Regional Growing Pains

Communities are greeting the Washington area's growth with mixed reactions: dismay over falling property values and worsening traffic, relief at the increasing tax base and questions about how growth is transforming communities.

Every corner of the metro area is dealing with expansion in its own way. In Prince William County, supervisors have talked about reining in growth, but have approved 90 percent of development requests over the past five years. They say they have negotiated with developers to lessen the cost of development to the county. Prince George's County is considering a different tactic: charging developers a per house fee.

In Maryland, Gov. Glendening is pushing to re-channel growth to urban areas, which already have the roads and other infrastructure to handle the influx of people. But in posh, urban Friendship Heights, residents are clashing with developers over how much growth to permit.

Loudoun County has managed growth of large subdivisions to its residents' satisfaction, only to become a battlefield over smaller, "fill-in" subdivisions, developments that are built in the spaces between larger neighborhoods.

Even far-flung Faquier County is being eyed by developers. As the Washington commuters move further west, builders see the potential for prime housing in areas now kept primarily rural through tight zoning requirements.

As the suburban sprawl plods imexorably outward, anxiety about traffic, pollution and other threats to their quality of life have moved residents in every corner of the Washington area to band together to stymie projects.

What changes are happening in your community? And what should government leaders be doing about it? Join our conversation on the region's growing pains.