Growth Ushers in Stewart's Tenure

Harbor Station Expansion Passes

The Corey A. Stewart era began last week with the new chairman presiding over his first meeting of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, and the day reflected the complexities of the challenges facing the board as the county continues its unprecedented population growth and development.

In Tuesday's afternoon session, Supervisor W.S. Covington III (R-Brentsville) introduced a resolution calling for a one-year freeze on housing construction. In the evening, the board voted 4 to 2 to approve 1,400 houses as part of an expansion of KSI Services Inc.'s Harbor Station development on the Cherry Hill Peninsula.

Covington voted to approve the new houses. Stewart, who based his campaign for chairman on controlling growth, opposed it, as did Supervisor John T. Stirrup (R-Gainesville).

The board unanimously approved plans for a marina as part of the Harbor Station plan.

On Dec. 5, supervisors will take up Covington's proposal to freeze residential construction.

The vote to approve the Harbor Station expansion came after a dozen residents, mostly neighbors of the development, spoke in favor of the plan. Only one opposed adding houses.

The residents said KSI had met with them repeatedly and addressed their concerns about the impact of additional housing on the transportation infrastructure in the area.

KSI representatives outlined to the board their proffer plan for Harbor Station, which includes about $50 million in transportation improvements such as a Route 234 overpass at Route 1. KSI said it would pay $2.5 million for the construction of two elementary schools and $5.5 million to obtain the land for and build a commuter parking lot near Routes 234 and 1.

"This is going to be a beautiful community and so well-planned," said Supervisor Hilda M. Barg (D-Woodbridge), whose district includes most of the development. "I can tell you that this is a far cry better than any proposal I have ever seen for the peninsula, and I know because I have lived there all my life."

Stewart said that the KSI plans were impressive but that he couldn't vote for the development. "I cannot support the increase in the number of residential units on the Route 1 corridor," he said.

KSI won approval for an additional 1,487 houses -- 70 percent of which would be restricted to people 55 and older -- a marina and an office park with a secure perimeter designed to suit a federal agency, such as the Department of Homeland Security, or a defense contractor as a tenant.

Work has begun on the first phase of the development, which includes a town center, a luxury hotel and conference center, Virginia Railway Express station and 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The plan calls for extending Route 234 into the peninsula with construction of a six-lane road to be named Harbor Station Parkway.

Covington said his vote to approve the new houses didn't contradict his resolution to freeze construction.

"This was something that was proposed before the start date of my resolution, and it is the best transportation package we have seen," he said. "We are looking at between five and 10 times the amount of transportation proffers they were required to make."

Covington said he likes that most of the roads would be built before completion of the structures.

Supervisor John D. Jenkins (D-Neabsco) said the first meeting with Stewart as chairman was one of the most interesting he has attended in his 25 years on the board.

"I think, you know, in light of what he campaigned on and in spite of all the chairman's good intention for his first day on the board, a major rezoning was approved," said Jenkins, who favored the expansion of Harbor Station. "We would have been foolish not to accept the transportation guarantees [by KSI]. They are doing things the state couldn't do."