If you are feeling like there is no rhyme or reason to the actions of the newly elected majority on the Board of Supervisors, you are correct. The policies they are enacting are directly conflicting with each other.
They adopted an Arts and Agriculture Overlay District (AAOD), as well as a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program to save farmland and green open space. But at the same time, they are pushing for data center development and their associated intensive industrial impact, like tens of millions of square feet of impervious surfaces in our county’s watershed and all their required associated energy infrastructure of substations and massive 110 foot tall transmission lines – throughout our county. All of this will turn our most precious resources, our beautiful green open spaces with all their assets, instead into spaces full of blight.
Why would rural-friendly businesses want to set up shop in an arts and agriculture overlay district whose integrity will be ruined by data centers? This Board’s land-use policies are inviting the sell-off of large parcels of land for data center development, which also makes a farce of the county PDR program before it even has had a chance to get off the ground. Our surrounding counties must be laughing at us. Even Loudoun County is protecting its rural economy and assets by not permitting data center growth into their treasured rural areas.
In the midst of a supposed “formal county process” to expand the PWC data center overlay district with all the adverse impacts that will bring, Chair Ann Wheeler is intent on initiating a Comprehensive Plan Amendment next Tuesday, July 20, for over 800 acres along Pageland Lane – to change rural land to commercial/industrial use. This will open the door for the proliferation of dozens of data centers – right outside of Manassas Battlefield National Park. Nothing will show greater appreciation for our green spaces, rural economy, and National Parks than being forced to drive through thousands of acres of data centers, substations, and transmission lines to get to whatever is left of any rural assets – ?!
This isn’t progress. This Board has no vision for our county. Even our own Office of Tourism differs with the direction Chair Wheeler is trying to steer the county. Their own media outreach brags about our wineries and green spaces, which contribute significantly to the $643M that tourism brings to our county. The features that make Prince William County different from Fairfax and Loudoun are exactly what we will be losing if this Board bends a knee to a few greedy land owners and one power hungry industry.
While next Tuesday is only the initiation, this thoughtless plan sends a clear message that this county does not care about the environment, climate change, and our critical natural assets. With this move Chair Wheeler is starting the process to replace our watershed and green open space with industrial blight.
It is imperative that citizens speak up and make it clear that you personally do not approve of the direction Chair Wheeler and the Board majority is taking with your lives, your homes, and your neighborhoods.
The people of the Prince William County communities who were threatened by the Haymarket transmission line made sure that their voices were heard by the multiple government and industrial entities involved with that issue. It was because you stood up for what mattered to you that a coalition was formed. That transmission line would not have been buried if YOU hadn’t consistently and continuously spoken out by the thousands. YOU positively affected that outcome by showing up. You have to do the same now, show up to oppose all the threats this Board is bringing to our doorsteps.
This Board is ignoring citizen emails. But they can’t ignore you when you speak up at their Board meetings. Use the 3 minutes they allot for citizens by showing up at the McCoart Building or registering to speak remotely. The only way to save our rural areas, protect our peace and quiet, and maintain attractive, thriving and welcoming communities – throughout the county – is for the county’s citizens to personally and directly let this Board know what they do want, and what they don’t want.
If you don’t show up now – if they make all the changes that they are pushing – what will be lost can never be replaced.
McCoart Building, 1 County Complex Ct.
Woodbridge
(Or sign up here by Monday 5 pm to speak remotely)
“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
