After eight years of delay, there’s been some movement on developer Mark Granville Smith’s next housing development.
Prince William County officials this month initiated an amendment of the county comprehensive land-use plan that calls for the rezoning of 346 acres of land near Classic Springs Drive and Counselor Road, near Colgan High School on Route 234, from agricultural to semi-rural residential, and parkland.
The comp-plan amendment request will now go before the county’s Planning Commission for review and recommendation. If approved, it will clear the way for Granville Smith’s Classic Concept Builders to construct the new Mid County Park and Estate Homes project.
It’ll be a mix of about 40 118 single-family homes and a public park that will sit on 208 acres of land. The neighborhood density is one home per three acres and is lower than the surrounding density in surrounding neighborhoods of one home to every 2.5 acres.
And, he should know as he’s built many of those surrounding neighborhoods, to include Classic Oaks and Classic Hallow.
The land on which Granville Smith wants to build is in the county’s Rural Crescent — a protected area of land from Quantico Marine Corps Base to the Manassas National Battlefield Park — where development is limited to one home per 10 acres.
Since 2013, the Rural Crescent has been the focus of a major land-use study, looking for new ways to develop and preserve some of the last remaining rural lands in Nothern Virginia. Granville Smith needs the comp-plan amendment to build his new homes, and he urged county leaders to ask for a comp-plan amendment despite a land-use study process that’s still ongoing.
Environmentalists want to keep the Rural Crescent policy adopted in 1998 in place, which limits development. Others want to see the area opened up to new development to increase the number of homes in the county officials with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments say is needed to handle the region’s anticipated growth over the next 20 years.
It was this project eight years ago, Mid County Park and Estate Homes, that trigged a years-long study of the Rural Crescent and the land-use policies that govern it. Multiple recommendations have been made for new land-use policies in the Rural Crescent, including building “cluster” subdivisions — high concentrations of homes on small parcels of land.
The new Board of County Supervisors will meet for the first time on Jan. 7, 2020, and will be charged with creating a new land-use policy for the area.
Recent Stories
STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County has quietly ended its contract with PulsePoint, a mobile app that alerts nearby users when someone in a public space is experiencing cardiac arrest and may need CPR. The decision marks the conclusion of an eight-year relationship with the public safety technology.
Stafford County Public Schools is moving ahead with plans to eliminate artificial food dyes from school meals, following the signing of a new state law that will ban certain synthetic color additives by 2027.
On the last weekend in May, most Stafford families were abuzz with the excitement of summer’s arrival. The Allwine family was abuzz with excitement over the annual AA Farm Honey harvest.
From a tragic hit-and-run to a celebration of local art and a free family fishing derby this weekend, we’ve got all the must-know happenings across Prince William, Stafford, and Manassas. Plus, Quantico lit up Nats Park and a new spot to wine and dine is coming to town.
Looking for art opportunities in the DMV? ArtsFairfax.org is your online destination to find and promote artist calls in and around Fairfax. Our Artist Calls directory is always free to use and highlights opportunities to audition, exhibit artwork, or secure commissions. Be sure to check out ArtsFairfax Artist Calls on an ongoing basis – new opportunities are added every week.
In addition to a dozen or so Artist Calls from throughout the region, ArtsFairfax is proud to host the following:
Fairfax250 RV Wrap
For illustrators, visual artists, and graphic designers, we are working with the Fairfax250 Commission to wrap a 37’-long RV that will travel to hundreds of events across Fairfax County. A signage company will handle the installation – all we need is the design. See your art on this rolling billboard all year long!
On June 20th, 2025, Woodbridge Rotary Club will be holding our 21st annual charity golf tournament. This tournament is in memory of two of our past Presidents and valued members of the community. Joe Devaney passed away March 22, 2005 and a few years ago, Bill O’Hop passed away barely a week after playing in this tournament in 2015. Both Joe and Bill were each other’s best friends and they both loved golf! Please help us pay tribute to our dear friends by participating in this tournament and helping us to support our local and international charities. If you are interested in golfing, sponsoring, donating a door prize and/or know someone who is, please contact us (Mark Worrilow [email protected] or 703-244-8702). Signing up is also possible using the QR code.
Your Weight Matters National Convention
Hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) since 2012, this highly-anticipated gathering is the nation’s leading gathering focused on empowering individuals with science-based education, support and practical tools for managing weight and improving health.
This unique Convention truly has something
Van Metre 5K Run
Participate in the 33rd Annual Van Metre 5K Run—a race that goes further than 3.1 miles, where every stride you take supports Children’s National Hospital. The Van Metre 5K Run donates 100% of proceeds to Children’s National Hospital and has
