Good evening.

My name is Timothy Hulbert. I live at 2246 Brandywine Avenue in the City of Charlottesville - where I also pay taxes and vote. I work for the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you Mr. Mayor, City Councilors - for this renewed opportunity to address City Council about - the Meadowcreek Parkway. Tonight, I wish to reinforce - again - what we said most recently at your November 17th Council meeting - that, after 36 years of delay, the time is upon us for the City to move forward with this essential project. That anyone could label any action regarding this 36 year project, "premature," is beyond the realm of belief.

Over the past few weeks and in a behind-the-scenes-frenzy over this past holiday weekend, some allied against this project, have misrepresented the plans, legal authority and intentions of the working majority of City Council regarding the approximate nine (9) acre parcel necessary for this parkway.

I will not repeat the unfounded, back-channel threats of political retribution - aimed at the Council Parkway Majority - which I witnessed over the past 24 hours. Suffice to say that I - and many others - are deeply disappointed.

Rather once again this evening, as you proceed forward - properly, legally, constitutionally, with precedent - and in the best interests of the citizens of Charlottesville - with the task of conveying this parcel to the Commonwealth - please let us reinforce for you our chief message.

Our Chamber's "highest transportation priority" - a beautiful front door to our City's vibrant downtown - the Meadowcreek Parkway - simply must be built. Sooner rather than later. Construction of the Meadowcreek Parkway has to be advanced without any further delay.

The latest desperate objection is fabricated upon a completely unfounded so-called "estimate" that the parcel has a market value in excess of $3 million. This inventive piece of fiction is advanced despite the City's own assessment of the parcel at $50,000 acre or $450,000 total value. Further factual analysis reveals that property sales in the area range from $29,000 per acre to $90,000 per acre. Even at that very highest value, the parcel would yield less than 1/3 the bogus "estimate" now making the e-mail rounds.

Please stop this and any other campaign of dis-information. It adds nothing to proper debate and discourse and it harms our community.

This latest delaying objection is as bogus and unreasonable as this weekend's fictional "estimate." While from a myopic viewpoint it may be laudable for a locality to conspire to "hold up" the Commonwealth for a price beyond market value, it is unreasonable and irresponsible to "hold up" the project. Instead of any further delay and dysfunction, use this occasion to restore confidence in this body as a whole.

How much confidence can citizens have in the abilities of their governments when a leading project - a project that after 36 years of delay, is finally on the State plan to be built; is supported by the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization and our regional CTB representative; is the highest priority of a majority of the Charlottesville City Council; and, is a leading priority of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors - continues to suffer from willful political distortion?

Our Chamber respectfully asks you once again - please convey the property and please move this project forward.

Thank you.

Timothy Hulbert (City Council Chambers, December 1, 2003)

Editor's Note: I requested Timothy Hulbert's remarks to place on my web site from the Chamber of Commerce after they were mentioned by Mary MacNeil and by Elizabeth Nelson, reporter for the Daily Progress.