PWC Should “Just Say No” To Stone Haven
The proposed Stone Haven development in Prince William County sits on 900 acres of undeveloped land in the Linton Hall area. The question now before the county is whether this land should be re-designated from largely commercial to high density residential.
Really? Are we seriously having a conversation on whether to change zoning for land from commercial development to high density housing? Why not just officially hang out a sign saying “Welcome to Northern Virginia’s Bedroom Community“? Geesh!
I’m not opposed to residential development, but there are already plenty of areas in the county zoned for residential that have yet to be developed. Once all those are spoken for, then come back and ask for such a change. If for some reason it makes more sense for a residential neighborhood to be located where a commercial development is slated to go or vice versa, then there should be an even swap — the number of acres being converted from commercial to residential should be offset by an equal number of acres of residential being converted to commercial elsewhere in the county.
What we need in PWC are more good paying jobs and for that we need high-end commercial developments (as well as a friendlier business climate to attract top businesses.) Relying upon additional residential development like Stone Haven to grow the county’s tax base will only set us further behind as new residents consume county services as well. Our commercial to residential ratio is completely out of whack and by some estimates we’re only half-way to meeting the county’s stated target of having commercial represent one-quarter of the tax base.
The county just needs to say NO to Stone Haven.
5 Responses to “PWC Should “Just Say No” To Stone Haven”
I agree with you Mr. Riley. This sounds like another re-zoning disaster waiting to happen. That area is already over-loaded with residential and the people living in that area should be outraged with the prospect of more traffic congestionn and overcrowded schools. I am not familiar with the status of the proposal but normally there are meetings between the residential developments’ representatives and local HOAs and this is the first oppty to run them out of town!! While on the subject, is VV familiar with the proposal to build the new P-Nats Stadium on the corner of Opitz and Neabsco Mills Road …the Stadium would be across the street from Potomac Hospital (and its helicopter landing pad), across the street from Wegman’s, huge RE office and retail development; also, the state would build a 1,000 space commuter parking lot IN the stadium. Do you think this is a good idea?????
Ken, after all this time, please feel free to call me Jim.
While we may disagree on the larger state / national issues, we do have much common ground at the local level.
I’m intrigued by the proposal for the baseball stadium near Wegman’s. At first blush I’d be inclined to favor it, but I would want to see specific traffic studies and hear about how to mitigate any issues that might arise from its proximity to the hospital (the one I hear brought up the most is the issue of fireworks after games.) So long as taxpayer funds aren’t being used to build the stadium, that wouldn’t be an issue. (I do think that VDOT paying for the parking garage to be used as a commuter lot makes sense, particularly if the county and PRTC get their act together on a rapid bus transit system to connect commuters to the Springfield metro station and use it as homebase for it.)
I went to a public meeting on the stadium at Freedom HS and of the 25 or so speakers, no one spoke in favor. The applicant, county and state people presented no traffic data. But i cant imagine how the state or county would allow 1,000 cars to pour out of the stadium parking lot every night. I was talking to a health care worker in the spine office across the street and she wondered how her commute to Manassas would be affected. It seems like a terrible place to put a stadium……….from a public policy standpoint. Your good friend Frank Princippi chaired the meeting. First he was against the proposal when it first was formulated and at the meeting he seemed to be for it. Corey was also there…..he has recd at least $25,000 from Silber in campaign contributions…………anyway, i think it is a disastrous proposal. Silber said the proposal would bring in about 500 cars a night
Don’t forget, there are only about 60 days a year where there is a home game and some of those are Sat. night or Sun. afternoons.
That’s right Jim. They also plan to run the embedded restaurant year-round….chef will run that (sounds like another nice restaurant which we all might enjoy) and the stadium will have year-round activities like concerts, etc.. The proposal has things that everyone will love and hate………………..bottom line……..i am against it!!!
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