Recent Articles from BRMC Newsletters

Silver Lake Update

On June 5, 2007 the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) unanimously approved a process to decide on who should own and operate the portion of the Silver Lake parcel proffered by Toll Brothers for parks and recreation. Their staff has identified 10 criteria to evaluate any proposals they receive. So far BRMC, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, and Prince William County Park Authority have submitted proposals. You can visit our web site (www.brmconservancy.org) to see the staff process that has been adopted. Also, you can visit both our web site and Prince William Conservation Alliances web site (www.pwconserve.org) to view a proposal comparison.

In our original submission before the meeting, we indicated to the board that we felt the selection of the Silver Lake proposal should be based on three overriding criteria: First, how much money will it cost the County, both for initial improvements and, more importantly, for operating expenses? Second, does the BOCS retain sufficient control to address County residents' concerns (should they arise) regarding the use and operation of the park? Third, what intensity of use will be generated by each proposal? This issue is especially important since Silver Lake is located within the Rural Crescent and is accessed solely by a rural two-lane road.

We feel all proposals should be required by the County to do the following:

• Be in accord with the Dominion Valley proffered development conditions;

• Not establish uses which will increase the vehicle trips upon Antioch Road to a level that requires its widening to more than a two-lane, 54 ft. right-of-way width;

• Not establish an intensity of uses which will require a traffic signal on Antioch Road;

• Avoid disruptions to mapped wetlands and flood plains on the property; and

• Not establish uses or facilities which will require an extension of public sewer to within 1,000 linear feet of the western boundary of the property.

We will work within the framework of the 10 criteria that the staff have identified to emphasize BRMC's proposal’s strengths on these critical points. Your input is extremely important as this process moves forward. If you desire a passive use of this land, then it’s important that you write the supervisors (contact info is available at www.co.prince-william.va.us) and attend the public hearings that will soon be scheduled.

Please contact me at mk@brmconservancy.org if you would like to be on an email alert list for dates and times of future meetings.

Warmest regards,
Michael J. Kieffer