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Changes are in store for the Stafford Comprehensive Plan Date published: 6/2/2010
BY JONAS BEALS It appears the Stafford County Comprehensive Plan has changed direction--taken a pro-development turn--since Republicans took control of the Board of Supervisors in January. "Predictably, with the new majority on the board they're systematically eviscerating almost everything of substance," Planning Commissioner Pete Fields, a Democratic appointee, said. A slower-growth or "smart growth" contingent was in control for the two years prior to the Republican takeover, and that former majority totally revamped the Comprehensive Plan--a document that is supposed to be revised every five years, but has not been substantially altered since 1988. The plan is meant to chart the desired growth and development pattern in the county for the next 20 years. While it does not rezone any property or set things in stone, new development projects must be evaluated to see if they conform to the plan. A revised plan developed over the last three years tried to control growth by shrinking the Urban Services Area where public water and sewer would be available. The thought was that a larger USA would encourage sprawl. "There are only three possibilities of effecting any change in the future of Stafford County given all the vested zoning," said Fields, a former George Washington District supervisor. According to Fields, one of those ways is shrinking the USA. The other two are downzoning, which is usually an unpopular option, and development impact fees, which are not allowed to be charged in Stafford. The USA generally occupies the center of the county, with large nodes in the Garrisonville and Falmouth areas. Past plans have proposed expanding the USA to the east along State Route 3 and the Widewater peninsula, to the west along U.S. 17 and Garrisonville Road, and to various parcels in the center of the county. Last year's proposed Comprehensive Plan did away with most of those USA expansion plans. The current Planning Commission and a joint Board of Supervisors/Planning Commission committee have their own ideas about how to control growth in the county, and they are unlikely to include a reduced USA.
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 6/2/2010
So now you have a bunch of houses in rural areas with well and septic systems. Question is, what is left to manage? It's already ruined.
is the problem with the revised plan on the table now. That and taking away commercial & indus. Opens the door to too much rural development. Have proffers completed up front instead of the middle of development or OP. Developer constructs roads first. Hands over money for fire, rescue, schools, etc first. Then when economy turns even further sour or goes up and down, proffers have already been paid. You can't stop development. Manage it.
They don't pay squat on a rural lot. The proffers were in high density areas and where they DO pay proffers, who do you think REALLY pays?
Stafford is already ruined IMO and getting worse as we speak.
First, We the people must demand that this region get back on board to a regional "bypass". 95 simply cannot handle the regional traffic along with the Interstate traffic 95 is supposed to be focused on. First phase should be the western part from around Quantico to south of Massaponax. A new bridge crossing Rappahanock can be asthetically pleasing with stone.
Virginia should lead the country with "tele-commuting". 30% or so of traffic are Govenrment workers. Get them off the roads 50% of the time.Solved
I'm asking where the plans are for the infrastructure and
facilities needed for the growth. What are the costs and
where will the money come from to build it?
Don't you think it DUMB GROWTH to designate growth
areas without a plan for the infrastructure they'll need?
Every the the BOS wants to designate growth areas - don't
they also owe citizens the infrastructure plan?
what kind of growth is growth without an infrastructure plan?
I call it DUMB GROWTH, dumber voters if they don't hold
BOS feet 2 fire.
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