June 2005 Report to the Board of Supervisors

June 2005 Lovingston Revitalization Project Update

I.  Overview of the Virginia's Department of Housing and Community Development planning grant program, project description, associated projects and project timeline
II.  Transportation-Safety (Route 29) Study Update ö November 2004 ö May 2005
III.  Lovingston Market Analysis
IV.  Lovingston Historic District project


I. Virginia's Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) planning grant program is designed to aid communities with the greatest community development needs in creating clearly articulated strategies for addressing those needs following meaningful citizen participation.  In 2004, Nelson County successfully applied for both Phase I and Phase II funding.  Phase I project planning grant determines the business district's level of need ($5000).  Phase 2 planning grant begins to address the elimination of physical and economic blight in the business district ($30,000).

There are 5 major areas for the revitalization plan:

• Housing
• Economic Development:
• Blight Determination
• Infrastructure - Water/Sewage/Drainage/Road/Pedestrian Systems
• Flood Mitigation

Other efforts being coordinated for the revitalization of Lovingston include:

• Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission Safety (transportation) Study
• Market Analysis of Lovingston
• Historic district application
• Courthouse renovation
• Target business study completed November 2004
• 2007 bicentennial celebration - also Jamestown 2007

Lovingston Business District Revitalization Project Timeline:

• June 2005 ö market analysis work completed
• May 31, 2005 ö kick off public meeting
• May 2005 ö contract from DHCD received
• March 11, 2005 - letter from DHCD notifying us that a contract is forthcoming
• February 1, 2005 - monthly management team meeting
• December 2004- RFP issued for project consultant
• November 10, 2004 and January 25, 2005 - DHCD Facilitated Planning Strategy Meetings
• September 2004 - Notification from DHCD that the County and the stakeholders have demonstrated an acceptable preliminary level of interest and demand necessary to move forward with the Lovingston Revitalization Project.
• Final report to DHCD - July 30, 2004
• Management team meeting - July 21, 2004
• Preliminary identification of professional services by County staff - July 20, 2004
• Downtown surveys (2) - physical inventory and market analysis report - July 9-16, 2004
• Initial public meeting - July 12, 2004
• Initial management team meeting - July 1, 2004
• June 2004 - Received notification that Phase I grant accepted
• May 2004 - Applied for Phase I planning grant ($5000)

II.  Lovingston Safety Study/Lovingston Revitalization Project
November 18, 2004 Workshop Results

Comments
ð    No Double Stacking÷ignored
ð    Reduce speeds÷Flashing 45 mph sign
ð    Hash marks
ð    Signal not a good idea
ð    Bus turnaround just north of Livingston
ð    Woods Mill intersection not great
ð    Turn lane too short (trucks speeding)
ð    Food Lion intersection median not very big÷buses, trucks, etc. hangout
ð    Tall cars block views
ð    Repaving needed on Brookside Ln and Ridge St
ð    Missing culvert/bridge (private) at Theatre Dr and Tanbark Plaza
ð    Slope at Food Lion icy/slippery
ð    Repaving needed on Tanbark Plaza
ð    Many pedestrian crossings at Main St and Route 29
ð    Flooding problem on Main St at Dollar General entrance
ð    Trail east of Route 29 along creek
ð    Narrow, hills in courthouse area
ð    Sidewalk improvements along Main St from Route 29 to Court St
ð    Sidewalk improvements on Ridge Ln west of Route 29
ð    Sidewalk improvements on Front St from Route 29 to Lovingston Health Care Center entrance
ð    Repaving needed on Callohill Dr at Route 29 intersection
ð    Extend Callohill Dr north to Lovingston Ridge Apartments
ð    Hard to cross Route 29 at Callohill Dr
ð    U-turn south of Route 29 at Callohill Dr


Lovingston Safety Study/Lovingston Revitalization Project
May 31, 2005 Workshop Results

Participants in groups at two public involvement workshops identified a series of priority issues for the Lovingston area.  These issues are summarized under the headings of Transportation, Town Character and Livable Streets, and Parks and Recreation.      

Transportation
Transportation concerns included general and specific safety problems for the area immediate to Route 29 as well as the need for more defined pedestrian and bicycle facilities.  Specific comments included:

ð    Creating safe intersections (especially 29/1001 and 29/Callohill) without stoplights and reducing the amount of truck traffic through the core of Lovingston
ð    Extending turn lanes and deceleration lanes on Route 29 while improving pedestrian crossings
ð    Developing parallel side roads west of Route 29 with eventual access to the high school
ð    Implementing bike routes, both on road and separated trails, that are tied to parks
ð    Working with VDOT to include all Lovingston streets in the VDOT road system
ð    Improving the connection between the east and west sides of Route 29
ð    Completing the pedestrian network in the village without creating an ostentatious street scene

Town Character and Livable Streets
Several comments focused on the need to establish, promote and maintain the town/village character of Lovingston.  Observations ranged from fostering street life to maintaining the historic assets that make Lovingston a unique and enjoyable area.  These comments included:

ð    Keeping the courthouse complex and enhancing it as a central feature for the village
ð    Restoring and/or renovating key historic buildings
ð    Increasing the diversity of activity in the village
ð    Encouraging affordable housing infill developments (medium income and minimum wage rentals)
ð    Creating livable streets by improving building facades, ensuring quality pedestrian amenities and reducing traffic speed in the core area
ð    Permitting higher density west of Route 29 south of Lovingston Ridge Apartments and lower density north of the apartments
ð    Improving signage style, location and visibility to enhance safety and town character

Parks and Recreation
Several comments conveyed the importance of establishing parks and recreation amenities and protecting the rural character of the countryside surrounding the Lovingston area.  Particular comments included:

ð    Creating park and recreation opportunities, including those that cater to children and senior citizens
ð    Protecting the wooded area behind Lovingston from new development
ð    Creating a greenway system throughout the village with pathways connecting parks to residential areas
ð    Establishing a park in the northeast of the Route 29 and Main St intersection
ð    Constructing a ball park between the Dollar General and Lovingston Health Care Center

Other issues discussed included improving regional bus service to Richmond, Charlottesville and Wintergreen, connecting the village with the Nelson Center and Nelson County High School, and creating a central gathering place for the citizens of Lovingston.

III.  Market Analysis

Lovingston is an Affiliate Virginia Main Street Community.  As an affiliate, Nelson County qualified for a reduced rate to work with Kennedy Smith, former Director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center.  A contract with The CLUE Group, Kennedy's consulting firm, has been issued.  The deliverables of the contract include a sales gap analysis. The CLUE Group will calculate the "buying power" of Lovingston and area residents and will compare this information to current retail sales information, identifying retail categories in which downtown is likely losing sales to other shopping areas and in which it appears to be exceeding likely local market demand. The analyses of these retail sales voids and surpluses will help the CLUE Group calculate the quantity of new retail sales the downtown can likely support over the next five to ten years (both by helping existing businesses increase sales and also by developing new businesses) and estimate the amount of new retail space these increased sales can likely support. Kennedy Smith will be on site June 9, 2005 for her field visit. The CLUE Group will prepare a brief report, outlining findings and recommendations, and will present these findings and recommendations in a community presentation.

 IV.  Timeline for Lovingston Historic District Process

• September 2005 - State Review Board makes its decision on the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Landmarks Register
• July 2005 - Public meeting to update the community
• June 2005 - Formal notification to Lovingston property owners from Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR)
• February 2005 - Halfway point of the survey work and nomination process
• January 27, 2005 - Public meeting to update the community
• December 2004 - An informational flyer is distributed to residents about the district and the nomination process
• December 14, 2004 - Nelson County board of supervisors meets Arcadia Preservation and receives an update on the project from DHR
• December 6, 2004 - Nelson County staff meet with DHR and Arcadia Preservation to begin the survey work
• October 2004 - DHR hires Arcadia Preservation (project consultant)
• August 2004 - Request for proposals advertised to hire the consultant to write the formal nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Land-marks Register
• June 2004 - DHR offers a cost share funds to Nelson County; the board of supervisors approves their match
• May - June 2004 - Nelson County submits a preliminary information form (PIF) to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR)