DESCRIPTION OF THE SECTOR PLAN AREA AND SURROUNDS

The Sector Plan consists of approximately 3200 acres in an "hour-glass" shape centered on the Route 29 Linton Hall/Gallerher Road intersection. The I-66/Route 29 interchange to the east is a minor part of the Sector. The Sector is bisected by Route 29 running generally east and west. Route 55, Gallerher Road and Linton Hall Road bisect it in a generally north south direction. The Norfolk Southern tracks bisect the Sector in a generally northwesterly to southeasterly direction. I-66 forms a barrier that separates a small portion of the sector on the northeast side from the remainder of the sector. Route 15 forms the western boundary of the sector except for a very small area to the west.

The Sector is immediately adjacent to the Rural Area on its western border. Immediately to the east and north of Route 29 is the Conway-Robinson Memorial State Forest. Just east of the Forest is the Manassas National Battlefield Park. The Historic Town of Haymarket abuts the Sector on two sides.

There are major residential projects in the immediate vicinity. To the east is Heritage Hunt. To the north along Route 15 are Piedmont and Dominion Valley. Inside the Sector there are Greenhill Crossing and Somerset. South of Route 29 there are Lake Manassas and Virginia Oaks. Along Linton Hall Road there are several large residential projects. The aggregate of these various projects could yield as many as 18,000 residences.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

The Comprehensive Plan of 1998 provides for intense commercial development in the areas adjacent to the Route 29/Linton Hall intersection and the I-66 / Route 29 interchange, with additional commercial development at the Route 29 / route 15 intersection. Additionally it plans for medium and high suburban residential uses in the middle of the Sector with semi-rural residential West of Carver Road. There are several areas zoned for commercial uses along Route 29, Linton Hall Road and Route 55. The commercial strip development on Route 29 east and west of Linton Hall Road will be either displaced entirely or lose access with the construction of the Route 29 overpass.

RESIDENTS RECOMMENDATIONS

The Residents recommendations are informed by the reality of existing job creation dynamics, the growing disparity of road capacity and traffic, the need for alternate means of access to employment centers near the core of the Metropolitan Area, and the desire to create balanced neighborhoods that can form a livable community with reduced dependence on automobiles for access to schools, recreation, shopping and amenities. The Residents' Plan:

• Reduces retail development to a value that is commensurate with projections of future need.

• Moves intense development away from the major intersection/interchanges in order to mitigate traffic impacts.

• Reduces residential densities substantially.

• Introduces a new Land use classification Semi-Rural Residential Extended with a range of 5-10 acres per single family detached residence as a means of providing a more suitable transition between the proposed Central Park and the Rural Area.

• Introduces a new Land Use classification geared at creating a pedestrian-oriented Village-Center in which a mix of housing surrounds a small-scale mixed-use commercial core with adjacent transit access.

• Introduces alternate means of access in the form of a VRE Station at the Village Center, and Omnilink to serve other neighborhoods and give access to the VRE Station.

• Removes intense development away from the Route 55 corridor in order to enhance in recognition of the Historical significance of the Town of Haymarket.

• Recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Buckland Historic District and the Town of Haymarket and proposes significant measures to enhance them.

• Creates a large multi-component "Central Park" that would be a major destination for both active and passive recreation, would also provide a locus for developing a "Heritage Park" focusing on local history.

• Introduces a Magnet School for science and the environment adjacent to the undisturbed area of the Central Park.

• Provides for enhanced streetscapes for all of the major roads.

• Mandates unified Community Design in any future design; a fundamental goal of this Sector Plan was to develop a plan that would provide maximum benefit to present and future residents, and to do so without displacing existing residents or causing economic hardships to existing residents or businesses.

• The residents believe that this goal can best be achieved by recognizing that the greater Gainesville Area is an inappropriate location for intense development and consequently there can be no sustainable market for such development. Thus the residents propose a plan that is in keeping with the creation of "balanced" neighborhoods that can be sustained and that can, over time, grow into a "balanced community."