all those things have to be provided. To put all that burden on the property owners is a pretty heavy burden," said Joe Chesser (Rivanna District) after the work session.
The director of community planning and development, Bobby Popowicz, told the board of economic projects in the works.
Currently Popowicz is trying to secure and locate a training facility on 750 total acres with 100 usable acres (building footprint, etc.) of the facility. The building would be buffered and hidden by trees.
Also, he is working with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Fluvanna County Cooperative Extension to find Fluvanna grape growers and land suitable for the regional demand of wine grapes.
Part of this work is including Fluvanna in the Monticello American Viticultural Area for local wineries to buy Fluvanna grapes.
Popowicz biggest focus is bringing an employment center or 'legacy project' to Fluvanna. A legacy project is the centerpiece of a major development. It provides a development with a strong nucleus for retail and residential to surround.
Popowicz is targeting a medical facility and a federal research company. One federal contractor he has talked with isn't looking to expand but did offer to recommend Fluvanna for other companies entering the Central Virginia market.
Finally, Popowicz was approached by his Albemarle counterpart about the possibility of a megasite in the Route 250 Corridor. Such a site would involve a revenue sharing program but would allow both counties to add jobs with easy access to Interstate 64.
This past year Popowicz has worked on getting Fluvanna's recognition amongst state and local economic development leaders. It has started to pay off with such officials. Popowicz hopes to encourage business expanding in the region to move to Zion Crossroad.
"Water to Zion Crossroads, probably the most important thing we can do," said Popowicz to the board.
Chairman Shaun Kenney (Columbia District) said after the meeting, "There are still a lot of hurdles we have to clear: we have to get water to Zion Crossroads, we have to get broadband to Zion Crossroads, we have to get sewer to Zion Crossroads. Even when you get all that there, what comes after and in what way?"
The planning department is working on that. Allyson Finchum, director of planning, briefed the board on a Zion Crossroad plan following Popowicz's presentation.
The Zion Crossroad area has had 10 studies or plans mentioning the area in the last 15 years. Now the county needs one plan for the area and the area only. It could be used in conjunction with the Fluvanna Comprehensive Plan, but one dedicated to the area will help Popowicz match businesses to the county's plans.
The Virginia Employment Commission, the gold standard in population projection in Virginia, projected Fluvanna's population will increase to 37,433 by 2020 and 47,010 by 2030. In 2010, Fluvanna had 25,691 residents.
The Zion Crossroad urban development area could have 11,000 to 21,000 new residents over the next 10 to 20 years. The amount of acreage using the rural and suburban density method would require 11,041 to 25,186 acres to accommodate. The traditional neighborhood development method would only require 711 to 1,708 acres.
"[Economic development] means a lot of things. You are going to have to bring in more people but you want to bring in the right businesses to have a sustainable economy," said Chesser.
By planning to use a traditional neighborhood development, Fluvanna would have to plan for village like developments where employment, retail and residential are in walking distance. It requires legacy projects that Popowicz is actively recruiting.
"There is a quick temptation to building out very quickly which is box stores and townhomes. If you end up doing it that way, sure there is a great short-term benefit, it feels good in the short term.
"But in 15 years, when those box stores go empty and the townhomes degrade, then at what type of condition are you at? This is making sure we do it properly, we do it smart, we do it according to a plan. It is absolutely critical. If we go for the sugar high, we are going to kill ourselves long term. We only have one chance to build out Zion Crossroads right," said Kenney.
Zion Crossroad actually could set up quite nicely for a traditional neighborhood development. Of the 6,016 total acres in the Route 250 corridor, 3,196 acres are developed. That leaves 2,820 acres undeveloped. There are also pretty well connected areas of undeveloped land.
What comes of it is now for a master plan.
A lot of the discussion around Zion Crossroad is similar to how Short Pump was discussed years ago. That isn't something Chesser sees as a perfect solution because of the congestion that plagues the area.
He does like elements and basic design of Stonefield in Charlottesville. Stonefield incorporates retail and residential while surrounding Sperry Marine – Northrop Grumman.
"If you can put shopping center behind trees but still have viable businesses like, some of these larger consulting companies. You can even have a manufacturing company out there because manufacturing is so much more aggressive and high tech," said Chesser.
While the idea of making a master plan seems like another study in the process, Kenney insists this is different. During the work session he credited Crozet having a master plan that helped spark development.
"It is not another study to a study. What this is, at this point in time we've collected the data, we know we have an opportunity there, how are we going to seize that opportunity? That's the difference between now and then," said Kenney.
The supervisors hope to make decisions on water infrastructure and start a master plan in the coming months.
"We can talk about what we want up there and put a picture for people to see. Hopefully, by showing [a plan], by us invest in that area, someone will come and do the right job. There are some great developers out there that have done things across the country," said Chesser.
The Free Enterprise Forum's coverage of Fluvanna County is provided by a grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® and by the support of readers like you.
Bryan Rothamel covers Fluvanna County for the Free Enterprise Forum. He is the founder of the Fluco Blog. Additional writings can be found at www.Flucoblog.com
Why Albemarle Needs Zero Based Planning
Comments to the Albemarle County Planning Commission Comprehensive Plan Update Public Hearing April 2, 2013
Mr. Chairman, members of the Planning Commission my name is Neil Williamson and I work for the Free Enterprise Forum a public policy organization based in Albemarle County.
We find many positives in this revised Comprehensive Plan. The inclusion of a chapter on Economic Development is a welcome shift. The plan length, while still too long, is probably half the size of the previous iteration. We also applaud the use of appendices to catalogue important supplementary material.
Even with those positives, throughout the Comprehensive Plan Update the Free Enterprise Forum has raised significant concerns with the general direction of the plan. It is only now, when viewing the plan in total that we have identified a critical flaw in the Plan's development.
While we remained concerned about several of the proposed changes in the Plan, we are most concerned that the entire plan has not been fully vetted by this commission.
Staff has continued to highlight the changes to the Comprehensive Plan but has this body fully evaluated those items that remain in the Plan?
Did this commission hold a vote to retain the Historical Preservation Ordinance and related Architectural Review Board expansion to cover all parcels within or adjacent to the historic overlay? It's in there
Has this Commission been briefed by counsel on the legal standing or lack thereof regarding the word Viewshed? It's in there
Speaking of viewshed, prior to this hearing had you even seen the new land grab language that The Thomas Jefferson Foundation strong armed into this draft document? It's in there
Does this Commission really believe in the next 50 years there will be the population density required to support light rail? It's in there
Does this Commission believe the Comprehensive Plan should demand the hiring of an environmental planner? It's in there
Unlike the special interest groups that have drafted much of the proposed comprehensive plan, the Planning Commission is charged with representing the entire community.
This plan lacks a unified voice that balances community needs with property rights. Previous plans did not fully meet this standard.
The Free Enterprise Forum is asking the Planning Commission not to accept the Current Comprehensive Plan as the baseline but to practice zero based planning.
Examine the whole document.
Albemarle's Comprehensive Plan Update Deserves a Comprehensive Review.
Thank you for your service to the community.
Respectfully submitted,
Neil Williamson
Neil Williamson is the President of the Free Enterprise Forum, a local government public policy organization located in Charlottesville. The full Contradictory Consequences report can be found at www.freeenterpriseforum.org


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Goat's Milk Almond & Apricot Exfoliating Bar
Everything you need:
Soap base (goat's milk is super moisurizing)
scented oils (apricot & almond oil)
exfoliant (apricot seeds)
coloring (food coloring)
double boiler or microwave
molds (you could use a muffin tin)
cooking spray for lubricant
wooden spoon
Directions are so easy & fun. I will not be seeing another bar of Dove in my shower for a quite some time.
First: cut your base up into chunks along the perforated lines and put into the double boiler. Keep stirring until everything is dissolved and soupy.
Second: Turn off heat and add a few drops of your oils. You can also add food coloring but a little goes a long way. Just 1 drop of red & 1 drop of orange got me the color I wanted.
Third: I added my packet of seeds and stirred with a wooden spoon until everyone got to know each other.
Fourth: Sprayed molds quickly and poured CAREFULLY so the soaps would be nice & perfect on top
BUT I didn't pour ALL OF IT.
Fifth: I got crafty and kept a little soap in the pot and added just a drop or two more coloring and mixed. Then I poured the remainder in to "top off" and give a striped effect when I popped them out. Well that was the plan anyway:) the color variation is definitely there & I'm really excited for how they turned out.
Let sit for a few hours & pop them out when firm. Mine smell so yummy and look fantastic. I can't wait to use them tomorrow morning. I was able to get 5 good size bars from the mold. They are gonna make the best gifts.
Oh yeah, almost forgot...clean up was a breeze;))

subset: commoncrawl


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I have learned so much along the way. I think what surprised me most and has made me feel very thankful is that there are people out there that seem to like and appreciate my art work. Thank you for your wonderful feedback and your faith in me. You have given me an avenue to express myself and to share my ideas with others (like you!).
In celebration of this happy milestone, PDF paper dolls are only $1 each! Most of them are usually $6, so this is a super good deal. You could get all 12 available patterns for only $12!
So, cheers! And here's to another happy 500!


text:
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04 Days/ 03 Nights
Goa Honeymoon
Day 1: Arrival at Goa
Get welcomed at the Airport/ Railway Station and then get transferred to the Resort. Call it a day of your choice spending your time at one of the prettiest beach- Calangute.
Day 2
Soon after morning meal, get wheeled for the sight-seeing of Mangueshi Temple, Old Goa Church, Miramar Beach, Dona Paula and Panjim City. Return for the dinner at your Resort.
Day 3
After the breakfast, step outdoors for your choice of adventure sports/water sports activities. You can enjoy banana boat ride, diving, dolphin-watching, water scooter, kayaking, fishing, parasailing.(Please contact us for the best rates/packages for the given activities) In the evening,return to the Resort for Dinner and night leisures.
Day 4: Departure from Goa
Soon after having your regular morning breakfast and having some shopping in local market area, you may depart for Airport/ Railway station and proceed with your onward journey. (Please book your departure/ return journey only for afternoon hours).
Wishing you a Happy Married Life!
Hotel Used
Cidade De Goa or Similar
Total Price: Rs. 18,999, only, per person.
Package Inculsions:
• Accomodation in AC Deluxe Room on a double sharing basis
• Arrival/ Departure transfer in A/C Coach (Charges of Rs 250 from Madgaon Railway Station)
• Daily Breakfast and Dinner
• Welcome drink (non-alcoholic) on arrival in hotel
• Tea/Coffee Maker (Charges extra for replenishment)
• 2 bottles of mineral water daily
• Sight seeing as per itinerary in A/C Coach/ Car
Package Exclusions:
• All meals not mentioend above
• All other personal expenses
• Govt. service tax of 2.58%
• Anything else not mentioned above in inclusions
Note: Optional water/Adventure sports activities from Paahun :
1) Kayaking- Rs.2000 Per Person: You will be sailing through the still flat back waters,
2) Fishing- Rs.3500 Per Person: Experienced crew lead you to the favoured angling spots in search of different variety species of fish like Baramundi, Giant Indian Sea Perch, Sea Bass, King Fish, Red Snapper, Indian Salmon etc,
3) Diving- Rs. 3500 Per Person: See different and beautiful species of fish, explore an old shipwreck, marvel at the colours, and the play of light in the clear crystal waters,
4) Sailing- Rs. 1500 Per Person: Sail though the air with a full blown parasail as you are winched along over the waters of the crystal blue Arabian Sea. Certainly it will take your breath away!
…to name a few.


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Richard James Verone, 59, robbed a bank for just $1 and then waited there for deputies to arrest himself. The story started when he entered into a bank in Gastonia, N.C. and then handed the female teller a note. The note said this is a bank robbery. please only give me one dollar. The note also stated that he had a gun. Then he did the strangest thing of all.
"I started to walk away from the teller then I went back and said, 'I'll be sitting right over there in the chair waiting for the police," he said.
The police officers arrived there and arrested him. After arresting him the police realized that he was unarmed and the sum wanted in his note was only one dollar. Then Richard elaborated the things, he said -
I wanted to make it known that this wasn't for monetary reasons, but for medical reasons. It it is called manipulation, then yes, I am manipulating the courts to get medical care.
Verone has a growth in his chest, two ruptured disks and no job, and the worst thing - he has no medical insurance. He wanted at least a three-year sentence, which would give him a place to live and free health care until he was old enough to collect a Social Security check.
But he was unlucky, he was charged with just larceny, and he might not get as much time in the prison as he was hoping for.
Verone says he has no regrets. He admits his story is unusual and says he wouldn't recommend anyone else do what he did.
Well, it is not a good way to get medical care, but he was obliged, according to him he had no other option. but this. What's you view, please let us know in your comments.


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Monday, November 1, 2010
A Long Time Between Tweets/FB Updates/Etc
Man, it has been some time since I last connected with anyone on our blog. I was reminded that I have such an outlet by a new patient who looked us up then explored the site to find some archaic postings we left about coaching, mattresses and life in general. I am sorry for being a techno-nincompoop but I have just not caught up to my kids and their digitally interfaced world. I have a Twitter account and have no idea what I am supposed to do with it. I am pretty sure that I am suposed to surrender up all of my personal financial info as well as corrupt all of my email contacts. I hear something, every other day it seems, about how Twitter was hacked and Facebook was comprimised and it makes me worry for a moment. Then I think, "Wait I haven't used either of those services for a month or so. I am probably safe. Maybe not. I don't know." I have patients who come in and say, "Hey, I sent you a friend request. Why didn't you respond?" It makes me look like I am antisocial when in reality I am just sort of technologically retarded. I have a hard time remembering to log in. It seems to me that these outlets are best reserved for kids with no real commitments. The other night for instance, I got on Facebook (which my oldest daughter tells me I should not be capitalising) and proceeded to spend four hours creeping ( another term taught to me by my daughters) on old friends and more disturbingly as I have been told by both of my girls, young classmates of theirs. I shirked bedtime to do this. I love bedtime. What the heck am I thinking? My eyes started to hurt and I had to get up and wet them just to make them feel like they could function a bit longer. I realized when I got up that I had been wiggling my leg and holding my urine for a while so I had to tend to that too. My butt cheek was asleep from sitting on my wallet so long, something I tell my patients to avoid like the plague. All this and yet when my vision had been restored and by bladder emptied and my limp receding to normalcy I ran right back to the place from where I came and got right back to the time sink I had just previously left. I was addicted. I heard my wife harrumph and roll over in the middle of sleep but irritated enough by the hum of the computer and glare from the monitor to pull the blanket up over her head. That was my final sign. I logged off reluctantly. I laid there and thought that I should check my responses to updates I had left the next day. I forgot and didn't log on again until maybe a month later. Man am I bad at this.
Posted by Dr. Dalan at 7:29 AM
Labels: computer time, Facebook, technology
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Primary & Secondary, Mixed
Secondary, Mixed
Primary Mixed / Secondary Girls Only
Primary, Mixed
Primary Mixed / Secondary Segregated
Nursery Mixed
A very warm welcome to Al Yasmina Academy.
We are proud and privileged to lead this outstanding school community in its 10th Year!
Al Yasmina Academy is an "outstanding" ( BSO 2018 ) school community where children join a family which they are part of from the age of 3 finally leaving us at the age of 18.
Our timeless vision "to be an inclusive learning community inspiring leading citizens of the world" makes us proud every day. In everything we do our ambition is to ensure every child is happy, well prepared for the future and always the best they can be!
We learn under our core values: Excellence, Creativity, Collaboration, Respect and Passion with our exceptionally high standards being present in everything we do.
Students and staff work alongside each other to prepare for the future and learn how to face the challenges the 21st Century will bring.
Our love of learning is like no other, an outstanding journey preparing for the future through leadership, innovation and creativity. Learning is at the heart of everything and we are very proud to be a leading school in the Middle East for John Hattie's Visible Learning.
A learning adventure at Al Yasmina means every day we grow, we progress in our studies but also as citizens. We learn about caring and supporting each other; developing all our skills for life.
We are all incredibly proud of this amazing community and look forward to welcoming you to our family!
Ms.Kate Davies, Head of Primary
Mrs. Nikke Alley, Head of Secondary
Thank you for your initial interest in an Aldar Academy. As a leading provider of private education in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, Aldar Academies has fast grown into a highly sought after institution. We prepare over 6,500 students across six Academies in Abu Dhabi and one in Al Ain to help shape the future. Our Academies are constantly winning the praise of Abu Dhabi Education Council as providers of high quality education.
One of the most respected and in-demand study options in the world, the English National Curriculum creates confident students with independent minds. Project-based learning engages and inspires a love of learning among students, as they work towards the IGCSE and A-level qualifications. Both qualifications help students progress to leading universities in Britain or abroad.
The teaching of Arabic subjects is based on the guidance and materials prescribed by the Ministry of Education. It keeps local and other native Arabic speaking and Muslim children familiar with their national identity and religion. In addition, our international students gain an understanding of the UAE's heritage which helps enhance mutual understanding, peaceful co-existence and cross-cultural harmony and tolerance.
Building on their commitment to inspire the next generation of cyclists in the region, UAE Team Emirates' top riders took time out of their week long training camp yesterday, to host a series of coaching clinics with our students at our Academy.
Students, parents and staff at Al Yasmina Academy celebrated the incredible performance of the 2018 GCSE cohort!
Outstanding results for Al Yasmina students in both AS and A Level examinations.
At Al Yasmina this February, we saw over 70 amazing students across keys stages 3, 4 and 5 take place in this year's production of the magical Disney classic "Beauty and the Beast!"
This year saw Al Yasmina Academy return to the BSME games for the first time in many years. A key aspect
As part of our GCSE PE course our students had the opportunity to attend a residential trip to Ras Al Khaimah to complete a crash course in rock climbing. They would learn all the necessary skills before being assessed
As children, we grew up with the story of Cinderella being read to us at school, before bedtime and were bought up watching it at the movies. To us this is what 'fantasy land' was all about. To be given the opportunity to direct this modern version
For the second year in a row Al Yasmina Academy has had the honor and privilege to host the HSBC Rugby Clinic. Al Yasmina Academy would like to thank Mr. Chris Cracknell, Mr. Ben Ryan and HSBC Bank for this
UAE, August 24, 2017: Aldar Academies, one of the UAE's leading providers of private education, is celebrating its best-ever IGCSE results. A total of 228 students from three of the organisation's seven schools received their exam grades today.
How will today's teenagers shape our future? This question was answered on February 25th by our Al Yasmina Academy students.
Going to an international school at the age of seven was a drastic change for me. I am from England, and growing up, I have only ever encountered friends of the same race. In Al Yasmina Academy, this instantly changed.
So we have a time table and a routine, a dress code and rules, a structure to our day – but I would argue that the only thing typical about a school day is its unpredictability and I mean that in the best possible way.
I have been a student of Al Yasmina Academy since I was a three year old in FS1. I'm now seven and in Year Two. I love my school
There are a lot of educational experiences and situations through which I taught students and I learned from them in the ten years I spent in Yasmina Academy. I learn and teach,
Teaching is evolving just as rapidly as the industries they serve. Technology influences our interaction with the world.
Thought your education had ended? Think again.
To prepare our children for the world's new economic future, we need to get them excited about 'STEAM' subjects
Describing the UAE a "melting pot" of cultural diversity would not be a myth.
Former women's world number1 tennis player Monica Seles inspired over 1,000 Aldar Academies students.
Guide to Choosing a School


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Facebook's Graph Search Results Will Now Include Posts, Status Updates (AllFacebook)
Facebook's Graph Search just got a lot more robust, as the social network announced Monday that posts and status updates will now be part of its results, allowing users to search content including photo captions, check-ins and comments. Users will only be able to see content that has been shared with them, which includes content from friends, as well as posts that are shared publicly. Inside Facebook This is rolling out slowly among a small group of users who have Graph Search. Privacy settings on posts will not change, and users will not be able to see posts if they're not within the person's privacy controls. CNET The product also remains desktop-only, meaning Graph Search isn't yet available to members on their smartphones where they're increasingly engaging with Facebook. Still, with the release, the language of Graph Search becomes instantly more familiar to people who just want a simple way to go back in time. Mashable The update makes Facebook much more conducive to real-time conversations, an area where it has been making major strides to compete with the likes of Twitter. The two social networks have been competing for eyeballs during primetime television events like the Emmys, the NFL's Monday Night Football and Sunday's Breaking Bad finale. Forbes The company has said that this is different from a traditional search engine like Google. So while it's still early for this product, it's not known how well this kind of search engine will monetize compared to Google's search gold mine of user intent.
Twitter Makes Embedded Tweets' Photos Larger and Richer (AllTwitter)
Twitter has put photos front and center in its update to embedded tweets. Tweets that contain photos now have a "bigger and bold visual focus on the media" when you embed them, a boon for bloggers and publishers.
Pinterest Wins $ 7.2M and Injunction Against Cybersquatter (AllThingsD)
Pinterest Monday won a judgment in U.S. District Court against Qian Jin, a Chinese cybersquatter, so it can take control of 100 domains he had bought, including pinterests.com, pimterest.com and pinterost.com. Today, if you go to those domains you'll find cheesy online casino ads and lists of related links.
Facebook Showcases Big 'Breaking Bad' Numbers as it Courts TV Industry (LostRemote)
After every big TV event, Twitter is quick to share its social TV stats for the broadcast. But with Facebook suddenly in the social TV race, it shared its own numbers the morning after the "Breaking Bad" finale on AMC. And as you might imagine, Facebook's sheer reach plays to its advantage.
I Cheated YouTube for Five Months and Finally Got Caught (The Daily Dot)
After more than five months, $ 500 spent and more than half a million views, YouTube has finally deleted the video that I blatantly juiced with fake views all winter. The whole kerfuffle arose back in December, when The Daily Dot noticed that YouTube had cleaned house on the view counts for a number of major music companies that had allegedly violated the site's terms of use, which prohibit users from accumulated fake or falsified views.
Twitter, a YouTube Musical (AppNewser)
Twitter, the YouTube Musical is here! The lyrics are cheesy, but I'm a sucker for Disney style singing, tap dancing and generally geeky Internet videos.
Facebook Will Rival Twitter for the Attention of U.S. TV Firms by Producing Weekly Data Reports (The Next Web)
Facebook has upped its efforts to rival Twitter for the attention of TV networks and producers after revealing plans to provide weekly analytics and engagement reports for a handful of broadcast companies, The Wall Street Journal reports. Details of the number of "actions" — likes, comments and shares — that key episodes trigger among Facebook's 1.2 billion-plus users will be sent to ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS and "a small number of select partners." The reports will not be made public.
Bang with Friends to Change Names After Trademark Settlement with Zynga (TechCrunch)
Bang With Friends' catchy name unfortunately is getting tossed after the startup reached a settlement with Zynga. The social gaming company had accused the casual sex app of infringing on its "With Friends" line-up. But now both are saying they've reached a settlement.
Here's What Happens To Twitter And Other IPOs If the Government Shuts Down (Business Insider)
According to the SEC's government shut down contingency plan, IPOs — like the one Twitter is currently planning — do not make it onto the "absolutely must-do" list. This is in part because, during a government shutdown, the SEC will only have about 6.1 percen of its employees working on staff — those employees will be designtated and informed of their position by a Contingency Planning Committee and the Office of General Counsel.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.


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Dirk Yates Private Collection 208Favorites [+]
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Running Time: 85 minutes
Released: 01/2006
Studio Name: All Worlds Video Dirk Yates Channel 1 Releasing
Series: Dirk Yates Private Collection
Director: Dirk Yates
Categories: Bisexual
Description: Mikey & his buddies Stu & Jordan called me up & said they had a hot French girl that was interested in making a porn flick, so I had them come over & show me what they could do. I guess they had "practiced" with her a few days before to make sure everything would work. They all had a hand in the action. These guys told me they pick up girls together all the time, & really have some fun!
3 Scenes from Dirk Yates Private Collection 208
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Sex Acts: Vaginal Sex, Oral Sex, 3-Way, Fingercuffing - Vaginal
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Former Mount Sterling Administrator Joe Johnson will not appeal his conviction and 10-year prison sentence.
Terrence Scott, Johnson's public defender, filed a motion to dismiss his client's appeal on Monday, Aug. 28.
Johnson is serving 10 years for racketeering, theft in office and related felonies. He was convicted last winter of stealing about $724,000 from village coffers between 2012 and 2016.
On March 30, Johnson's previous defense attorney filed paperwork with Madison County Common Pleas Court to begin the appeal process. However, no additional paperwork was filed and the deadline passed to move the case forward.
Scott declined to give a reason for Monday's dismissal, citing attorney-client privilege.
However, attorney Bob Smith, who prosecuted the case for Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost, anticipated that Johnson might appeal the prison time, based on lesser sentences for similar crimes by other defendants.
Smith said he was well prepared to argue against any effort to reduce Johnson's sentence. Auditor Yost has called Johnson's crimes among the most blatant instances of theft in office he has ever encountered.
Johnson resigned as Mount Sterling's administrator in January 2016, saying comments posted on social media had made his job too difficult. Mayor Charlie Neff and fiscal officer Vickie Sheets resigned a month later.
Months of investigation followed, leading to Johnson's indictment on 30 felony counts in July 2016.
Johnson pleaded guilty to seven of those counts in February 2017 as part of an arrangement that spared his wife, Tara, from prosecution.
In addition to the prison time, Johnson was ordered to make $724,239 in restitution to the village and pay an additional $43,000 for the state audit.
Vehicles, tools and appliances seized from Johnson's home in Jackson — as well as the home itself — were forfeited to the state. The village is currently selling those items to recoup lost money.
A jury found Neff guilty of aiding Johnson's thefts and falsifications on Aug. 16. His sentencing is set for Nov. 16.
Sheets, the former fiscal officer, pleaded guilty in March to falsifying Johnson's resignation date, allowing him to withdraw his retirement money early. She was sentenced to one year probation, 80 hours community service and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. A 180-day jail sentence was suspended. She also is barred from holding public office or a position of trust, but only during her probation.
Former village clerk Bonnie Liff pleaded guilty to theft in July and was sentenced to 10 days in jail and fined $1,000 for cashing in paid vacation in excess of what she was allowed. Liff also agreed to refund $21,444 in illegal cash-ins to the village. She is barred from holding public office or a position of trust for life.


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Death sentences 'running at record levels' although execution toll falls
- Author: Rogelio Becker Apr 18, 2017,
Apr 18, 2017, 0:44
China keeps its official tally of those executed as a state secret but previous year it put to death more people than all other countries in the world combined, Amnesty's investigation showed.
However that annual figure does not include China, as it is unknown and regarded as a "state secret", but Amnesty still believes the number to be in the thousands and more than all other countries put together.
Oversight of death-sentence cases was returned to China's highest court, the Supreme People's Court, in 2007.
For the first time since 2006, the US was not one of the five biggest executioners, falling to seventh behind Egypt.
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan carried out 87 percent of the global total executions. It is estimated to be in the 1,000's each year.
The number of executions has been falling since 2009, while the number of death sentences was the lowest since 1973.
Parliamentary pressure in Malaysia revealed that more than 1,000 people were on death row, with nine people executed in 2016 alone. The Chinese government has been following a policy of "killing fewer, killing cautiously" (少杀慎杀) for a decade, and are keen to present an image to the world of at least attempting to reduce the number of executions, the report said. The top three were murder (57 percent), robbery (23 percent) and drug-related offences (13 percent).
Amnesty International has always cautioned that its figures, compiled on the best available information, may not reflect the real total.
At least 44 people were executed in Egypt in 2016, the report says, having received sentences in relation to "terrorism" and political violence. This, it said, violated worldwide law.
China has faced longstanding pressure from the global community to curb its use of the death penalty, which reached a frenzy in 1983 with 24,000 executions. "There is strong public support for the death penalty", Ugwu said.
Meanwhile, Belarus and authorities within the Palestinian territories resumed executions in 2016 after a year's hiatus, while Botswana and Nigeria carried out their first executions since 2013. Since 1977, we have been calling on all countries in the world that are yet to abolish the death penalty, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa to establish an official moratorium on executions as a fast step towards abolishing the death penalty. Only 64 countries were fully abolitionist in 1997.
But Amnesty says it has managed to calculate that the figure is more than the 1,032 people killed by the state in other countries in 2016.
Benin and Nauru both abolished the death penalty for all crimes previous year, while Chad and Guatemala took significant steps towards abolition.
At least eight women and two minors were among those executed by Iran in 2016, according to official sources, with Amnesty noting it was possible there were at least five more executions of children under 18 years of age.


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On this episode of Where's the Trade?, I'll be taking a quick look back at DC's late 60s humor title, Angel & the Ape, and then the Christmas spirit hijacks the show, as I recap the A&A story from Limited Collectors' Editon C-34, Christmas with the Super-Heroes cover dated March 1975!
Download this episode HERE!
Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!
Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: firstname.lastname@example.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @imthegun
Thanks for listening, and I wish you the absolute best 2017!
This episode's promo: King Size Comics Giant Size Fun - 12 Days of Christmas
Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran
|Someone obviously full of Christmas spirit
|A smart caption away from being a New Yorker cartoon
|Santa introduces someone on the naughty list to his powerful bowl-full-of-jelly
|Doll heist montage
|Sam asks a question - and gets an answer


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Yes, Google Play Apps Store!
Welcome to Omate TrueSmart. Our first official Update - Must start with a BIG THANKS to everyone for such a great Kickstart.
Your funding has helped us start production preparations already, that's the first good news. The funding goal has been secured. Now, the Omate Team is focusing on Time-To-Market and is dedicated to deliver the TrueSmart on time and on quality - Developers in October and Users in November.
The second good news is: :
Omate TrueSmart will be shipped with Google Play apps store included.
There has been a consideration that not all apps in the Google Play apps store may give the best experience on the wrist. We may still consider having an additional App store or other methods such as a directory or list to help users spot and get Apps that have been tested to be a great experience with the Omate TrueSmart. This would also allow us to help Developers highlight and promote their TrueSmart / Smartwatch apps (or Smartwatch version of their apps).
With Google Play apps store support, users and developers would have the ability to try and tests all kinds of apps - the World's largest collection of Apps. Powered by a Dual-core 1.3GHz processor and a full Android 4.2.2, a new world opens that no other Smartwatch has done before. We hope this will stimulate ideas, discussions and interaction for the better of TrueSmarrt / Smartwatch app environment. It is about time (pardon the pun) for Smartwatch 2.0
A shout out to all supporters who have contributed to this discussion of Google Play apps store here on the Project or on our Google+ community (+Omate TrueSmart). Together we shall make Omate TrueSmart the TrueSmart aka Smartwatch 2.0 aka The People's Smartwatch - Thanks!
See you in the next Update and in the community.
Team Media & Community @ Omate
Google+ : +Omate TrueSmart
Facebook : www.facebook.com/omatetruesmart
Twitter : www.twitter.com/omatetruesmart
Website: www.omate.com
Omate Creator on
Stretch goal is up, see Update #2
Going to put it onto main page too
Christopher Teague on
Kent Hambrock on
@ONG, Install? Yes. Will it work? Only time will tell, hopefully we can expect that (along with the slew of others) to be tested by the wonderfully responsive Omate team on video. With that being said, I use hangouts far more than is healthy and would like to throw my hat in the ring for a demo of how well that and whatever keyboard implementation that is in the works, works on video.
I'm sure everything is still very much unfinalized software that'll only get better, but a demo would be nice to wet the taste buds with.
ONG YU ZHI on
so we can install whatsapp in the omate also?!
Omate Creator on
@Ryan Iwami, we won't be adding headphone jack as we are already preparing production, furthermore getting headphone jack water-resistant would have other complex considerations. Instead you can use Bluetooth Audio, and Wifi Audio.
Q: I was wondering about adding a headphone jack. Is there any possibility of that? Thanks Omate!
Ryan Iwami on
I was wondering about adding a headphone jack. Is there any possibility of that? Thanks Omate!
Kevin Patton on
The people's smart watch. Do you smell what Omate is cooking?
Omate Creator on
@Harley8029 Stretch Goals are indeed very high up on our priorities now, the community voice is also very clear! We are doing our best with a comprehensive evaluation of each possibility (without affecting delivery schedule). We'll be making an Update soon about that. Afterall, half the fun in Kickstarter _is_ stretch goals! We don't plan on missing out the fun! :-)
Gareth Davies on
Chris Cahill on
Stretch Goals...