Latest news with #BoardOfSupervisors
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
High St. housing development moving forward after Augusta supervisor vote
VERONA – An 8.9-acre development off High Street in Stuarts Draft is moving forward after the Augusta County Board of Supervisors approved revised terms on the project. The property is owned by EJ'S LLC. The current project documents show that 20 homes are being developed on the land in two cul-de-sacs. The development raised questions with the supervisors. Supervisor Carolyn Bragg said she's individually spoken to many of the project's neighbors and heard concerns from everyone she's spoken to. The property is zoned single-family residential, allowing for development. The project was not up for approval by the board, but instead up for a proffer consideration. Previously, the project's minimum square foot requirement for a single-family dwelling was 1,800. On July 23, the board was considering a reduction to 1,400 square feet per dwelling. 'This property was rezoned 22 years ago,' said Bragg. 'So, by right, it can be built on.' Several supervisors noted the by-right development could bring 26 homes to the property, rather than the currently expected 20. At the public hearing last month, several residents of the area raised concerns over an increase in traffic and having less land available to absorb water when it rains. The increased potential for flooding was a common complaint with the project. Bragg attempted to address the complaint, but the item up for a vote on July 23 was solely the minimum dwelling size. 'Everyone is concerned about the water and the runoff,' Bragg said. 'When you're building in Stuarts Draft and you say, Stuarts Draft construction, your third word will always be water because we have to do something with it. Everyone, to a person, is concerned about that. Then lastly, everyone is concerned about traffic, to a person. Are there going to be changes? Absolutely. Are you going to see more traffic? Absolutely, going down High Street to try to get to 608, where, in the evenings, they park on both sides, that's an issue. But that's going to be the same issue, whether it's 1,400 square feet or 1,800 square feet.' Both Augusta County staff and the Augusta County Planning Commission recommended approval of the project. 'Staff does not find any concerns with the request but do note that there are significant drainage issues occurring along Wayne Avenue to the south of the property,' reads the staff report. 'Therefore, any development of the property should utilize stormwater management practices that mitigate the furtherance of localized flooding.' Despite the concerns, the project moved forward on July 23 as the supervisors approved the proffer amendment in a 6-1 vote, with Supervisor Michael Shull voting against. 'There are times that decisions are brought before this board that are just simply not black and white,' Bragg said. 'Sometimes there's a lot more involved in it than meets the eye. This is one of those.' More: Project GROWS' youth leadership program has been 'heart changing' for some area teens More: Shelter-in-place order issued in Harrisonburg after random knife attack injures woman Lyra Bordelon (she/her) is the public transparency and justice reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a story tip or feedback? It's welcome through email to lbordelon@ Subscribe to us at This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: High St. housing development moving forward after Augusta supervisor vote Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Can a county fire a sheriff behind closed doors? Advocacy group threatens to sue for access
An open government advocacy group is threatening to sue a California county that is preparing to discuss firing its elected sheriff behind closed doors. San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, who serves one of the wealthiest communities in the country, has faced calls for her removal since an explosive November report from a retired judge found that she likely violated the county's policy on nepotism and conflicting relationships. The report alleged that, by 2024, Corpus had 'relinquished control' of the department to a subordinate. That led to a ballot measure last year that voters passed to empower the county Board of Supervisors to remove her from office, which they voted to do in June. Corpus appealed, leading to the scheduled August evidentiary hearing. As part of the removal proceedings, Corpus' legal team asked that the removal hearing take place behind closed doors. 'The county should decline,' wrote First Amendment Coalition attorney Aaron Field in a letter to the county Board of Supervisors. 'Barring the press and public from the removal hearing as Sheriff Corpus has requested would violate the First Amendment right of access to public proceedings, undermine a panoply of compelling public interests in administering the removal hearing transparently and needlessly shut San Mateo citizens out of a key phase of a process.' The hearing is scheduled to begin Aug. 18 and is expected to last about 10 days. CalMatters originally filed a request to open the June removal hearing to the public, a request that was denied. The First Amendment Coalition is making the same request for the August removal hearing. Corpus' removal — and her fight against it, including unsuccessfully filing for a restraining order to stop the proceedings — has roiled her department and the community for nearly a year. Several cities in her county have given her administration no-confidence votes, and the unions representing both her deputies and her sergeants have called for her removal. A San Mateo County spokesperson said the county had received the First Amendment Coalition's letter and would announce a decision soon. 'The county has consistently expressed its view that this should be a fully transparent process, including having the August appeal hearing for her removal from office be open,' said San Mateo County spokesperson Effie Milionis Verducci. 'However, the sheriff has blocked it.' The sheriff's department is still in turmoil, most recently when Corpus put a San Mateo County sheriff's sergeant on leave. That sergeant had testified extensively in a second county investigation into Corpus. The union representing San Mateo County Sheriff's sergeants objected, alleging the sergeant was put on leave as retaliation for his testimony. Corpus denied that her actions had anything to do with the report in a statement posted to the sheriff's office website. 'His temporary administrative leave is entirely unrelated to any comments or cooperation he may have provided in the Keker report,' Corpus said in the statement. Duara writes for CalMatters, where the article first appeared. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alameda Supervisors allocate $170 million a year to help the homeless
The Brief The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to allocate $170 million annually to addressing homelessness in the county. Those funds come from Measure W, a 2020 .5% sales tax. The tax faced legal challenges that were resolved earlier this year, which allowed the funds to be disbursed. OAKLAND, Calif. - The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to allocate over $1.4 billion toward homeless initiatives across the county. The money, pulled from Measure W funds, will fund shelter, permanent housing, services for the unhoused and strategies to prevent homelessness. "Homelessness is one of the greatest challenges facing Alameda County. My office engages hundreds of residents and advocates who joined our call for seizing this moment to invest deeply in proven solutions to homelessness," Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bass said in a press release. "I am proud that our collective advocacy achieved this historic investment. No one should have to live on our streets or in their vehicle, or be one unexpected expense away from being unhoused." The board directed 80% of anticipated Measure W revenues — $170 million per year — to be allocated to homelessness solutions, and the remaining 20% go toward essential county services, including some responses to recent state and federal budget shortages. Bas requested that any additional Measure W funds go toward homelessness, to which the board agreed. Those extra funds could mean up to an additional $120 million for homelessness solutions, based on previous revenue collections. Money in the making The backstory Measure W is a .5% general sales tax approved by voters in November 2020, which is projected to raise over $1.8 billion over 10 years. The county began collecting the tax, but the disbursal of those funds was held up by a legal challenge filed following the measure's passage. An anti-tax group sued over the tax, arguing that Measure W was a "special tax," which legally requires a two-thirds vote to pass. Campaign literature for the measure stated the tax revenue was specifically intended to address homelessness. Measure W passed with 50.09% of the vote. The courts ruled earlier this year that W was in fact a general tax, and that the county could use the funds for anything it wanted. Tuesday night's Board of Supervisors meeting saw heavy attendance from county residents, who filled three overflow rooms. City leaders, services providers, advocates and members of the public spoke in favor of using the money for its intended purpose. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Alameda County supervisors approve selling its share of Oakland Coliseum
Late Tuesday afternoon, the final roadblock to the sale of the Oakland Coliseum was cleared. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to sell its share of the property to AASEG (African American Sports and Entertainment Group). The city of Oakland approved the sale of its share of the property almost a year ago, but Alameda County needed additional time. Once the sale closes, AASEG will pay $125 million to the city of Oakland and the same to Alameda County for their respective interest in the property in exchange for the entire site. AASEG eventually wants to invest more than $5 billion into the redevelopment of the entire Coliseum site with entertainment, retail, restaurants, and housing. During the discussion ahead of the Board of Supervisors' vote, they noted they were excited to see the investment in the area. A cheer erupted from the packed house at the Board of Supervisors meeting as the four supervisors in attendance voted unanimously to approve the sale. The meeting was standing room only, with two overflow rooms set up at the law library across the street. AASEG founder, Ray Bobbitt, was met with hugs, handshakes and high-fives immediately after the vote. "We have a lot of work to do and a lot of steps to take, but the most important thing for today, we're just excited this new step is here," said Bobbitt. The discussions about what to do with the Coliseum have been going on since 2015, when the city of Oakland created the Coliseum Specific Area Plan, a blueprint for what the city and community groups want to see for the site. "Our whole concept and approach has been really community-based, which I think is one of the reasons why people have been so supportive," says Bobbitt. The plan includes 4,000 units of high-density housing, with a quarter of those slated for low-income residents. "This is the biggest day of District 6 and District 7 and Oakland as a whole," exclaimed Oakland City Council member Ken Houston. He represents the area around the Coliseum site and says that with all the professional sports teams leaving, the Hegenberger corridor has really suffered. He noted the number of hotels, restaurants and other businesses that have closed recently. "We want to do like an LA Live area. We want to embrace that whole area, bring in jobs and make it a beautiful, world-class destination," said Houston. The final development plans are still a ways off. While this was an important step forward, this wasn't the final step. The group still needs to complete the sale. which means getting through escrow and actually paying both the city and the county for the property. They have until June 30, 2026, to close the sale. The city of Oakland has final approval over any redevelopment plans, and the city will require engagement with community groups during that process.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Oakland Coliseum Is Sold as Developer Plans $5 Billion Overhaul
An Oakland-based developer has assumed full ownership of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, paving the way for the revitalization of the deteriorating California complex. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $125 million deal to offload a 50% stake in the property to an affiliate of the African American Sports & Entertainment Group on Tuesday, giving the developer complete control of the Coliseum. The group purchased the other 50% stake earlier this year.
