INTENT

This Economic Development Plan seeks to guide and encourage development that is in keeping with economic reality, and that does not promote the scattering of development on small, dislocated parcels thus promoting an undesirable increase in traffic congestion, and air pollution. It further seeks to enhance the Quality of Life of present and future residents by providing neighborhood schools, recreation, jobs and amenities. It also seeks to encourage development that is carefully planned, aesthetically pleasing and than promotes a positive image.

ED-POLICY 1: THE OVERARCHING STRATEGY FOR THE GREATER GAINESVILLE AREA AND THE SECTOR IN PARTICULAR IS TO ENCOURAGE THE CREATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CONSIST OF HIGH QUALITY RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT INCORPORATE WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A BALANCED COMMUNITY. THIS MEANS JOB, SCHOOLS, SHOPPING, RECREATION AND AMENITIES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY - WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE IF POSSIBLE.

ACTION STRATEGIES:

1. Discourage heavy industrial businesses that contribute to air, noise and light pollution and businesses that require a large degree of truck traffic.

2. Promote desirable businesses including clean, light industrial, research and development, office, information technology, medical, and services that are compatible with and provide services and jobs for present and future residents.

3. Encourage the development and creation of professional / technical employment opportunities

4. Local Serving retail businesses at the neighborhood scale are encouraged, especially those that would be incorporated into a Village Center.

ED-POLICY 2: IN ORDER TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING AN AESTHETICALLY PLEASING IMPACT UPON ENTERING THE AREA AND THUS ESTABLISHING A POSITIVE IMAGE FOR THE AREA THE FOLLOWING ACTION STRATEGIES ARE PROVIDED:

ACTION STRATEGIES:

1. The three main roads within the Sector Plan (Route 29 - aka Lee Highway, Route 15 - aka James Madison Highway, and Route 55 - aka John Marshall Highway) should be designated as Gateway Zones. New construction should be required through special guidelines to have large setbacks, substantial buffering, and high quality landscaping and streetscapes. Signage should be attractive and inobstrusive, and restricted to the minimum needed to identify the business.

2. Prince William County should provide funding to re-establish the areas along the three main roads within the Sector. The funds should go toward landscaping, attractive public signage and the clean up or fencing of specific area as necessary.

3. Within the Village Center commercial core of 30 acres retail use will be considered a primary use.

ED POLICY 3: FOR ANY EMERGING COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN ITS DESIRABILITY AS A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY AND TO ASSURE ITS ECONOMIC VIABILITY, IT MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ITS JOBS, SCHOOLS, SHOPPING, RECREATION AND AMENITIES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF ALTERNATE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION SUCH AS RAIL AND BUS. BUT THE DOMINANT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION REMAINS THE AUTOMOBILE. CONSEQUENTLY IT IS INCUMBENT ON GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW A MEANINGFUL STRATEGY THAT INSURES THAT ACCESS BY THIS COMPONENT OF THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IS MAINTAINED AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE.

ACTION STRATEGIES:

1. Level of service "D" or better must be maintained at all major roads and intersections in the Sector Area.

2. Require development proposals to include provisions for road access and structures to support proposed and existing public transportation opportunities.