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RRRC Elects Officers and Executive Committee for 2018
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At their meeting on February 28th, the Regional Commission elected a five-member Executive Committee, including Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer for terms beginning March 1, 2018 and running through February 28, 2019. The Regional Commission also welcomed Ms. Amber Foster from Madison County and Mr. Garrey Curry, Jr. from Rappahannock County at the February 28th meeting.
Chair
Orange County Supervisor James Crozier will continue as Chair for a second full-term, having served a first-term in 2017 and a partial term in 2016. Mr. Crozier was first appointed to RRRC in 2014.
Vice-Chair
Town of Gordonsville Mayor Robert Coiner will continue as Vice-Chair for a second term. Mayor Coiner also serves as RRRC appointee to the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions, where he serves as President.
Treasurer
Town of Culpeper Council Member Meaghan Taylor will continue as Treasurer for a second term. Ms. Taylor was appointed to the Commission in 2016.
At-Large
Madison County Administrator Jack Hobbs and Fauquier County Administrator Paul McCulla will serve in at-large roles on the Executive Committee. Mr. Hobbs was appointed to the Commission in October 2016, while Mr. McCulla was appointed in 2011 and has previously served as RRRC Treasurer.
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April 13th Solar Planning Workshop - 3.0 AICP Credits Available
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The Regional Commission is partnering with Piedmont Environmental Council for a half-day workshop focused on solar planning best practices, including utility-scale and residential solar projects. Presenters will discuss lessons learned from solar planning activities in other Virginia localities, statewide policy tools and changes from the recent General Assembly session, and provide information on tools for homeowners and localities considering various aspects of solar energy in the region. The workshop is approved for 3 AICP CM credits through the Virginia chapter of the American Planning Association.
Presentations will include:
- Overview of Solar in Virginia
- Solar Regulations and Permitting
- Legal, Economic, and Tax Considerations for Local Governments
- Local Planning Case Studies
- Promoting Residential Solar
- Transforming Brownfields into Solar Projects
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Date
Friday, April 13th
Registration at 8:30 a.m.
Workshop begins at 9:00 a.m.
Where
American Legion Post 247
11420 James Madison Hwy
Remington, VA 22734
Google Maps
Registration
Workshop is Free, but registration is required at http://solarplanning.eventbrite.com
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The Foothills Area Mobility System (FAMS) recently redesigned its website at http://www.fams.org, adding several interactive features to create more options for customers to access information on available transportation in the region and get connected to services. The redesign further enhances the goal of adding "One-Click" functionality to the success of the FAMS One-Call Center.
An on-line chat service is available during regular business hours (Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm) that customers can use to instant message mobility specialists instead of calling. While this feature will most likely resonate more with Millennials than with Baby Boomers, it also provides accessibliity for the hearing-impaired, non-verbal, or those with language barriers can utilize instead of calling.
Also added to the webiste is the Transit Options Matrix feature that enables customer to identify transportation options for themselves. By answering specific questions about where they are leaving from and where they need to go, the algorithm in the matrix deduces the services available to meet the need and displays the potential options. This feature, as well as the Transportation Resource Guide listing, is able to assist customers with their transportation needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Resource Guide and Transit Options Matrix is updated every six months to ensure the content is accurate and inclusive of all available services in the region.
The new website enables the FAMS Call Center to be a true one-call/one-click center and helps assist customers in the way that works best for them. The addition of a Blog and Events pages will create a interactive environment for community members to receive information and get involved with new projects and initiatives happening throughout the region.
RRRC staff members Kristin Lam Peraza and Jenny Biché completed the re-design internally, and are investigating the potential of adding an integrated GIS feature to map all of the public transit routes in the region. As envisioned, users will be able to map their route by logging onto the website and identifying where bus stops locations are, times that buses will arrive at destinations, and view what is accessible. Please visit http://www.fams.org and share the new features throughout the region!
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Regional Floodplain Mapping Updates Ongoing
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of updating Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and floodplain boundaries throughout the Rappahannock-Rapidan region. Floodplain boundaries are used to identify areas within the 1% annual chance flood event area (the 100-year floodplain) that determine eligibility for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
New data sets, including LIDAR data collected in 2014, National Land Cover data produced in 2011, as well as technological advancements allowing more accurate hydrologic modeling of streams and floodplains are incorporated into the updated floodplain boundary maps. Draft versions of the preliminary floodplain changes are viewable through online maps linked below:
Culpeper County - http://arcg.is/0jKPqC
Fauquier County - http://arcg.is/vDKf0
Madison County - http://arcg.is/1njbv8
Orange County - http://arcg.is/4WqKH
Rappahannock County - http://arcg.is/0brSrC
The FEMA contact for the Culpeper, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock projects is Lee Brancheau at legrande.brancheau@fema.dhs.gov. For Fauquier County, the FEMA contact is Nikki Roberts at nikki.roberts@fema.dhs.gov.
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