Revenue Anticipated By Supervisors
By Kristen Mack
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Two commercial developments, one near a Civil War battlefield and another in the residentially dense western end of the county, were approved by supervisors last week to bring economic development to Prince William.
"The tax pie is going to grow on the commercial side because of projects like this," Supervisor W.S. Covington III (R-Brentsville) said of the developments, which are in his district.
"That's been a weakness in Prince William for a while. What we added [Tuesday] night was significant commercial tax revenue," he said. "We need to do more of that. It's critical for us to grow more."
Manassas Business Park will be a commercial development near Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. The site also is close to Manassas Regional Airport and the Broad Run/Airport station of Virginia Railway Express.
The county planning commission recommended denial of the project, but after developers agreed to donate more land for preservation and pay for traffic improvements, the planning staff supported it.
Developers reduced the density from more than 1 million square feet to 570,000.
But historic preservation groups and Civil War buffs have called the land the second-most-hallowed ground in Prince William. They expressed concerns that development would disrupt sight lines to Bristoe Station Battlefield and increase traffic.
One of the weaknesses of the application, according to county staff, had been the lack of a detailed site layout and building elevations.
Covington said he was glad that the project was rejected by the planning commission because it forced developers to revamp their proposal.
"It gave me leverage," he said. "I wasn't willing to give up. . . . If you walk away from it, you're encouraging housing."
The plan was approved by the Board of County Supervisors, 7 to 1, with Supervisor Martin E. Nohe (R-Coles) voting against it.
The other development, known as Bristow Commons, was unanimously approved by the supervisors, despite recommended denial from the planning commission and county staff.
The project, which will be built at Linton Hall and Devlin roads, will include office space, a pharmacy and a day-care center.
The planning commission denied recommendation based on the development's proximity to Braemar Village and the potential effect on county roads.
Developers were praised, however, for the site's architectural design, underground parking and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. This is the first project for KSK Development.
"This was a nail-biter," Sameer Patel, a KSK partner, said of Tuesday's vote. "We wanted to put something commercial in the middle of an upscale neighborhood. We didn't know if the county was ready for it."
During the process, developers won over many of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Patel and his partners estimate that the project will bring $1.3 million in taxes to the county a year. They hope to break ground in late fall.
"They have an ambitious plan," Covington said. "I hope it brings a center of community. It's not urban, but it has some of that flavor."
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