randyk
October 13th, 2007, 12:51 PM
The PW Co board of supervisors is to consider adoption of a Parks, Open Space, and Trails plan in a meeting Oct 16th. At this stage of park planning is when your voice can make the most difference in the future of trails in the County.
Your efforts are especially helpful if you are a PW Co resident and can attend the hearing to voice your support and/or you can send a letter to your board member.
The background detail is included below.
See the next posts on this thread for more information.
Randy Kerr - MORE/VA Advocacy
From: scott scudamore <mtbmore@comcast.net>
To: 'MORE Listserver' <more@more-mtb.org>
Sent: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 9:09 pm
Subject: [More] Open Space issues in Prince William County
Scott Scudamore
IMBA Rep
Metro DC
Hello Nokesville Civic Association, Nokesville Horse Society, and other organization representatives:
October 16th is the scheduled date for the public hearing for the Parks, Open Space and Trail chapter of the comprehensive plan. This is the hearing that matters the most - since it is when the Board of Supervisors should vote to either pass or deny the plan. The Planning Commission approved a pretty strong version of the plan in September that included a high standard for parkland: 25 acres per 1,000 persons and also did not allow developers to count private HOA lands towards their park proffers. It also retained a high standard for open space and kept the trail portion, (including formation of a trail advisory committee to further promote trails in the county,) of the plan intact. However, rumor has it that we do NOT presently have enough votes on the Board to pass the plan. Therefore, it is going to take some pressure from everyone to push it through. A letter of support from your organization to the BOS and a plea for people to attend the hearing on the 16th to speak and show support would be most effective and greatly appreciated.
If you do not have time to draft a letter, but would be willing to send one, please let me know and I can make one for you that you can edit as you see fit. Basically we are asking that they pass the Parks, Open Space, and Trails plan that was approved by the Planning Commission on September 26th, for the reasons stated above (ie - 25 acres per 1000, no private facilities substituted for proffers, high open space standard, good trails plan). Below are some key points if you want additional facts/reasons to support your positions: (It used to be organized in outline format, but I think that got all messed up copying it into email. The content is still valid, however).
1. · People want parks AND green open space. They especially want trails and passive use parkland. They want other kinds of parks besides the golf courses and water parks that supposedly "pay their own way" - they want passive recreation opportunities as well as athletic fields.
2. Since 2003, the county's citizen satisfaction surveys show that about 50% of citizens are unhappy with county's efforts to protect open space.
o Although the 2007 and previous citizen satisfaction survey put open space and growth issues in the same "red flag" category as transportation issues, the county response has focused exclusively on one specific area - road building - at the expense of the others. PWC must invest in more than road construction projects in order to attract economic development and compete successfully with surrounding localities.
· The PWC Park Authority Needs Assessment showed that PWC citizen's top priorities were trails.
· County-led public forums, relevant public hearings and written comments gathered by Planning staff for parks and open space issues consistently show that passive recreation opportunities are a citizen priority.
· Voters overwhelming support for the 2006 parks bond demonstrates that citizens want to invest their tax dollars in parks and green open space.
1. · A strong park system cannot be created solely by developers. People are willing to pay for it. They have overwhelmingly approved park bonds.
2. PWC policies must target a broad range of funding opportunities to acquire parks and green open space, including state and federal grants, partnerships with agencies and nonprofit organizations, and landowner donations of properties and/or conservation easements.
· In order to compete successfully with surrounding localities for grant and other funding, PWC must be able to demonstrate:
o Priority - that land acquisition for parks and green open space important to PWC
o Commitment - if we're not willing to invest in ourselves, why should others care?
o Comprehensive and coordinated approach - what and where are the county's identified priority needs, opportunities and strategy for maximizing investments - i.e. a strong park and open space plan
o Consistency - The county's guidelines for proffer contributions for parks should be comparable to those established for schools, etc.
3. A strong Park system foundation starts with acquiring the land - the facilities come later. Much of the land that can be used is land that is undevelopable anyway. Having the foresight to set it aside for passive recreation and trails is good governing.
o Invest now or pay a lot more later.
4. A strong park system is a great legacy that this BOS can leave to future citizens by passing this POS plan.
If you want to send a letter directly to the Board, here are their email addresses:
cstewart@pwcgov.org, wcovington@pwcgov.org, mnohe@pwcgov.org, mcaddigan@pwcgov.org, jjenkins@pwcgov.org, gainesville@pwcgov.org, hbarg@pwcgov.org
As always, many thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to support this effort. To read a copy of the plan or see more detail, look on http://www.pwconserve/ .org (Prince William Conservation Alliance website). Please feel free to call with questions or comments.
Liz Cronauer, 703 361-1365
Your efforts are especially helpful if you are a PW Co resident and can attend the hearing to voice your support and/or you can send a letter to your board member.
The background detail is included below.
See the next posts on this thread for more information.
Randy Kerr - MORE/VA Advocacy
From: scott scudamore <mtbmore@comcast.net>
To: 'MORE Listserver' <more@more-mtb.org>
Sent: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 9:09 pm
Subject: [More] Open Space issues in Prince William County
Scott Scudamore
IMBA Rep
Metro DC
Hello Nokesville Civic Association, Nokesville Horse Society, and other organization representatives:
October 16th is the scheduled date for the public hearing for the Parks, Open Space and Trail chapter of the comprehensive plan. This is the hearing that matters the most - since it is when the Board of Supervisors should vote to either pass or deny the plan. The Planning Commission approved a pretty strong version of the plan in September that included a high standard for parkland: 25 acres per 1,000 persons and also did not allow developers to count private HOA lands towards their park proffers. It also retained a high standard for open space and kept the trail portion, (including formation of a trail advisory committee to further promote trails in the county,) of the plan intact. However, rumor has it that we do NOT presently have enough votes on the Board to pass the plan. Therefore, it is going to take some pressure from everyone to push it through. A letter of support from your organization to the BOS and a plea for people to attend the hearing on the 16th to speak and show support would be most effective and greatly appreciated.
If you do not have time to draft a letter, but would be willing to send one, please let me know and I can make one for you that you can edit as you see fit. Basically we are asking that they pass the Parks, Open Space, and Trails plan that was approved by the Planning Commission on September 26th, for the reasons stated above (ie - 25 acres per 1000, no private facilities substituted for proffers, high open space standard, good trails plan). Below are some key points if you want additional facts/reasons to support your positions: (It used to be organized in outline format, but I think that got all messed up copying it into email. The content is still valid, however).
1. · People want parks AND green open space. They especially want trails and passive use parkland. They want other kinds of parks besides the golf courses and water parks that supposedly "pay their own way" - they want passive recreation opportunities as well as athletic fields.
2. Since 2003, the county's citizen satisfaction surveys show that about 50% of citizens are unhappy with county's efforts to protect open space.
o Although the 2007 and previous citizen satisfaction survey put open space and growth issues in the same "red flag" category as transportation issues, the county response has focused exclusively on one specific area - road building - at the expense of the others. PWC must invest in more than road construction projects in order to attract economic development and compete successfully with surrounding localities.
· The PWC Park Authority Needs Assessment showed that PWC citizen's top priorities were trails.
· County-led public forums, relevant public hearings and written comments gathered by Planning staff for parks and open space issues consistently show that passive recreation opportunities are a citizen priority.
· Voters overwhelming support for the 2006 parks bond demonstrates that citizens want to invest their tax dollars in parks and green open space.
1. · A strong park system cannot be created solely by developers. People are willing to pay for it. They have overwhelmingly approved park bonds.
2. PWC policies must target a broad range of funding opportunities to acquire parks and green open space, including state and federal grants, partnerships with agencies and nonprofit organizations, and landowner donations of properties and/or conservation easements.
· In order to compete successfully with surrounding localities for grant and other funding, PWC must be able to demonstrate:
o Priority - that land acquisition for parks and green open space important to PWC
o Commitment - if we're not willing to invest in ourselves, why should others care?
o Comprehensive and coordinated approach - what and where are the county's identified priority needs, opportunities and strategy for maximizing investments - i.e. a strong park and open space plan
o Consistency - The county's guidelines for proffer contributions for parks should be comparable to those established for schools, etc.
3. A strong Park system foundation starts with acquiring the land - the facilities come later. Much of the land that can be used is land that is undevelopable anyway. Having the foresight to set it aside for passive recreation and trails is good governing.
o Invest now or pay a lot more later.
4. A strong park system is a great legacy that this BOS can leave to future citizens by passing this POS plan.
If you want to send a letter directly to the Board, here are their email addresses:
cstewart@pwcgov.org, wcovington@pwcgov.org, mnohe@pwcgov.org, mcaddigan@pwcgov.org, jjenkins@pwcgov.org, gainesville@pwcgov.org, hbarg@pwcgov.org
As always, many thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to support this effort. To read a copy of the plan or see more detail, look on http://www.pwconserve/ .org (Prince William Conservation Alliance website). Please feel free to call with questions or comments.
Liz Cronauer, 703 361-1365