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 2011
Rural Crescent: Supervisor
Candidates Bob Pugh, Jeanine Lawson, Martha Hendley, Ann Wheeler, and
others, as well as Supervisors Mike May and Frank Principi, sign pledge
to protect it; candidates and pro-Rural Crescent citizens comment at
news conference
("Candidates pledge to protect Rural Crescent: Eleven make
promise to leave area the way it is" by
Kipp Hanley, InsideNova.Com,
4 August 2011)
[Coles District
Supervisor Candidate] Pugh
charges Nohe "has one of the worst records on balanced growth of
anyone who has ever served on the Prince William Board of County
Supervisors" and "has received over 75% of his campaign funding from
contributors in Fairfax County so far in 2011." Promises to
"scrutinize all proposed developments carefully for their impacts on
taxes, the economy and the community, oppose road projects that only
open new areas to development and vigorously support the Rural
Crescent."
("Pugh in GOP primary for Coles supervisor" by Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer, 1 July 2011, p.
18)
[Gainesville
District Supervisor Candidate] Candland
says "we need to preserve the Rural Crescent" and notes that he
supports "a balanced approach between conservation and meeting the
needs of our citizens" when it comes to growth in the county, including
making sure that "our infrastructure needs are not overlooked as we
maintain a community that supports families and workers."
Expresses support for PWCBG's core principles, adding that
regarding infrastructure, we need to "hold the developers to a higher
standard then we've seen in the past."
("Candland
in race for Gainesville supervisor” by Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer, 17 June 2011, p. 22)
[Gainesville
District Supervisor Candidate] Hendley
supports county "growing responsibly"; favors "linking development not
just to transportation but also to general
infrastructure, such as making sure there is adequate funding for
police, fire
departments, schools and other like items to offset [the] cost of more
people moving into the area." Says in some
cases it would be cheaper for county to buy land it wants to protect
from
development: "...in the
long run
development can cost you more .. than just buying [land you want to
protect from development] outright."
("Hendley
focuses on development,
infrastructure in Gainesville race” by Dan Roem, The
Gainesville Times, 9 June 2011, pp. A1, A3)
[Brentsville District
Supervisor Candidate] Lawson
explains her former support and current opposition to "pro-growth"
Supervisor Covington, saying "the more I matured through my political
involvement, my eyes
began to open to how unmanaged growth can affect lives." Notes housing
supply glut; supports higher proffers from developers; opposed
Avendale; contrasts her support for Rural Crescent with Covington's
attempts to develop it.
(“Lawson takes on Covington in
Brentsville” by Dan Roem, The
Gainesville Times, 19 May 2011, pp. A1, A8)
Supervisor
Stirrup reports on status of western county road projects May 2011
("John
T. Stirrup, Jr.: Gainesville District Supervisor's Message"
from Prince William County Reports,
Vol.2, May 2011)
Stirrup reports
on status of western county road projects May 2011
("John
T. Stirrup, Jr.: Gainesville District Supervisor's Message"
from Prince William County Reports,
Vol.2, May 2011)
County
road bond projects
County
road-building & transportation
strategic plan FY2011-16
VDOT
road projects directly affecting county
VDOT
regional road projects indirectly affecting county
Jan
2008-Mar 2011 Caddigan for Prince William County Board of Supervisors
campaign raises $27,683, including
at least $13,400 from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Jan
2008-Mar 2011 Covington for Prince William County Board of Supervisors
campaign raises $59,893, including
at least $35,300 from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Jan
2008-Mar 2011 Jenkins for Prince William County Board of Supervisors
campaign raises $56,544, including
at least $11,950 from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Jan
2008-Mar 2011 May for Prince William County Board of Supervisors
campaign raises $48,473, including
at least $13,705 from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Jan
2008-Mar 2011 Nohe for Prince William County Board of Supervisors
campaign raises $75,815, including
at least $47,950 from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Jan
2008-Mar 2011 Principi for Prince William County Board of Supervisors
campaign raises $27,190, including
at least $17,700 from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Jan
2008-Mar 2011 Stirrup for Prince William County Board of Supervisors
campaign raises $60,109, including
at least $11,310 from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Jan
2008-Mar 2011 Stewart for Chairman campaign raises $352,558, including
at least $177,500 from developers, real estate lawyers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Retrospective
on
development of Linton Hall Corridor, past &
present demographics as seen from perspective of over-100-year-old
Benedictine Monastery's nuns, other long-time residents and newcomers
("Va.'s growth plows over country life" by
Brigid Schulte, The
Washington Post, 7 February 2011, p. A1)
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2010
"Biggest
obstacles" in the way of a "robust" DC-area housing recovery
said to be "nation's high unemployment rate" and "the swelling volume
of foreclosures"; Prince William County housing market's volatility
discussed; federal pay freeze, defense contractor layoffs, higher
interest rates seen as potential negative factors
("National trends could drag down D.C. area housing market's gains" by
Dina ElBoghdady, The Washington Post,
30 Dec 2010)
Covington
suggests four-laning road to allow development of Vint Hill Corridor
(“Official: Vint
Hill lights may hinder
traffic” by Dan Roem, The
Gainesville Times, 2 September 2010, pp. A1,
A5)
2010
County Citizens Survey Summary | 2009-10 Comparison
| full text
Supervisors
unanimously reject Finley Asphalt Plant on Hornbaker Road after strong
show of opposition at June citizens meeting in Bristow and August
hearing
("Some
78 speakers help
convince supervisors to vote 'no' on paving facility" by
Rose Murphy, Bull
Run Observer,
6 August 2010, pp
9-10)
Supervisor
Stirrup's
"significant concerns" about Avendale note that taxpayers will
ultimately pay to provide the schools, roads, and sports fields that
Brookfield Homes promised the public in order to gain support for the
project
(e-mail from Supervisor Stirrup
aide Karen S. Ulrich to Gainesville District residents 3 August 2010)
How
Brookfield Homes' "hollow
promises" duped Gainesville Grizzlies youth football into lobbying for
Avendale residential developers
("Developers Try Again in PWC" by
Greg Latique from "Black Velvet Bruce Li" blog that discusses "Prince
William, Manassas and Manassas Park politics," 2 August 2010)
Chairman
Stewart, Supervisor
Covington's efforts to "railroad" Avendale housing project through
Board of Supervisors with virtually no notice, linking new football
fields to youth football support for Avendale seen as "bribe,"
"unethical"
(e-mail
notices to public / exchanges with Board of
Supervisors 2-4 Aug 2010 by Bob Pugh and Ralph Stephenson of Prince
William Citizens for Balanced Growth; e-mails read from top to bottom
in reverse chronological order)
Moody's
rating
agency awards PW County highest bond rating
("PW earns bond
upgrade" by
Tara Slate Donaldson, The
Gainesville Times, 6 May 2010, pp A1, A11)
Why
fight local political battles & corruption; can you make a
difference?
(e-mail sent 3
February 2010 from PWCBG's Ralph Stephenson to friend and opponent of
Avendale housing development project
in response to her question asking whether involvement in local
politics by ordinary citizens makes a difference)
Board
approves new
pro-developer land use plan with "confusing flurry of last-minute
changes," including
allowing fast-tracking of developer comprehensive plan
amendments and allowing residential housing to be part of any CEC, REC,
and RCC commercial development; reaction by May, Stewart, Nohe
("Wellington,
Yorkshire
areas to be studied
under comp plan changes adopted Feb. 2" by
Rose Murphy, Bull Run
Observer, 12 February 2010, pp. 47-48)
Board
should approve
Planning Commission recommendations for the county's Comprehensive Plan
because they "channel residential growth in reasonable ways".
Board should reject the recommendations of the county's
developer-controlled Land
Use Advisory Committee (LUAC) and the county Planning Staff whose
proposals would "set
no real limits on housing," instead allowing " 'anything,
anywhere,
anytime.' " Supervisor Covington criticized as "big landowner
with lots of big landowner friends looking to
make a killing off of taxpayer-subsidized real estate and county
government bailouts of residential developers"; also criticized for
appointing developer with conflict-of-interest to LUAC.
(Speech
by Ralph Stephenson of Prince William Citizens for Balanced Growth to
Board of County Supervisors on 2 Feb 2010)
Board
of County Supervisors,
including Chairman Stewart, likely to reject
Planning Commission's proposed land use reforms,
adopt residential developer-influenced Planning Staff recommendations
instead, which effectively allow residential development "anywhere,
anytime" and "fast-track the approval process" for residential
development
(late Jan
2010 e-mail communications between County Planning
Commissioner Gary Friedman, Ralph Stephenson and Bob
Pugh of Prince William Citizens for Balanced Growth, and county
citizens; e-mails
read from top to bottom in reverse chronological order)
(e-mail exchanges between
Ralph Stephenson of Prince William Citizens for Balanced Growth,
Chairman Stewart, Chairman Stewart's Chief of Staff
Laurie Cronin, and Planning Commission Chairman Gary Friedman 29 Jan-2
Feb 2010; e-mails read from top to bottom
in reverse chronological order)
His
original position on land use (Dec
2008): Stewart "supportive" of
county Planning Commission's suggested land use reforms, which
incentivize commercial, residential
development of two blighted
areas: Yorkshire north of Manassas and the Rte 1 corridor
(e-mail exchanges 14-20
December
2008 between Ralph Stephenson, Board
of County Supervisors, and Stewart's Chief of Staff Laurie
Cronin; e-mails read from top to
bottom
in reverse chronological order)
Apr 2008
Land Use Advisory
Commission (LUAC) draft
plan proposes "high-density" development for all 6 Centers of
Community and 19 Centers of Commerce denoted in maps immediately above
| Feb 2010 version of LUAC Land Use
Plan
Review
of how lax home mortgage
borrowing rules and poor government oversight, despite repeated
warnings, worked in vicious cycle with massive housing oversupply,
leading to housing bubble, market crash, and ultimately the Great
Recession
("Housing Red Flags Ignored", by
Elizabeth MacDonald, Fox Business, 2 Feb 2010)
Housing
market "glut of
inventory", including 9 million vacant homes nationwide, elimination of
federal aid measures in early 2010, high unemployment indicate market
outlook will remain "extremely clouded"
("Housing Market: Even
More Pain in Store?", Fox
News, 25 January 2010)
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2009
2009
County Citizens Survey Summary | 2009-10 Comparison
| full text
Following
2008 alleged conflict-of-interest improprieties by residential
developers on county's Land Use Advisory Commission, Board of
Supervisors adopts financial disclosure requirements for some county
appointees
("Some
like more
transparency for county appointees" by
Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer,
21 August 2009, p.
4)
After
"furious" community
reaction, Chairman Stewart says asphalt plants "won't be coming
to land near Innovation, 'unless and until both plants satisfy the
community’s concerns about them' "; Stewart denies Finley political
contributions would've made him "unable to be objective in this
situation"
("Community
concerns overriding, says Stewart" by Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer, 5 June 2009,
pp. 1, 20)
Letter
reminds pro-developer
Supervisor Covington of what caused the housing crisis & subsequent
Great Recession, including: "years of concurrent political
mischief and corruption ... at the federal, state, and local levels ...
to distort market forces and ... artificially force housing demand to
fit
oversupply"
(Letter to the Editor in "Your
View" section: "Taxes low as long
as priorities kept" by
Ralph & Kathy Stephenson, Inside NOVA.Com, 17 March 2009)
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2008
(e-mail exchanges 14-20
December
2008 between Ralph Stephenson, Board
of County Supervisors, and Stewart's Chief of Staff Laurie
Cronin; e-mails read from top to
bottom
in reverse chronological order)
Forbes
magazine: Commuters
along Linton Hall Rd. in VA have worst commute in the country
("The Daily Grind:
America's Worst Small Towns for Commuters;
Those in the country's little spots don't necessarily have easy trips
to work" by
Jon Bruner , Forbes.com,
9 December 2008)
19
Centers of Community, 6
Centers of Commerce would add 30-35,000 homes in Haymarket-Manassas
area alone to county's glutted
housing market
(e-mail alert 26 Nov 2008 from
Ralph Stephenson of Prince William Citizens for Balanced Growth to
county citizens regarding Centers of Commerce/Community proposal)
County
land use
blueprint "tainted" by possible inclusion of developer's proposals on
his own
land, plans to add 75,000 more homes to already glutted housing market
("Planners ok comp
plan housing changes;
land-use and transpo need more work" by
Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer,
31 October 2008, pp 16-17)
"Commercial
Developers Happier With County Permit Process"
(by Cheryl K.
Chumley, News and Messenger,
15 Oct 2008,
pg. A2)
("Prince
William
County construction plan addressed," PW
Pulse, 9 October 2008, p. A7
Does
the county need & can taxpayers afford another 75,000 houses, in
addition to the tens of thousands already approved but not built and
the thousands foreclosed or vacant?
(Speech by PWCBG's Ralph
Stephenson at
8 Oct 2008 Prince William County Planning Commission hearing on the
Centers of Commerce/Community plan. )
("Smart Growth schematic makes inroads into county,"
by Cheryl Chumley, PW
Pulse, 2 October 2008, pp. A12, A16)
County
Summary of Intent of Centers of
Community Concept | Map
County
Summary of Intent of Centers of
Commerce Concept |
Map
Apr 2008 Land Use Advisory
Commission (LUAC) draft
plan proposes "high-density" development for all 6 Centers of
Community and 19 Centers of Commerce denoted in maps immediately above
| Feb 2010 version of LUAC Land Use
Plan
Stewart opposes
"Wheeler's Grove" proposal to build 772 houses near Manassas
Battlefield, notes housing oversupply and that county tax base 86%
dependent on residential housing already
("Prince
William, developer battle
over housing at Wheeler's Grove" by
Joe Coombs, Washington
Business Journal 17 Mar 2008)
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2007
"Why
balanced growth is important"
(by Ralph Stephenson & Bob Pugh, Prince William Citizens for
Balanced Growth)
Stewart
says
in 2007 YouTube video he's changing focus from out-of-control
residential
growth, which
has "hurt the
average person," to immigration
Board
okays Fireside Church
request for extension of sewer to Rural Crescent; Supervisor Covington
denies "hidden agenda" supporting residential development in Rural
Crescent by extending sewer there and says the sewer extension is not
precedent-setting, but acknowledges that he has always supported
sewering Rural Crescent
("Board Allows Sewer Line for
Church in Rural Crescent" by
Kristen Mack, The
Washington
Post, 6 December 2007, page
B5)
Fireside
Church vote seen as
"Trojan Horse" attempt by Supervisor Covington to bring sewer,
large-scale housing development to Rural Crescent; Board passes sewer
special-use permit
for Fireside Church
5-3, defeats CPA
("Rural
Crescent under attack as
some speakers at hearing on church permit contend?" by
Rose Murphy, The Bull Run Observer, 14
December 2007, pp
11-12)
Supervisor
Covington said to be using Dec 2007 Fireside
Wesleyan Church case as precedent-setter to extend sewer and thus
residential development to Rural Crescent
(Speeches by Ralph and Kathy
Stephenson of Prince William Citizens for Balanced Growth on 4 Dec 2007
to Board of County Supervisors, as well as Prince William
Conservation
Alliance synopsis of the Fireside Wesleyan proposals titled:
"Rural
Crescent at Risk ... Again")
"Disenchanted
with" county
politicians who wanted to continue "warp speed" housing growth, voters
throw out "four of the five reliably pro-growth" Loudoun
supervisors
(Editorial: "A Breather in
Loudoun; The Rascals Are Mostly Gone; Now
It's Time for Calm," The
Washington Post, 12 November
2007, p. A20)
New
Loudoun Board of Supervisors
eyes "reasonable growth" focused on greater commercial development,
less housing, lower-density "transition area", and preservation of
western Loudoun as greenbelt
("Once Again, the Winds of
Change: New Supervisors May Revisit
Growth Policy" by
Sandhya Somashekhar, The
Washington Post, 11 November 2007, p. T1)
Stewart-Pandak
discussion at Chamber of Commerce notes commercial tax revenue accounts
for
only 14% of county tax base, discusses illegal immigration, proffers,
economic issues
("Board
chairman candidates
outline differences at chamber of commerce" by
Rose Murphy, Bull
Run Observer, 2 November 2007, page
25)
In
Loudoun, "local
politicians and developers have cuddled up to each other so brazenly
that the FBI and federal prosecutors started asking questions"
(Editorial: "Restoring
Sanity in Loudoun; In Tuesday's Elections,
Plenty of Rascals To Throw Out", The Washington Post, 1 November
2007, p. A20)
Two
2006-07
"Stewart for Chairman" campaigns raise $368,000 total, including
$66,000 (18%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Two
2006-07
"Pandak for Supervisor" campaigns raise $528,000 total, including
$103,500 (20%) from developers and $180,000 (34%) from Democratic Party
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
2007
"Caddigan for Supervisor" campaign raises $63,000 total, including
$22,000 (35%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
2007
"Covington for Supervisor" campaign raises $90,500 total, including
$30,500 (34%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
2007
"Jenkins for Supervisor" campaign raises $132,500
total, including
$46,000 (35%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Two
2007
"May for Supervisor" campaigns raise $69,000 total, including
$6,000 (9%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
2007
"Nohe for Supervisor" campaign raises $87,000 total, including
$44,000 (51%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
2007
"Principi for Supervisor" campaign raises $99,500 total, including
$17,500 (18%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
2007
"Stirrup for Supervisor" campaign raises $81,000 total, including
$15,500
(19%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Supervisor
Covington takes
credit for improving road situation in Gainesville-Manassas by backing
massive 2005-06 Brentswood housing project
("Gainesville
Interchange date moves up three
years" by Tara
Slate Donaldson, Bull Run
Observer, 24 October 2007)
Commentary:
Supervisor Covington criticized for being too close to big landowners,
big developers, and for playing leading role in Brentswood I (2005-06); may
eventually try to
revive Brentswood
(Letter
to Editor by PWCBG's
Ralph Stephenson, Potomac
News, 6
November 2007)
Creation
of Bristoe
Station Battlefield Heritage Park by county-Centex Homes partnership is
good example of how "developers, preservationists and government
can find ways to
work together" to "do something for the public
good"
("Bristoe
Station history
lives as County, Centex, CWPT work outside the box"
by
James Ivancic, Bull
Run Observer, 19 October 2007, pp
3-4)
Board votes 5-3 against
proffer
reform that would require residential developers to bear full cost to
county of residential development; Supervisor Nohe explains "no" vote
in terms of
new Virginia General Assembly rules on impact fees; Supervisor Caddigan
"in favor of proffer increases," but "the timing was wrong"
("Proposed
Increase in County Proffer Fees Is Defeated 5-3" by
Rose Murphy, Bull
Run Observer, 19 October 2007,
p.
16)
PWCBG's
9 Oct news conference supports increased proffers; Chairman Candidate
Pandak reverses earlier lack of
support
for proffer reform;
Democratic
Party
official repeatedly
tries to interrupt, heckle
speakers who support increased
proffers
("New
Group Pushes Proffer Hikes" by
Tara Slate Donaldson, Gainesville
Times, 10 October 2007 and "Pending
Supervisors' Votes Rile Public: Protest, News Conference Address
Proposals on Illegal Immigration, Proffers" by Christy
Goodman, The Washington Post,
11
October 2007,
p. PW01)
"Why would the Board of County
Supervisors want to increase the glut
of residential housing in Prince William County by
subsidizing
residential development at
taxpayers' expense?"
(Speech by PWCBG's Ralph
Stephenson at
9 Oct PWCBG news conference supporting increased proffers)
Board
votes 5-3 against
proffer
reform that would require residential developers to bear full cost to
county of residential development; Supervisor Caddigan
"in favor of proffer increases," but "the timing was wrong"
("Proposed
Increase in County Proffer Fees Is Defeated 5-3" by
Rose Murphy, Bull
Run Observer, 19 October 2007,
p.
16)
[BOCS
Chairman Stewart] supports
impact fees, proffers that pay for government infrastructure burdens
imposed on county taxpayers by residential development; residential
developers cast proposal as anti-business, even though
commercial development specifically exempted by
5 June BOCS vote
("No
New Housing in County Without Payment of Impact Fees, Says Stewart" by
Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer,
7 September 2007, pp. 7, 10)
[BOCS
Chairman Stewart] notes
"cooling off of the housing market is allowing us to catch up with
roads and schools"; also says proffer "hike a win-win for residents
because development will slow down" and the resulting decrease in
supply in the glutted housing market "will mean that existing homes
will be valued higher"
("Proffer
Increase Vote Set for Next Month," by Tara Slate
Donaldson , Gainesville Times, 5 September 2007)
[BOCS
Chairman Stewart] supports Planning Commission recommendation to
require higher proffers
from residential developers
("Stewart
Seeks To Raise Residential Proffers," by Keith Walker, Manassas Journal Messenger, 31
August 2007)
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Pandak] believes residential
development should "cover its cost so that current
residents don't have to pay for it," but fails to support Planning
Commission
recommendation to require higher proffers from residential developers
("Stewart
Seeks To Raise
Residential Proffers," by Keith Walker, Manassas Journal Messenger, 31
August 2007)
Status
of road projects in western county: Linton Hall Rd. complete Aug 2009;
Rte. 28; US 15; Old Carolina Rd.
("Road
Upgrading on County Books" by Gretchen L.H. O'Brien, Bull Run
Observer, 10 August 2007, pp. 1, 10)
2007 Citizen
Survey: PW citizens "generally
dissatisfied with the coordination of
development and roads, growth in the county, and planning and land use"
("Supervisors Get Survey Results"
by Keith Walker, Potomac News,
9 Aug 2007)
2007
County
Citizen
Satisfaction Survey
[Supervisor]
Caddigan
says "people are satisfied" and "trust us a little bit more," although
2007 survey shows citizens "generally
dissatisfied with the coordination of
development and roads, growth in the county, and planning and land use"
("Supervisors Get Survey Results"
by Keith Walker, Potomac News,
9 Aug 2007)
Improvement
in housing market partly dependent on "whether builders will slash
production, which would reduce the
glut of homes"
("Number of
Unsold Homes Increases -- Listings
Rise 2.5% in 18 Metro Areas; Pending Sales Fall" by
James R. Hagerty, Wall Street Journal,
5 July 2007, p. B8)
Housing downturn
largely due to "glut of
homes for sale"; housing glut and "surge in mortgage defaults", in
turn, largely due to builder "speculation," residential overbuilding,
and targeting of uncreditworthy "sub-prime" borrowers as homebuyers
("Ripple
Effect -- Economists See
Housing Slump Enduring Longer: Downturn is Expected To Keep
Growth
Tepid; Retailers Feel the Pinch" by
James R. Hagerty, Jonathan Karp, and Mark Whitehouse, Wall Street Journal,
9 June 2007, p. A1)
Chairman
Stewart, Supervisor May support higher fees (proffers) on residential
developers for new infrastructure costs resulting from new residential
development; Supervisors Covington, Jenkins strongly oppose increased
proffers
("Supervisors
Reject Some Higher Building
Fees" by
Timothy Dwyer, The
Washington
Post, 7 June 2007, p. T1)
May 2007: VDOT
engineer on Rte
29-I66 interchange progress; planned completion of Aug 2010
(by Gretchen
L.H. O'Brien, Bull Run
Observer, 4 May 2007, p. 4)
[Supervisor May]
discusses
Fiscal Year 2008 county budget, transportation issues
(Prince William County Government's
"Infocus" newsletter, Spring 2007, p.
5)
"Vacant
homes for sale cloud economic
hopes": "Data pointing to glut are worst in decades; impact of
speculators"
( by
Michael Corkery, Wall Street Journal,
5 Feb 2007, p. A1)
[Supervisor
May] wins Occoquan seat on
Board;
likely to be "strong ally" to Stewart; wants to "control growth"
(by
Timothy Dwyer, The
Washington
Post, 31 January 2007,
p B5)
("A Potential Pothole in Va.
Roads Deal - Loudoun,
Pr. William Balk at Raising Taxes," by Eric M. Weiss and Michael D.
Shear, The Washington
Post, 20 January 2007, p. A1)
Chamber
of Commerce hears [BOCS Chairman] Stewart discuss
keys to keeping county economy strong, including continuing to attract
new businesses and strengthening transportation, education, public
safety; tax rate to be set in April
("Stewart
Touts Economic Prowess in 'State of
County' Talk to Chamber" by Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer,
19 January 2007, p. 43)
Supervisors
vote 4-3 against
Chairman Stewart's $9,000 proposal to televise Planning Commission
meetings
(by
Timothy Dwyer, The
Washington
Post, 18 January 2007, page
T1)
County
road-building & transportation
strategic plan for fiscal year 2007-12
("Transportation" section of
the county's "FY2007-12 Capital
Improvement Plan")
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2006
Two
2006-07
"Stewart for Chairman" campaigns raise $368,000 total, including
$66,000 (18%) from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Big
developer sues
Loudoun County for
rejecting plan to build up to 34,000 housing units around Dulles Airport
("Developer Sues Over
Rejection
of Housing Proposal," by Amy Gardner, The
Washington
Post, 15 December 2006, p. B9)
Supervisors
unanimously
support freeze on rezonings in 2007
(by
Timothy Dwyer, The
Washington
Post, 6 December 2006, page
B1)
Commentary:
Supervisor
Covington explains
reasons for sponsoring Freeze
(Letter
to Editor by Supervisor
Wally Covington, Bull
Run
Observer, 15 December 2006, page
19)
Commentary:
Freeze
a "gimmick" that contradicts recent Covington statements, actions
(Letter
to Editor by PWCBG's Bob Pugh, Potomac News,
8 December 2006 )
("3 Counties Attempt To Put
Brakes on Growth - Va., Md. Acts Aimed at Land-Use Limits," by Alec MacGillis,
The Washington Post, 6
December 2006, p. A1)
Two
2006-07
"Pandak for Supervisor" campaigns raise $528,000 total, including
$103,500 (20%) from developers and $180,000 (34%) from Democratic Party
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Note:
On
the
evening of 2 November 2006, a public debate between
Board of
County Supervisors [BOCS] chairman candidates Corey Stewart and Sharon
Pandak was held at the Braemar Clubhouse in Bristow. Among those
attending the debate were current members of Prince
William Citizens for Balanced
Growth, members of other civic organizations, and Braemar
residents.
Ms. Pandak, who was county attorney and legal adviser to the BOCS when
it decided to divert voter-approved bond funds from widening
Linton Hall Rd. to other purposes, was asked toward the end of the
debate whether this BOCS decision was legal. She said she
believed it was. When asked whether the
BOCS
decision was "ethical" and the right thing to do, she declined to
answer, citing attorney-client privilege.
On three separate occasions during the course of the
debate, various
audience members also asked Ms. Pandak how much money her campaign was
receiving from developers. These questions gave her an
opportunity to refute rumors
that large sums from developers were being donated to her campaign both
directly and
using
the Virginia State Democratic Party as a conduit. She did not
respond to any of these questions.
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Pandak] emphasizes
experience as county
adviser in 1990s, while critics see her as "cozy with developers"
and tied to 1990s legacy of "runaway development" that
caused current "traffic and crowding problems"
("Pr. William
Lawyer Plays Catch-Up - Democrat Seeks To
Lead Supervisors" by Nick Miroff, The Washington Post, 26
October 2006, page B1)
Leading
developer tells colleagues he is "doing anything" to elect Pandak,
defeat Stewart
(By
Nick Miroff, The Washington Post,
25 October
2006, page
B1)
[Supervisor Jenkins]
says Corey Stewart
has burned bridges
to others on Board and must make "significant concessions to
get them back on his side"
("Pr.
William
Growth Irks Candidate - Commute Sparked Chairman Campaign" by
Nick Miroff, The Washington
Post, 25 October 2006,
page B1)
Developers
"worried" at prospect of Stewart victory; some controlled-growth
advocates
see Pandak as "developers' candidate," question her vagueness on
development issues
(Report
of 27 September 2006 Pandak-Stewart Debate; "Candidates
Differ on Approach To Growth: Preserve's Fate a Focus In Race for Board
Chief" by Fredrick Kunkle, The
Washington
Post, 8 October 2006)
Supervisor
Stirrup-sponsored town hall
meeting
discusses completion
of I-66, Sudley Manor Road work,
Nov 2006 bond referenda on roads,
libraries, parks
(by Rose Murphy, Bull
Run
Observer, 6 October 2006, pp. 1, 60)
County
homepage for road bond projects
| 2006
bond referendum mailer to county citizens
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Pandak] notes
limits on county ability to obtain developer proffers; wants state help
on local transportation, citing I-95 corridor; supports referendum on
tax increase to buy "open space"
(Report
of 27 September 2006 Pandak-Stewart Debate; "Pandak, Stewart Battle at
Forum" by Keith Walker, Potomac News,
28 September 2006)
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Stewart] stresses
need to slow residential growth, improve transportation; seeks
more
developer proffers; notes 30-40,000 homes already approved but
not yet built; opposes development of Rural Crescent
(See
second article below under Sharon Pandak; report
of 27 September 2006 Stewart-Pandak Debate; "Pandak, Stewart Battle at
Forum" by Keith Walker, Potomac
News, 28 September 2006)
Congressman
Tom Davis (7 Sep 2006) Says
"Gainesville traffic is worst in the state"
("Davis Acknowledges
Gainesville Traffic Is
Worst in the State," by Catherine Hubbard, Bull Run Observer, 22 September
2006, pp. 1, 3)
"Board
is wrong to defer developers"
("Letter": "Board is Wrong To Defer Developers" by Michael Ragland, The Gainesville Times, 15 Sep 2006, p. A4)
"Typical
supervisor is beholden more to
developers than ... constituents"
("Letter": "Board is Wrong To Defer Developers"
by
Michael Ragland, The Gainesville
Times, 15 Sep 2006, p.
A4)
Sep
2006: Rte
29-I66 interchange right-of-way
work to begin
Nov 2007, construction completed 2012 "earliest"
(by
Christy Goodman,
Washington Examiner, 1 Sep 2006)
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Pandak] wants
to "change the dynamics of the state and federal government" to solve
county traffic problems
(by Rose Murphy, Bull
Run
Observer, 25 August 2006, p.
13)
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Stewart] wants to
balance residential, commercial growth, "limit high-intensity
development"
(by
Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer,
25
August 2006, p.
13)
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Pandak] seeks
more land
use authority from state; concerned about impact of traffic congestion
on business
(by Dan Roem and Tara Slate
Donaldson, The Gainesville Times,
25 August 2006, p.
16)
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Stewart] says two main election
issues
are transportation gridlock, rising tax burden
(by
Dan Roem and Tara Slate Donaldson, The Gainesville Times, 25
August 2006, p. A17)
[Supervisor
Stirrup] praises Corey Stewart's limited
government principles, argues against county Republican Party moving
"to the left"
(by
Dan Roem and Tara Slate
Donaldson, The
Gainesville
Times, 25 August 2006, pp
A1, A17)
[Supervisor Covington] hopes to
bring cluster
housing, sewer lines to rural areas
(by Catherine Hubbard, Bull Run Observer, 11
August 2006, p. 5)
[Supervisor
Stewart] discusses role
in defeating Brentswood; says county "spending too freely
on non-core functions"
(by
Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer,
11
August 2006, p. 8)
[Supervisor Stirrup]
discusses
balanced growth, town hall meetings, county "taxpayers' bill of
rights"
(by Gretchen L.H. O'Brien, Bull Run
Observer, 11 August 2006, p.
7)
2006
"Citizen
Survey: PW residents still happy with
libraries, tired of traffic"
(by Tara Slate Donaldson ,
The Gainesville Times, 10 Aug 2006
2006
County
Citizen
Satisfaction Survey
2006 County "Popular
Annual Financial Report"
[Supervisor
Barg] says new "Potomac
Communities" development along I-95 will "revitalize" community
(Prince William County Government's
"Infocus" newsletter, Summer 2006, Vol 5, Issue 2, p.
8)
[Supervisor
Caddigan] reports on
Dumfries-area road-building, "Potomac Communities Revitalization Plan"
(Prince William County Government's
"Infocus" newsletter, Summer 2006, Vol 5, Issue 2, p.
6)
[Supervisor
Covington] stresses
large "Virginia property owners' vested right to develop
properties" without local government restriction
(Prince William County Government's
"Infocus" newsletter, Summer 2006, Vol 5, Issue 2, p.
5)
[Supervisor Jenkins]
reports on Neabsco-area
road-building, other improvements
(Prince William County Government's
"Infocus" newsletter, Summer 2006, Vol 5, Issue 2, p.
7)
[BOCS
Chairman Candidate Stewart] notes negative effects of
county's
real estate glut on homeowners
(Prince
William County Government's
"Infocus" newsletter, Summer 2006, Vol 5, Issue 2, p.
7)
Chairman
Connaughton chided for
disingenuousness on Brentswood
("Opinion" by
Ralph
Stephenson , The Gainesville Times,
26 May 2006, p A4)
"Brentswood
plan hearing delayed [16 May 2006];
changes in works"
(by Rose Murphy, Bull
Run
Observer, 19 May 2006, p. 1)
Note: In a 15 March
2005
vote on Brentswood, the PW Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) voted 5-3
to allow the proposal to be sent through the county's rezoning
process. This made it necessary for the proposal to be formally
studied
by the county Planning Staff and formally voted on by both the county
Planning Commission and the BOCS. The following supervisors voted
in March 2005 to keep the proposal alive and send it through the formal
rezoning
process: Chairman Sean
Connaughton, Wally Covington, Hilda Barg, Martin Nohe, and John
Jenkins. Voting against further consideration: Corey
Stewart, John Stirrup, and Maureen Caddigan.
County Planning
Staff Report, Planning Commission Recommend Denial of Brentswood (10 May 2006)
After
receiving $863K From
developers, Chairman Connaughton should recuse himself from
Brentswood vote
(Letter to Editor by
Ralph
& Kathy Stephenson, Potomac News,
4
May 2006)
Negative
effects of
Prince William, Loudoun
housing glut viewed
("Blink and They're Still There
- Houses and Condos Are Staying on the
Market Longer", by Tomoeh Murakami Tse, Washington Post, 2 May 2006, p.
A1)
(by
Charles Reichley, 8 April 2006, "Two
Conservatives" blog ("two Prince William
conservatives' posting about Virginia politics and
other topics of interest"): "Opposition to Brentswood
Development")
County
Republican Party
Committee resolution opposing Brentswood (1
April 2006)
[Supervisor
Stirrup] discusses expected
completion
dates of five western county road
projects in 24 March 2006 e-mail
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2005
Brookfield
Homes' claims of road
improvements
to accompany Brentswood
(map from Brookfield website Oct
2005 and Brookfield-sponsored public
open
houses early 2006 to promote Brentswood)
"2005
Survey:
County roads, growth need work"
(by Tara Slate Donaldson ,
The Gainesville Times, 19 Aug 2005)
2005
County
Citizen
Satisfaction Survey
Northern
Virginians get back "only about 25
cents of every dollar" in taxes sent to Richmond
("Kilgore,
Kaine Tax Cut Plans Alarm Locals" by
Nicholas F. Benton, Falls Church
Press [Online Issue],
24 Mar 2005)
Supervisors
vote 5-3 to keep Brentswood plan alive; activists debate
county Comprehensive Plan requirement that Rural
Crescent be preserved through sparse development, no sewer lines
("Brentsville,
Woodbridge Developments to Proceed" by
Nikita Stewart, Washington
Post, 17 March 2005, page
T1)
2005
"Barg for Delegate" campaign raises $583,000 total, $115,000 (20%)
from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP), Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
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2004
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Pre-2004
[Supervisor
Barg] described as "normally
a consistently pro-development
member of the board"
("As
Elections Near, Actions on Growth Scrutinized" by Steven
Ginsberg, The Washington
Post, 6 July 2003, p.
T12)
2003
"Jenkins for Supervisor" campaign raises $100,000 total, $25,000 (25%)
from developers
(Virginia Public
Access
Project (VPAP),
Virginia's authoritative source on the role of
money in state politics.)
Supervisors
vote 5-3 for rezoning to allow Cherry Hill development, despite
environmental sensitivity of area, possible lack of financing, and
suggestions
that project won't be built as planned
("Pr. William
Approves $3 Billion
Development Along Potomac" by
Steven Ginsberg, The
Washington
Post, 18 January 2001, p.
B5)
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