Grow Green - Save Trees & Taxes
PWC Comprehensive Plan Environment Chapter 2010 Update
December 14, 2010 -- Round 1 goes to polluters. Supervisors approved developers 11th hour changes... signaling their support for higher taxes this spring.
Only two Supervisors disagreed - Mike May (Occoquan) and Frank Principi (Woodbridge) both supported the staff recommendation, which would have (1) discouraged development on slopes prone to landslides, (2) protected some intermittent streams and (3) raised the bar for stormwater runoff.
The standards recommended by staff would have helped protect local waterways and reduce tax increases this spring for both the County budget and the Stormwater Fee.
December 7 2010 -- Supervisors adopted most but not all the positive changes recommended for the County’s Environment Chapter. This consensus document, as recommended by County staff, included input from citizens, environmental organizations, civic groups, businesses and developers.
However, after the public hearing was closed, the Chairman put forward 11thhour revisions at the request of developers. Supervisors deferred these items to to this Tuesday’s Board meeting, 2:00 pm, at McCoart Government Center.
Approval of these last minute changes allows input from one special interest group (developers) without providing an equal opportunity to all stakeholders, notably citizens.
The effect of these changes is to shift the cost of stormwater management away from developers, forcing local residents to pay higher taxes to mitigate damages.
In addition, approval of these last minute changes continues the County’s business-as-usual approach, which leads to flooding and drainage problems on private property and requires significant taxpayer investments to fix.
Below is a review of the proposed changes, click here to read the document the Chairman presented to Supervisors after the public hearing was closed. It’s important to remember that the Environment Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan establishes environmental policies and recommends (not requires) standards for development in Prince William County.
We recommend Supervisors reject these last minute changes and approve the staff recommendation in all cases.
Significant non-RPA Stream definition: The proposed changes remove references to scientific protocols, which would introduce uncertainty and limit consistency in applying the rules.
EN 5.1 Steep Slopes: The proposed change raises the threshold for preservation of steep slopes east of Route from 15% to 25%. Development on the marine clay (shrink/swell) soils found east of Route 1 has resulted in landslides that threaten homes and require taxpayer investments to fix. Efforts to prevent future landslides protect homeowners and the County budget.
EN 5.2 Steep Slopes: Similar to the above, removing the language to limit development on 15% slopes with high K-factor soils would increase remediation costs to the taxpayer when problems arise.
EN 6.10 Significant Streams: Transferring criteria requiring the use of solid protocols that are based in science for identification of significant streams is fair and would ensure the rules are applied fairly, consistently and add predictability (as requested by developers).
EN 8.2 Stormwater Runoff: The amended language would tilt the scale in favor of containment ponds over other retention strategies. These ponds are maintained by the taxpayer, which is a subsidy to developers.
EN 8.3 Low Impact Development: Developers want to strike recommendations for Low Impact Development, which emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. They don’t even want to try!!??
EN 10.2 Buffers: This change would encourage developers to ignore best practices regarding buffers, setbacks, and lot size in return for undefined “natural vegetation” preservation. The word “tree” is a significant omission, as the original strategy was particularly aimed at increasing tree preservation.
Although Supervisors will vote to accept or deny these last minute changes on Tuesday, the public hearing is closed. Citizens who wish to comment must do so in writing before the meeting or speak at Citizen’s Time. Click here to email Supervisors.
