The Town of Warrenton’s draft Comprehensive Plan opens the door to development without a public voice, without impacts assessment, and without mitigation. The so-called by-right rule means that builders have a green light to turn Warrenton into another traffic-clogged Gainesville and never look back. Small town Warrenton will be gone forever.

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The Town, apparently under pressure from developers, is leaning on the Planning Commission to deliver the plan quickly. This is where you come in. Please write the Planning Commission today to register reservations about the plan, and ask that more time be spent on examining its impact.

To send a quick comment on the plan, go here, select "Planning Commission," agenda item "Comprehensive Plan," and type in your comment. For prepared comment documents, you may send those via email to Susan Rae Helander, Planning Commission Chair, shelander@warrentonva.gov and copy Denise Harris, Town Planning Manager,  

Deadline for written comments is noon Tuesday, July 21, the date of the Planning Commission’s public hearing on the plan. You may make speak in person at the 7 pm Public Hearing, 18 Court Street, but be sure to wear a mask.

What the Plan Does

If the Planning Commission rubber stamps the comp plan, and Town Council goes along, brace yourself for:

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• 2,102 new residential units

• 310,000 square feet of new commercial  space

• 480 business class hotel rooms (120 of which are redeveloped)

• Runaway construction of by-right of mixed use buildings

• 5-6 story buildings

• The Timber Fence Parkway

• A Southern Bypass

• Neighborhood streets converted to through-streets

• Additional sewer plant capacity

• Search for water to meet daily peak demand

• Conversion of the majority of our last two large greenfield parcels of industrial land into housing

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Among the many unanswered questions are cost projections for the Timber Fence Parkway and a Southern Bypass, sewer system upgrades, water supply to meet peak daily needs, and an unknown list of "amenities." A fiscal model intended to assess the impacts of a larger population on town law enforcement and emergency services is riddled with too many soft numbers to make results reliable. Also unknown is whether Warrenton taxes will increase to make up for shortfalls if the plan fails to meet expectations.

The CFFC Warrenton Task Force is studying the nearly 500 page plan, sending comments to the Planning Commission, and posting findings to citizensforfauquier.org.

Please post your comments to the Planning Commission site, and ask your neighbors to do the same.

From FauquierNow

July 24, 2020

54

 

The number of written comments the town planning commission and its staff received before Tuesday night’s public hearing on Warrenton 2040, the draft comprehensive plan.

Of those, 51 opposed the plan, some of its elements and/or the timeframe for public debate.

Opponents most often cited the potential population growth — up to 5,000 more residents over the next two decades, planning for a western bypass, the potential scale of new commercial buildings and/or the potential cost of public services, including water and sewer system expansions.

Eight people testified at Tuesday night’s public hearing, with three supporting and five opposing the draft plan.

The planning commission will conduct a “work session” on the draft at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, and could vote on a recommendation to the town council Aug. 18.