The Board of County Supervisors approved the comprehensive plan amendment for the new Stone Haven community in Bristow at their Mar. 12 meeting.
The amendment rezones the 864 acres between Linton Hall, Devlin Road and Wellington Road from industrial to suburban and adopts a blended plan for further review by the Board. It passed with a 5-3 vote with Supervisors Pete Candland (Gainesville-R), Maureen Caddigan (Potomac-R) and Michael May (Occoquan- R) opposed.
Chairman At-large Corey Stewart (R) spoke in favor of the zoning change saying the future of Prince William County was in upscale housing and high-end retail, not industry.
Stewart said it would be absurd to zone industrial “on the edge of the wealthiest, most upscale areas in Prince William County,” and that the only right thing to do would be to follow residents’ recommendations.
The nearly 20 Bristow residents, who sign up to speak at the meeting, aligned with Stewart. Many of them had previously participated in the public "redesign" of Stone Haven as part of a program to include community members in local development. Others attended to advocate for new fields, schools and recreational facilities.
North Bristow residents especially advocated for the elimination of industrial zoning that did not match their suburban neighborhoods. Instead, they recommended modern land use: single-family suburban homes buffered by parks and nature preserves with retail and office space to the north.
However, not all aspects of rezoning were positive.
According to planning documents, along with new suburban homes, parks and retail, amending Stone Haven's designation as part the comprehensive plan would increase population and decrease jobs.
The number of permitted residential homes in the development was originally 231-924; that number would grow to 624-1,604 homes under the amended plan. Moreover, with fewer employers accounted for in the new plan, employment numbers would decrease from 9,668-19,339 potential jobs to 5,933-13,192 potential jobs.
Stewart dismissed the idea of job losses, saying job projections do not ensure jobs, since “offices and industrial spaces can just sit there.” He also defended population growth as in the interest of the growing county, agreeing with residents that new people bring new customers for local businesses.
However, many residents focused on the potential amenities that could be provided by new land development, especially a new high school to serve the north Bristow community.
Stewart demonstrated his support for the 13th high school at Stone Haven, describing Stonewall Jackson High School as “across the county.”
Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington (R) said that another site had not been chosen for the school, and in fact, it was becoming increasingly difficult to acquire an 80-acre plot of land within the suburban areas of his district.
Stewart expressed his belief that Stone Haven would be the ideal spot to build the school, and that low occupancy schools would soon receive new students due to other amendments to the comprehensive plan.
But not all residents were in favor of the rezoning. Brentsville District resident Zara Terrell told the Board that adding more neighborhoods to build needed schools only leaves the county playing catch-up.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that our schools are in a horrendous mess. We can’t keep up with the development that this board is approving. The Board of County Supervisors in Prince William County has created a mess. We need to stop with development until the schools can catch up.”
Covington expressed his understanding of both sides of the issue.
“I came in still sort of undecided where I would ultimately be on this,” he said.
Covington said that while “the blended plan offered a lot of attractive features, it had not received unanimous support with citizens,” some of whom were troubled by additional housing coming into the area.
Nonetheless, he said he was convinced Stone Haven was the right location to build a high school. Moreover, he told citizens it would be difficult to push back against development.
“This property is at that stage that something is going to happen,” Covington said.
Were it not to be approved, he said he expected the owners of the property might take issue with the Board's decision. “It’s going to have more of a property rights bent to it.”
Covington said he called for community involvement one year ago because he sensed how political the rezoning would become.
However, others on the board took a different stance on the issue. Stone Haven’s most vocal opponent was Supervisor Maureen Caddigan of the Potomac District.
“I’m probably in the minority voting against this,” Caddigan said, explaining her position. “Those residents along the Linton Hall corridor and the Gainesville District are taking us to task about the growth in their particular area. They explained to us that we needed to slow the growth because the schools are overcrowded. I want to let you know where I’m coming from.”
Support Bristow Beat - Donate Today!