Stafford County's master redevelopment plan took a step forward last week when the Board of Supervisors approved funding for the project's first two phases.
Stafford's Department of Economic Development has been working on a plan to redevelop four parts of the county--Boswell's Corner, the Courthouse area, Falmouth and a stretch along U.S. 17.
The county will spend $432,000 from the fiscal 2008 budget on the project--$110,667 each from the tourism, transportation and utilities funds, and $100,000 from the general fund. The appropriations were finalized at the March 18 supervisors meeting.
The funding will allow the county to sign a contract with CMSS Architects, the group chosen from six applicants to create the redevelopment plan. Meetings will then occur between county staff and the project consultants. The first two phases will focus on data collection and analysis.
The next two phases will focus on compiling and finalizing the plan, which will be incorporated into Stafford's comprehensive plan after public meetings to discuss it. Proposed funding for these two phases would consist of $150,000 from the fiscal 2009 general fund and $150,000 from the Economic Development Authority.
Brad H. Johnson was hired as the county's redevelopment administrator in February 2007. County officials have held public information sessions on plans for the Courthouse and Boswell's Corner redevelopment areas. Public sessions on Falmouth and U.S. 17 are forthcoming.
The county has already worked with Cunningham & Quill Architects to form initial ideas for what the redevelopment corridors would look like. County officials hope that private developers would follow the plans. Below are the preliminary visions for each area.
Located along U.S. 1 in North Stafford near the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, this area is seen by county economic development staff as one that can capture offshoot jobs from the base, including defense contractors.
The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process is expected to result in a need for hundreds of thousands of additional square feet of office space. Quantico Corporate Center is expected to offer about 1 million square feet of office space when complete.
Initial plans for Boswell's Corner call for a mixed-use commercial and office center that would include hotels and retail as well as green space and landscaping. The vision is to make the stretch "a significant gateway to the county from the north."
County officials want to create a "downtown Stafford" feel in this geographic and governmental center that would offer a sense of place and be a community anchor.
The area is currently undergoing a spate of development: a new public-safety center, a hospital, a fire and rescue station, possibly a new Interstate 95 interchange, a museum and a courthouse complex.
The vision for this area calls for a town-square approach that would have mixed-use development and be pedestrian-friendly. The initial plan calls for "a village center" of "governmental, judicial, cultural arts and market uses."
Established in the early 1700s as a vibrant port, Falmouth has seen little commercial development in recent years. County officials see a "unique opportunity to redefine and improve a significant historic place in Stafford County."
Brad Johnson sees the opportunity for "heritage tourism" in Falmouth. That could include linking the area by trail to Ferry Farm, to the nearby parks and to Fredericksburg.
A public information session on the Falmouth plan is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. April 24 at Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont, Johnson said.
This is essentially the area along U.S. 17 between Interstate 95 and Geico.
The Celebrate Virginia North mixed-use development and Carter's Crossing retail center are under way in this corridor, which also includes Geico and the University of Mary Washington's College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
U.S. 17 is also a major artery for through-traffic. There are numerous commercial and industrial developments branching off from the road.
Part of the redevelopment vision is to reduce congestion and allow local traffic to more easily access adjacent neighborhoods.
A public information session on this redevelopment area will likely be held in the next few months, Brad Johnson said.
I looked at the plan for this area, and there is some concern for the people living there. Boswell's Garage, which has been there since the 1950's is not present. There are many mobile home parks, are those people living in them to be displaced from the only affordable living in Stafford County for low income families?
Economic development is part of growth, but when it is done with sacrificing citizens' homes, it is not right.
I see 'eminant domain' being used here to toss people into the streets!
Star Directory
Boswell's Corner
(posted by
TiJon
, Mar. 30, 2008 8:26 pm)
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