I am writing to express my concern over the current draft of the Stafford County Comprehensive Plan.
In a July 17 op-ed, Cord Sterling refers to the plan "now in its final stages" and sites several improvements that "will be funded by those who would develop the new state-mandated Urban Development Areas."
This is misleading. The plan is still in draft phase, not final stages, and requires public review. The new developers cannot pay for all these improvements unless the plan to add 70,000 to 100,000 new homes is in it.
There are no provisions
I believe the board has placed Stafford's rural character and natural beauty in jeopardy by allowing a comprehensive plan to be submitted. It provides too many loopholes for development without real provisions for paying for improvements. To develop nine additional areas in Stafford, and most without approved or even planned infrastructure, is not responsible planning!
I cannot believe the board can endorse a plan that does not involve the VDOT impact analysis (not slated to be complete until 2011).
Stafford supervisors need to take a more responsible position. The addition of an indefinite number of home sites will surely stretch our current infrastructure. The promise that development will pay for all the improvements is erroneous and naive.
Mr. Sterling should correctly represent the plan to residents, reconsider his position, and not let this plan go forward without a comprehensive VDOT study completed.
Residents should be concerned that the current Comprehensive Plan is a not-so-comprehensive plan that will stretch our county thin.
Bill Britton
Stafford