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Fauquier County Meeting Summary
This is a summary of a meeting held on
Monday, February 26 at the Lord Fairfax Community College in the Town
of Warrenton attended by approximately 55 participants. This meeting
is an early part of a larger Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Partnership/PDC
project to develop a regional vision statement for the area. Future meetings
are at Culpeper Middle School on April 28 and May 19. This summary has
been prepared by the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University
of Virginia
(804-924-1970).
BASIC FACTS
Population:
• 1980: 35,889
• 1990: 48,860
• 2000: 55,139
Regional Highlights:
• Greatest population growth since 1970 (101%)
• Greatest out-commuting in region (49%)
• Greatest regional traveler spending ($45,400)
• Lowest percent loss of farmland (-5%)
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Fauquier County participants prize their quality of life, which largely
derives from the unusually beautiful landscapes throughout the county,
the strong sense of community, and a steady, healthy economy. While they
generally feel that Fauquier has managed its growth relatively well thus
far, there is a sense of urgency that if their quality of life is to
be protected, then the county must stay ahead of its growth with good
planning. Some common issues that emerged are protecting farmland and
open space, the need for affordable housing, providing quality education,
and activities and opportunities for youth and seniors. Other issues
were less clear; is technology industry desirable to provide clean jobs,
or will it contribute to more growth? Should there be more recreational
opportunities, or does this reflect an undesired urbanization of the
county? Overall, participants indicated a sense of being at a critical
turning point where important choices in the next years will determine
the future of the county.
STRENGTHS
The three greatest strengths of Fauquier might be characterized as its
great physical beauty, its key location as the "Gateway to Virginia" near
national parks and Washington D.C., and the sense of community that derives
from a friendly small town atmosphere, trust, and active citizenry. From
one perspective, Fauquier County might be noted for its arts, history
and horses.
• Natural physical beauty, clean environment, night sky, no billboards
• Steady economy: farming still largest industry; clean industry
• Good workforce
• Arts, history, horses; strong tourism efforts for vineyards,
horse racing, small towns
• Heritage and natural resources: historic small town atmosphere,
John Mosby Heritage Area, Elk Run preservation, Civil War, Goldvein
• Transportation assets: airport, rail opportunity, Circuit Rider
program (public bus system)
• Good location near parks, Washington DC, and higher education
• Responsive local government; good planning: use of zoning to preserve
farmland and keep growth in service districts
• Community values: safety, trust, strong volunteer base, "remarkable
citizens who care"
• Diversity of interests, backgrounds, occupations
• Good schools and good medical care
• Variety of housing opportunities
ISSUES
The overriding issue for participants is how to manage growth in Fauquier
County so that its physical beauty and small town atmosphere are preserved.
Other common issues are to ensure that planning provides for services,
housing, education and jobs to match the rate of growth.
• Controlling growth; pressures from neighboring counties
• Maintaining local control; lack of enabling legislation; Dillon
Rule constraints
• Services not able to keep pace with growth
• Communication infrastructure
• Transportation corridor: traffic on key roads (15, 29, 17, 28)
for transients and commuters; local access
• Jobs: need more employment opportunities in county; create opportunities
for youth to stay
• Workforce retention, especially in schools
• Affordable housing, especially for people who actually work in the county
(teachers, firefighters, police, etc.)
• Expand Tax base beyond real estate: attract clean industry; hi-tech
fixation
• Maintaining balance of urban/rural and diversity
• Permitting process difficult, especially for child care
• Busing distances
• Preservation of historic resources
• Recreational opportunities, services, and other activities for youth/
seniors
• Water/sewer: controversial - may be a way to control growth
• Division within County: north/south
• Projection of no farms by 2010
• Lack of regional planning
• Water
• Air quality
OPPORTUNITIES
Participants felt that Fauquier County is at a turning point where the
county has the opportunity to "get it right" as much as it
does to "get it wrong." The two greatest areas of focus were
ways in which local government could use planning to control and manage
growth, as well as how to facilitate economic development compatible
with the local character.
Planning and governance
• Responsible growth and planning, with community input
• Comprehensive planning: slower rate of growth, long-term vision
(like Lee District/ Cedar Run); (Bealeton, Marshall)
• Provide incentives to "keep the family farm;" minimize
farmland loss
• Purchase of development rights
• Transition from proffers to impact fees
• Redevelopment and infil
l
• Require some amount of affordable housing and assisted living in development
plans
• Tax relief for the elderly
• Publicize service district concept
• Define limits of service districts
• Learn from Gainesville
• Pursue possible conservation funding
• Recognize agrarian base close to metropolitan area
Provide school-to-work programs
Economy
• Tourism:
heritage, eco-tourism, cultural, agricultural
• Promote specialty farming and low-risk farming
• Promote vineyards and wineries
• Stay pro-active with clean industry
• Use youth as a resource, not drain: youth corps
• Market value-added products
• Vint Hill (former army base ideal for high tech companies)
Preserve history, open land, agriculture; Protect scenic by-ways
Transportation
• Promote small scale buses; regionalize
• Mass transit (e.g., rail) - but could be double-edged sword
Explore equity
funding for public servants regionally
Graying population - resource, challenge and opportunity
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