Action Plan
The City Comprehensive Plan section for Belmont can be veiwed here
Action Plan
Based on the broad and specific recommendations outlined and through input and direction received from the Belmont Neighborhood Task Force, the following action items are recommended. These action items are intended to provide the City of Charlottesville, and the Belmont Community with a series of realistic and achievable projects that can be implemented over the next three to five years using CDBG funds, other state and federal funds, and financial resources available through existing City budgets for public improvement projects.
Organization
Establish Neighborhood Task Force:
- Existing study task force
- New task force
Housing
- Work with City Building Code Enforcement Office to identify poorly maintained vacant properties and code infractions in the neighborhood.
- Allocate additional funds for renovation and rehabilitation of existing housing stock in terms of low interest loans an other improvement programs and publicize the availability of these funds.
- Consider establishing a Belmont Neighborhood historic district and/or identify and record historic properties in the neighborhood, prepare data base for properties, outline their history and historic value. Work to ensure preservation of historic homes and other buildings worthy of conservation.
- Identify all vacant land that is property planned and zoned for new residential development and initiate discussions with land owners about future plans for their properties and the City’s desire to work towards common goals.
Transportation
- Work with City Traffic Engineer to establish traffic calming measures in the neighborhood, including the potential for additional traffic control lights, stop signs and reduced speed limits on Avon Street, Monticello Avenue, Elliot Avenue, Hinton Avenue, and Carlton Road.
- Work with City Public Works Department to continue program of drainage, curb and gutter, and sidewalk improvement.
- Advocate construction of bicycle routes through the neighborhood as defined in the Bicycle Plan (Sept. 1994).
- Improve and enhance the primary gateways into the neighborhood including Monticello Avenue/I-64, Monticello Avenue/6th Street, Avon Street/Belmont Bridge, Avon Street/Moore’s Creek.
- Improve and enhance the primary vehicular entrance corridors into the City that bisect the neighborhood, including Monticello Avenue and Avon Street.
- Identify improvement alternative on Monticello Road to alleviate conflicts between traffic movement and on-street parking.
Parks and Recreation
- Work with Parks and Recreation Department to establish a new neighborhood park on part of the CSX railway property.
- Work with the Parks and Recreation Department to integrate Moores’ Creek and Pollock’s Branch into their improvment and enhancement program for the Greenbelt. Establish trail link to Azalea Park.
- Work with the School Board and Department of Parks and Recreation to improve and enhance playground facilities at Clark School.
- Work with Albemarle County to make the County-owned property surrounding the Charlottesville Cattle Market and along Moore’s Creek more accessible and usable by neighborhood, City and County residents for dedicated active and passive recreation purposes.
- Improve Belmont Park’s playground equipment and sidewalks, add picnic areas.
Social Issues
- Explore the potential for establishing a community center for use by neighborhood residents in existing neighborhood facilities such as the Hinton Avenue Methodist Church or Clark School.
- Investigate use of grant program to enhance neighborhood protection (drug enforcment, crime prevention, additional police, juvenile services).
- Work with police department to increase patrols of the neighborhood, especially foot and bicycle patrols.
- Consider potential for establishing police sub-station in the neighborhood.
- Work with Public Works Department to evaluate lighting levels in the neighborhood and add lighting where required.
- Reinforce and enhance the existing neighborhood watch program.
Develoment Opportunity Areas
Downtown Belmont/CSX Property
- Work with Parks and Recreation Department to establish new neighborhood park on part of the CSX property.
- Work with Public Works Department to establish new street and utility infrastructure to serve new residential development and link to Downtown Belmont.
- Work with Public Works Department to alleviate conflicts between traffic and parking on Monticello Road.
- Design and implement streetscape improvements on Monticello Road between Hinton Avenue and Carlton Road to create a new “sense of place” and focus for the neighborhood. Improvements to include upgraded sidewalks, street trees, pedestrian lighting, seating, litter receptacles, and landscaping.
- Encourage businesses to improve facades.
Belmont Bridge
- Continue to work with City Market on potential relocation to Belmont Bridge area.
- Meet with owner of historic flour mill and Charlottesville Coal to discuss potential for redevelopment of the site for sues such as small businesses, artisans and the City Market.
- Meet with Better Living to discuss redevelopment plans for the area and potential reuse of vacant space.
- Develop plans for environmental improvments for area under Belmont Bridge and street in front of historic flour mill and Better Living including extending street along railroad to 6th Street and improving parking area behind buildings.
- Design and implement streetscape and environmental enhancements on Avon Street between Belmont Bridge and Garrett Street (including both sides of the intersection) as part of gateway improvements to include upgraded sidewalks, increased parking setbacks, street trees, lighting, seating, trash receptacles, landscaping, and signage (Welcome to The Belmont Neighborhood).
Monticello Avenue/I-64 Junction
- Meet with Charlottesville Oil Company and other owners of vacant parcels to discuss potential for the area.
- Develop planning and design guidelines for redevelopment of the areas.
- Design and implement environmental improvements for vacant land between Monticello Avenue and Charlottesville Oil Company land as part of gateway improvments in include lighting, landscaping and signage (Welcome to The Belmont Neighborhood).
Land Use
- Continue to reinforce residential character of the neighborhood.
- Encourage the planning and design of new developoment that is compatible with the existing neighborhood character.
- Continue to provide new opportunities for business relocation and expansion in the neighborhood to support new job creation and expand the tax base.
- Adopt land use changes initiated as part of the Comprehensive Plan Review process.