Commission rejects developer’s plan

By JIM LAWRENCE
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: November 20, 2008

STAFFORD — The Stafford County Parks and Recreation Commission has rejected a developer’s plan to use open areas in a proposed subdivision off Mine Road behind Wal-mart. 

The decision — a recommendation — came Monday at the commission’s monthly meeting. The Stafford County Planning Commission would ultimately be the next step in the process for the developer, should it still seek to use the area. The commission would then make a recommendation to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, according to protocol.

The proposed plan includes approximately 119 units and is split in the middle by a creek that has been deemed a resource protection area. In the plans are two tot lots, separated by the creek. Commission members expressed concern over how the two areas could be made accessible to one another.

Some members did not think two lots were big enough.

Commission Chairman Tom Paton, Garrisonville District, felt that the developers were not making enough concessions regarding open areas.

“This is Garrisonville. There are no parks in this area,” he said, referring to the lack of open recreation facilities nearby. 

Commissioner John Druiett, Hartwood District, was not anxious to throw out the plan, though.

“I don’t see what else we can do with the property,” he said. He asked that the tot lots be made accessible to one another as a possible plan.

Randy Walther, Falmouth, moved that the plan be rejected, saying the plan attempted to “shoehorn a plan into an are that won’t accept it.”

The commission rejected the plan and asked the developer to return with some revisions, suggesting a dog run and larger play areas.

Bobby Crisp, George Washington District, said in an interview after the meeting that owners will let their dogs loose and they will eventually leave waste in the creek.

Increases in fees are being considered for services and programs offered by the department, partly in light of budget deficits.

Reviewing them, commissioners felt that the recommended increases were reasonable and voted unanimously to forward them to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors for review.

The commission also recommended to remain in the Stafford Gymnastics and Recreation Center at Nelms Circle, located off of Warrenton Road.

In other news, Druiett had made a proposal at a prior commission meeting to ask county farmers if they would be willing to lease land to the county for public recreational use in the exchange for tax breaks.

The land would be leased to the county for 10 years for recreational purposes. At the end of that period, the landowner and the county would be free to renew their negotiations on the land.

Druiett, a farmer himself, stated several were overwhelmingly in support of such an idea.

Parks and Recreation Director Chris Hoppe replied that his staff would pursue the matter further.

Commissioners Brad Eads, Rock Hil District, and Bill Hoyt, Aquia District, were not present at the meeting. The Griffis-Widewater position is vacant.

Jim Lawrence is a contributing writer at the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at .