1. Schedule Update: Some dates were changed since the publication of CARDs January newsletter. The schedule below updates these dates to reflect the best current information.

- Thursday, January 8: VDOT Meeting on Rt. 29 Study: Holiday Inn, (Rts 234 and 66), 6-9 PM.

- Monday, January 12: Public Comment Session on Staff Recommendations on Comprehensive Plan, Stonewall Jackson High School cafeteria, 8820 Rixlew Lane, Manassas, 7:30 PM (place change)

- Wednesday, February 18: Planning Commission Public Hearing on Land Use and Transportation and other chapters of the Comprehensive Plan, Board Chambers at McCoart Building, Prince William Parkway, 7:30 PM (date change)

- Wednesday, February 25: Planning Commission Action on Comprehensive Plan, Board Chambers at McCoart Building, Prince William Parkway, 7:30 PM (date change)

Note: For information regarding the Comprehensive Plan, call the Planning Office at 792-6830.

2. Affirm CARD´s Decision to Address Land Use Issues

Because transportation and land use are intricately related, the Board of CARD, Inc. passed Resolution 9-11B which addresses land use issues. See Below. Insomuch as transportation plans hinge on land use planning, CARD believes it is appropriate to comment on land use issues. That will include the PWC Comprehensive Plan and rezonings. CARD is asking support from you in this regard by checking, signing, and returning the postpaid postcard enclosed with this issue of the report.

We hope that all of our members will be involved in the ongoing PWC Comprehensive Plan update process by attending and speaking at hearings, writing, E-Mailing, and calling Supervisors, and sending letters to the editor. The recent "Additional Recommendations to the Land Use Chapter" made by the county staff are worthy of our ardent support. If you´d like a copy, call and ask the PWC Planning Department at 792-6830. Proposals include a rural crescent, a proffer-free zone for economic development, increased proffer scale for residential developments, and lower townhouse densities.

The Planning Commission will held a Public Comment Session on the Staff Recommendations Jan 12 at Sudley North, 7:30 PM. The Commission hearing on the Land Use Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for Feb 18 at the McCoart Bldg.

3. CARD Resolution 97-11-B

Whereas land use planning is one of the major factors influencing transportation issues, CARD supports the implementation of land use policies which decrease the need for expensive infrastructure in undeveloped areas.

4. RED Alert on Rt. 29 Study - Fourth Alternative Added

The Rt. 29 Development Study will be unveiled to the public Jan 8th. There are four alternatives offered; two separate northern routes which cut new swaths through the county, designating Rt 29 onto Rt 66 between Centerville and Gainesville, and doing nothing. Of utmost significance to many Prince William County residents are the two northern alternatives. The one which VDOT has offered cuts a new swath from the Tri-County Connector westward north of Catharpin Creek to Rt 15 north of Haymarket, then south on Rt 15 past Haymarket, then westward behind the Buckland Historic District. There is a second northern route added at the request of our own Board of County Supervisors (BOCS)in a surprise agenda item added at the last minute to a recent BOCS meeting (Nov 18th). See the maps (bottom of the linked page) for more details on a very dirty deal. This second northern alternative is the Gainesville Area Improvement Network (GAIN) group´s proposal known by several names such as the Battlefield Bypass and Dulles Connector and promoted by Gainesville Supervisor Wilbourn. VDOT´s maps show the center of this 1000 foot wide corridor running through the Sudley Mountain subdivision directly down Bluebird Lane, continuing over Stony Ridge, then south between Conway Robinson Memorial State Forest and Manassas National Battlefield Park. These northern routes would impact Richland Acres, Marble Hill, Long Level, Haymarket, Thoroughfare, and Old Carolina Rds., Buckland, Sudley Springs, Sudley Mountain, Stony Ridge, and Catharpin, Pageland, and Featherbed Lanes. CARD has consistently opposed any northern route and supports designating Rt. 29 onto Rt. 66 between Gainesville and Centerville. Further, CARD does not support disturbing the historic Buckland Village.

5. WTC Status Report

The first phase of the study of the Western Transportation Corridor was concluded and the second phase opened by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in September. At the urging of its Chairman, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Martinez, and Board Member Zeke Newcomb, who chaired the Policy Advisory Committee of the project, the CTB approved moving on to an Environmental Impact Study on what has become known as the power line corridor combined with the Quantico alternative on the southern end.

The Washington Post reported that the CTB delivered on a campaign promise made by Gov. Allen. All 16 members of the CTB are Allen appointees. Only two voted against the EIS.

Incoming Governor Gilmore, who did commit his administration to improving transportation in Northern Virginia, endorsed an eastern bypass and later a western bypass as well. However, he is not committed to any particular route or plan for a western bypass.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is currently putting together its RFP to put out for bids on the EIS which is expected to take several years to complete at a cost of about 6 million dollars. Sec. Martinez has pointed out that the EIS entails more public input that the MIS just completed. It is certainly a protracted process which seems designed to wear down citizen involvement. WeÕve come too far to quit. For citizens like you who care, its a commitment for more VDOT information meetings, hearings, letters, petitions, etc. For CARD its a commitment to more years of following the process through the technical and advisory meetings and passing the information on to all our members, friends, and supporters and trying the educate public officials.

The EIS process will include Federal agencies. We already know from their limited comments during the MIS their views are not favorable to the proposed plan. They all commented that the need for such a route in 2020 had not been demonstrated. CARD will continue to be active in monitoring the process and keeping citizens informed.

6. WTC Procedure Criticized

On another front there is encouraging news. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) of the State Legislature commented on the WTC in their recently published report on VDOT´s procedures. Their evaluation is that VDOT misused the Major Investment Study process in regard to the WTC. That process is supposed to be an assessment of the need and purpose of a proposed project. However, VDOT skipped over such preliminaries and went directly to deciding on a corridor.

7. PWC Supervisors´ Sneak Attack

At the afternoon session of the Prince William Board of Counter Supervisors meeting Nov 18, an agenda item regarding the Rt 29 VDOT Study was added at the last minute. This was an emergency measure to put an item before the Board at the evening session. Gainesville Supervisor Wilbourn wanted to pass a resolution adding a fourth alternative, one which had already been rejected by the technical committee, back into the study. He sits on the Policy Advisory Committee even though one of his development projects in located within the study area. That alternative is GAIN´s reroute for the Western Transportation Corridor which traverses Stony Ridge, dubbed variously as the Battlefield Bypass and the Dulles Connector. One of Developer Wilbourn´s development projects is situated within the Rt. 29 Study Area. Occoquan Supervisor McQuigg, who usually shuns such last minute items, made the second. Neabsco Supervisor Jenkins was the only one to object, saying that the resolution wasn´t presented to him until after the board meeting had begun, that the public had not been heard from on the matter, and he had not had the opportunity to examine it.

The Board is allowed to add items to the agenda. The unfairness of this time comes from the fact that the Chairman of the Prince William Board had written letters to the Board Chairmen of three other counties a month earlier, on October 17th, stating that this matter would be coming before the Prince William Board on November 18th. Why were the Chairmen of three other Board informed, but not the very citizens of Prince William County who would be directly impacted?

Coalition for Smarter Growth
1777 Church St NW, Washington, DC 20036, phone 202 588-5570
fax 202 588-5676, e-mail stopsprawl@aol.com

The Coalition for Smarter Growth, including CARD, Protect, PEC, Sierra club, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Clean Water Action and numerous civic groups, have joined to fight wasteful road projects like the Western Bypass and to work for smart growth plan in Northern Virginia. We can be proud that the efforts of hundreds of citizens is having an impact. The Washington Post has noticed--see the December 14 Washington Post article: "Anti-Development Forces Massing on the Home Front." This is about citizen democracy and building better communities and protecting our environment.

We need to continue to work for better comprehensive plans and to challenge projects like the Western Bypass and the Fredericksburg/Stafford Outer Connector. January and February will be very busy and we will need everyoneÕs help with hundreds of letters, hundred of phone calls and hundred of citizens turning out to the hearings. Please see the attached calendar for upcoming events and try to make it to as many as possible. Invite your friends and neighbors. Unless otherwise noted below, contact us at the Coalition. The breakdown of major issue areas is a follows:

1. General Assembly Session: Piedmont Environmental Council, Sierra Club, and allied groups will all be sponsoring legislation:

- Join us on January 11 to learn about proposals to reform VDOT and land use planning and how you can help lobby our elected officials. Sunday, Jan 11, 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the National Wildlife Federation, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA

- Join us for Lobby Day on January 19 and let us know if you can possibly go to Richmond on 24 hours notice during the Session. Your help is also needed in calling and writing letters to your legislators.

2. Western Bypass: The recent study by JLARC criticized VDOT for using the Major Investment Study to select a specific alignment for the WTC. This report will help us unsure that all alternatives are studied during the EIS

- Support legislation to stop funding for the WTC

- Keep up the letters and calls to your legislators and local supervisors

- Let us know if you would like to participate in and help us monitor the EIS process

3. Route 29 and I-66 Major Investment Studies: Supervisors Seefeldt and Wilbourn pulled another fast one on the Route 29 Study, adding their own route just north of Manassas Battlefield.

- Join us in arguing for Route 29 on I-66 and for delaying completion of the Route 29 MIS until the more thorough I-66 MIS is complete.

- Attend the January 8th Route 29 public information meeting, Holiday Inn, Manassas at I-66 and Rt. 234, 6-9 pm.

Contact: Bob Miler at 703 754-7895

4. Fredrickburg/Stafford Outer Connector: Friends of the Rappahonnock is holding a press conference on Friday, January 2. They will be challenging the findings of a very flawed Draft Environmental Impact Statement

- Contact FOR to find out how to help in their fight against the Outer Connector. Contact Marcia Keener or John Tippett at 540 373-3448 or cleanriver@interserf.net

5. Prince William County Growth Control Proposal and Comprehensive Plan Review

- Please turn out to the two Planning Commission hearings in January to support the planning staff´s growth control plan (Thurs, Jan 8, Board Chambers, 7:30 and Monday, Jan 12, Stonewall Jackson High School cafeteria, 7:30 pm)

- These two hearings will be followed by two hearings in February on the Comprehensive Plan (Wed, Feb 18, Board Chambers, 7:30 pm and Wed, Feb 25th, Board Chambers, 7:30 pm)

- It took four or five hearings with 200 to 350 people to secure victory in the Dulles South region of Loudoun County

- Contact: Ruth Griggs at 703 670-7450 or tfrpilot@aol.com

6. Loudoun County Growth Control: The developer of Broad Run Village has filed suit against the County. The Dulles Toll Road planning area is being reviews and at Belmont the developer is seeking a change to the commercial plan

- Keep the positive letters and calls coming to the Board of Supervisors commending them for their action on Broad Run Village and Dulles South

- Attend citizen planning sessions sponsored by the ad-hoc group

- Contact Peggy Maio 540 338-6679 or Marcia de Garmo 703 327-4430

January Calendar

- Jan 8 - PW County Public Hearing on Staff Growth Control Proposal, Board Chambers, 7:30 pm

- Jan 8 - Route 29 Public Information Session, Holiday Inn, Manassas (I-66/234) 6-9 pm

- Jan 11 - VA Gen Assembly - Issue Forum to prepare for Environmental Lobby Day

- Jan 12 - PW County Public Hearing on Staff Growth Control Proposal, Stonewall Jackson HS, 7:30 pm

Jan 13 - Pay and Go - Public hearing on revision to Montgomery County Pay and Go legislation. Note--any undermining of Montgomery growth controls could threaten their agricultural reserve and support developer push for a bridge. Montgomery Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave, Rockville. To sign up to testify 301 217-7931

-Jan 17 - Citizens Symposium on alternative to sprawl with keynote address y Keith Bartholomew of 1000 Friends of Oregon. Symposium will include discussion of Portland´s successful LUTRAQ alternative and how we can apply a similar model to this region.

Jan 19 - VA Gen Assembly - Environmental Lobby Day, Richmond

Feb 18 -PW County Public Hearing Comprehensive Plan, Board Chambers, 7:30 pm

Feb 25 - PW County Public Hearing Comprehensive Plan, Board Chambers, 7:30 pm
--- (Final transmittal of Comprehensive Plan to Board of Supervisors)