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Avendale deferred
After a three-hour public hearing and presentation, supervisors decided on Tuesday night to put off a decision on the Avendale proposal in Nokesville.
Brookfield Homes is hoping to win approval of a Comprehensive Plan amendment and rezoning to build 295 homes in the Rural Crescent.
In exchange, the builder would essentially pay for the realignment of Vint Hill Road and would dedicate 77 acres for a school site in the area.
Residents lined up for two hours on Tuesday night to speak out on the proposal. Most, but certainly not all, opposed the idea.
“These 300 homes will more than cancel out any improvements,” said Nokesville resident Patti McKay. “We can't build our way out of this mess.”
Those who supported the plan, however, cited the county's need for school sites and the traffic problems that would be solved by the realignment of Vint Hill Road.
Building industry workers and contractors also stepped forward to encourage supervisors to adopt the proposal and thus bring more work into the county.
Supervisors were divided on the issue, however.
Supervisors Maureen Caddigan (R-Dumfries) and Mike May (R-Occoquan) said they would oppose the proposal.
Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington (R) seemed poised to support it because of Brookfield's agreement to realign Vint Hill Road.
The realignment, he said, “gets us out of a real mess.”
Even Chairman Corey Stewart (R) indicated he may support Brookfield, which he said has a history of doing good work and putting up good proffers in Prince William.
“Brookfield is one of the good guys,” he said. “When they do it, they do it right.”
However, there are still questions that need to be answered, he said.
May and Covington disagreed. Covington said he was ready to put the issue forward immediately and May said he wouldn't go along at all.
“I think we may have reached a point where there are simply some philosophical differences with where to go,” May said.
Nevertheless, six of the eight supervisors voted to defer the proposal. A date for a new hearing has not yet been determined.
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