by Neil Richard
The King George County Planning Commission hosted an Open House on Thursday, January 17, 2019 in an effort to gather more feedback on the proposed changes to the County's Comprehensive Plan. No specific details were given on the entirety of the changes proposed for the new Comprehensive Plan, however it was clear at the Open House that the main focus was on the proposed changes to the Primary Settlement Areas in the County.
The current Comprehensive Plan was created and approved in 2013. It included seven Primary Settlement Areas where development was "...encouraged to be in the form of traditional compact form of development with connected neighborhoods and pedestrian-oriented local streets." These areas were:
With the proposed updates, only two Primary Settlement Areas were impacted; Dahlgren and Courthouse. With the Dahlgren Primary Settlement Area, the original map shows that it extends to the Highway 301 Bridge and ends at Route 218 (Windsor Drive). The updated map, which is still a proposed version, shows the area ends at roughly the truck scales on Highway 301, extends to include the property on the south side of Owens Drive, and extends beyond Windsor Drive to include the area of the Hillcrest Motel.
The Courthouse Primary Settlement Area showed the most radical change by being split into two sections and a much different selection of properties. The original map for the Courthouse Primary Settlement Area included a massive area along Route 3 (Kings Highway) from Comorn Road to Highway 301. It also included everything north of Route 3 along Route 206 (Dahlgren Road) all the way to Route 611 (Eden Drive). The new proposal splits this into two pieces that is currently being dubbed "Courthouse East" and "Courthouse West."
Courthouse East, also called the "Route 3 and 301" area, includes the areas directly north and south of Route 3 from Colbys Lane (across from Uncle Dave's restaurant) to Canterbury Loop. It extends along Highway 301 south to the current School Bus Garage and north to State Road, just past Ralph Bunche High School. It also includes the property north west of Route 205 (Ridge Road). Essentially, the newly proposed Courthouse East Primary Settlement Area is everything in and around the triangle formed by Routes 3, 205, and 301.
The proposed Courthouse West Primary Settlement Area includes everything along Route 3 from Millbank Road west to Comorn Road. Much of this area is already developed by Presidential Lakes and the area of the old lumber mill where the current Post Office stands.
Standing out as a specific area that is missing from the proposed split are two large sections of the County. First, the roughly half mile section of Route 3 (Kings Highway) that is two lanes through, dare I say, Downtown King George. Second, the area along Route 206 (Dahlgren Road) that extends three miles to Route 611 (Eden Drive) and includes the currently growing Oakwood Estates development.
Below are the remaining proposed Primary Settlement Area.
Residents were given two documents and a survey when they entered the Open House. There were also several large format maps on display showing the proposed changes to the Primary Settlement Areas. Tables were set to the side where residents could complete the survey along with copies of the current Comprehensive Plan. Water and cookies were also on hand for those looking for a light snack.
While the Planning Commission was the official host, other County staffers and various officials were present. Over the span of about two hours, roughly twenty or so residents filtered in and out asking numerous questions and giving feedback on the proposed changes. Several individuals were also on hand to collect signatures for their upcoming campaign to be elected in November.
Another Open House will be held on February 13, 2019 from 4pm to 6pm at Fire Company 1. You can see the County Alert here as well as take the survey online.
The King George County Planning Commission hosted an Open House on Thursday, January 17, 2019 in an effort to gather more feedback on the proposed changes to the County's Comprehensive Plan. No specific details were given on the entirety of the changes proposed for the new Comprehensive Plan, however it was clear at the Open House that the main focus was on the proposed changes to the Primary Settlement Areas in the County.
The current Comprehensive Plan was created and approved in 2013. It included seven Primary Settlement Areas where development was "...encouraged to be in the form of traditional compact form of development with connected neighborhoods and pedestrian-oriented local streets." These areas were:
- Courthouse
- Dahlgren
- Route 3 West
- Fairview Beach
- Hopyard
- Cleydael
- Oakland Park
With the proposed updates, only two Primary Settlement Areas were impacted; Dahlgren and Courthouse. With the Dahlgren Primary Settlement Area, the original map shows that it extends to the Highway 301 Bridge and ends at Route 218 (Windsor Drive). The updated map, which is still a proposed version, shows the area ends at roughly the truck scales on Highway 301, extends to include the property on the south side of Owens Drive, and extends beyond Windsor Drive to include the area of the Hillcrest Motel.
 |
| PROPOSED Dahlgren Primary Settlement Area |
The Courthouse Primary Settlement Area showed the most radical change by being split into two sections and a much different selection of properties. The original map for the Courthouse Primary Settlement Area included a massive area along Route 3 (Kings Highway) from Comorn Road to Highway 301. It also included everything north of Route 3 along Route 206 (Dahlgren Road) all the way to Route 611 (Eden Drive). The new proposal splits this into two pieces that is currently being dubbed "Courthouse East" and "Courthouse West."
Courthouse East, also called the "Route 3 and 301" area, includes the areas directly north and south of Route 3 from Colbys Lane (across from Uncle Dave's restaurant) to Canterbury Loop. It extends along Highway 301 south to the current School Bus Garage and north to State Road, just past Ralph Bunche High School. It also includes the property north west of Route 205 (Ridge Road). Essentially, the newly proposed Courthouse East Primary Settlement Area is everything in and around the triangle formed by Routes 3, 205, and 301.
 |
| PROPOSED Courthouse East Primary Settlement Area |
The proposed Courthouse West Primary Settlement Area includes everything along Route 3 from Millbank Road west to Comorn Road. Much of this area is already developed by Presidential Lakes and the area of the old lumber mill where the current Post Office stands.
 |
| PROPOSED Courthouse West Primary Settlement Area |
Standing out as a specific area that is missing from the proposed split are two large sections of the County. First, the roughly half mile section of Route 3 (Kings Highway) that is two lanes through, dare I say, Downtown King George. Second, the area along Route 206 (Dahlgren Road) that extends three miles to Route 611 (Eden Drive) and includes the currently growing Oakwood Estates development.
Below are the remaining proposed Primary Settlement Area.
 |
| PROPOSED Cleydael Primary Settlement Area |
 |
| PROPOSED Fairview Beach Primary Settlement Area |
 |
| PROPOSED Hopyard Primary Settlement Area |
 |
| PROPOSED Oakland Park Primary Settlement Area |
 |
| PROPOSED Route 3 West Primary Settlement Area |
Residents were given two documents and a survey when they entered the Open House. There were also several large format maps on display showing the proposed changes to the Primary Settlement Areas. Tables were set to the side where residents could complete the survey along with copies of the current Comprehensive Plan. Water and cookies were also on hand for those looking for a light snack.
While the Planning Commission was the official host, other County staffers and various officials were present. Over the span of about two hours, roughly twenty or so residents filtered in and out asking numerous questions and giving feedback on the proposed changes. Several individuals were also on hand to collect signatures for their upcoming campaign to be elected in November.
Another Open House will be held on February 13, 2019 from 4pm to 6pm at Fire Company 1. You can see the County Alert here as well as take the survey online.
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