Biscuit Run Park
Biscuit Run Park is a planned 1,200-acre park in Albemarle County's Neighborhood 5 designated growth area. It had been intended to be a state park but Albemarle County will now program the park. [1]
The land for the park was once intended for the large Biscuit Run development as well as a 400-acre county park, but was purchased from the developer, Forest Lodge LLC, by the Commonwealth for $21.48 million in cash and tax credits in January 2010. A lack of state funds could mean the park does not open until 2020. [2]
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning back to the rural areas district on December 4, 2019. [3]
Master Planning
The Biscuit Run State Park Master Plan Advisory Committee held several meetings to develop the park’s master plan, including an inventory of natural and cultural resources. [4] This process concluded with a final public hearing on September 19, 2011. [5] The goal is to have a master plan in place by the end of 2011. [4]
Funding
It appeared for a brief time in February 2016 that the General Assembly would approve funding for the park. [6] Governor Terry McAuliffe had requested that a bond package include $42 million for the park, but this was removed by finances committees in the General Assembly. [7]
Part of the original intended funding comes from mitigation paid by Dominion to the state for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The Board of Supervisors discussed this at their meeting on December 5, 2018. [8]
Advisory Committee
| Member Name | Organization | |
| Johnny Finch | Virginia Association for Parks, President | |
| Lonnie Murray | Albemarle Natural Heritage Committee, Chair | |
| William Sanford | Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club | |
| Christopher Gist | Certified League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor | |
| Barbara Landes | Virginia Horse Council | |
| Rex Linville | Piedmont Environmental Council | |
| Rosanne Simon | Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, Board Member | |
| Steven G. Meeks | Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, President | |
| Thomas Foley | Albemarle County Executive | |
| Bryan Elliott | Assistant Albemarle County Executive | |
| Wayne Cilimberg | Albemarle County, Director of Planning | |
| Ann Mallek | Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Chair | |
| Bob Crickenberger | Albemarle County Parks and Recreation, Director | |
| Stephen W. Williams | Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, Executive Director | |
| Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr. | Albemarle County Board of Supervisors (Scottsville) | |
| Forrest Marshall | adjacent landowner | |
| Peter Clark | property owner | |
| Chris Scott | IMBA- state representative. Owner of Shenandoah Mountain Touring | |
| Charlie Armstrong | Southern Development, Vice President, Land Development | |
| Ken Boyd | Albemarle County Board of Supervisors (Rivanna) | |
| David J. Toscano | Delegate | |
| Robert B. Bell | Delegate | |
| R. Creigh Deeds | Senator | |
| Tom Smith | Division of Natural Heritage | |
| Marshall Barron | VDOT District planning staff | |
| Dan Painter | VDOT District planning staff | |
| Ursula Lemanski | NPS Rivers and Trails Program |
Access
Because the primary vehicular access will be from Route 20, Habitat for Humanity wants to create an extensive network of bike and pedestrian trails into the park from access points in a redeveloped Southwood Mobile Home Park. [10] In March 2017, Habitat and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation agreed to a land swap where Habitat got land for athletic fields close to Southwood whereas DCR got land more suitable for a state park. [11]
County fair?
Commonwealth officials indicated willingness to discuss holding the Albemarle County Fair at the site until the fair finds a permanent home.[12] However, nothing materialized for the 2011 County fair.
Map
Coordinates:
37°59′54″N 78°31′03″W / 37.998327°N 78.517399°W
Photo gallery
- Photo gallery
References
- ↑ Web. Biscuit Run rezoned as park land, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 6, 2019, retrieved December 7, 2019. Print. December 6, 2019 page A6.
- ↑ Web. The flip that flopped: Biscuit Run men want $20 million more from taxpayers, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, November 9, 2011, retrieved November 10, 2011. Print. November 10, 2011 , 1045, .
- ↑ Web. Biscuit Run rezoned as park land, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 6, 2019, retrieved December 7, 2019. Print. December 6, 2019 page A6.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Web. Biscuit Run State Park goals and objectives refined in advance of public hearing, Brian Wheeler, Charlottesville Tomorrow, May 3, 2011, retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ↑ Web. Albemarle increasing lobbying effort for new athletic fields, Kurt Walters, Charlottesville Tomorrow, September 25, 2011, retrieved September 26, 2011.
- ↑ Web. Senate committee to consider Biscuit Run State Park funding, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 10, 2016, retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ↑ Web. Funding for Biscuit Run State Park eliminated from legislation, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 18, 2016, retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ↑ Web. December 5, 2018 Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes, Minutes, Albemarle County, December 5, 2018, retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ↑ E-mail. Gary Waugh, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. "Copy of Biscuit Run advisory committee roster." Message to Brian Wheeler, Charlottesville Tomorrow. 26 January 2011.
- ↑ Web. Habitat for Humanity seeks connection to future state park, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 9, 2015, retrieved February 12, 2015.
- ↑ Web. Habitat swaps land with state for future Biscuit Run Park, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 23, 2017, retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ↑ Web. County fair to find new home at Biscuit Run?, Will Goldsmith, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, September 21, 2010, retrieved September 21, 2010. Print. 09/21/2010 - 09/27/2010 .