For those who wonder what the future holds for Prince William County, the strategic planning committee is working on it.
The strategic planning committee is a group of individuals, appointed by the Board of County Supervisors, who solicit community input and then develop a plan for the future of the county. Right now the committee is working on attainable goals for 2013-16, while looking towards 2030.
Lori Dolieslager is one of the committee’s representative from the Brentsville District. She was apointed by Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington along with Scott Jacobs. Dolieslager ran for Brentsville District School Board representative back in 2011.
According to Dolieslager, the committee met for the first time this March.
“We’ve only had our one meeting, so we have to decide what our goals are,” said Dolieslager. However she believes bringing businesses to Prince William will be a focus.
“Economic development,” Dolieslager said, “That’s what I believe needs to happen. We need to take the burden off the homeowner, and bring in business besides retail.”
Economic development would, according to Dolieslager, bring tax revenue. It would also mean more people could live and work within the county.
“We’ve typically been a bedroom community, but I would like that to change so that people can work here---live, work and play right in their own community.”
She said the committee is also planning for the posterity of the county.
“My goal for the county is to create a sense of community. I want to create a place where my children can come back from college, and work and want to raise their children here,” she said,
The strategic planning committee includes 20 members, two from each district. The committee also has between four and six county employees to assist them.
Dolieslager said that he Brentsville District poses unique challenges, since two distinct neighborhoods inhabit the area.
“As a representative of the Brentsville District, I feel it is important to represent the residents who live along Linton Hall and US Route 29 as well as the residents who live in Nokesville, who have chosen a different type of community.”
She believes people in Nokesville want to keep their community rural and not invite suburban sprawl. Whereas Bristow residents want to create more of a community feel to accompany the housing growth.
“We do need a town center. This is very specific to just the Brentsville area. We do need gathering places; we do need a sense of community.”
However, along with nice retail shops and restaurants, Dolieslager would like to bring in corporations where Prince William residents can work.
“We have a population of people that are very well educated, so we need higher end jobs, transportation and ability to work close to home, and a place where our children can thrive,” she said.
Dolieslager plans to look at what has worked for neighboring Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, as well as learn from their mistakes. IT and other high tech/high income jobs are on her radar, and she sites the FBI building on Prince William Parkway/234 bypass as an example of the kind of industries she would support.
Dolislager said she realizes the western end of Prince William grew quickly because it offered affordable housing, but she believes those communities now need to go beyond housing.
Moreover, she is concerned that schools are playing catch up with growing student populations. She would like to get ahead of the curve, and have a plan in place to build new schools as new homes are built in a community.
And where, businesses will bring new tax revenue, she also believes they will create a more sustainable community growth overall.
“If they’re working in the county, they’re spending in the county as well," Dolieslager said.
Beyond building commerce in the community, Dolieslager is also mindful of safety concerns. She said she intends to plan for police, fire and rescue facilities to have the high tech, up-to-date equipment they need to be effective.
Finally, Dolieslager believes that she is in a unique position to represent the interests of residents on both sides of the county, because she lived in Lake Ridge for several years.
“Bristow and Gainesville are very similar to Lake Ridge. It’s built almost identically; it’s just 20 years behind.”
Dolieslager said she welcomes input from community members. Readers can contact her at LoriDintouch@yahoo.com.
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