Fredericksburg

Barbara Saunders, a retired Fredericksburg public school teacher living on Pony Drive, opened her latest property tax bill with a familiar sense of dread.

At $4,980 already, her real estate taxes are set to climb again under the City of Fredericksburg’s proposed FY2027 budget. In a written letter read aloud at the April 21 City Council meeting, the senior citizen described the cumulative impact: a 0.4-cent increase last year, followed by the proposed 0.5-cent hike this year, for a total 0.9-cent jump over two years.


Stafford

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use permit (CUP) on April 21, 2026, for a drive-through restaurant and retail space in the Cardinal Forest subdivision, despite objections from nearby residents over traffic, child safety, and proximity to neighborhood amenities.

The 1.2-acre undeveloped site is located at the intersection of Warrenton Road and Cardinal Forest Drive in the Hartwood Election District. Plans call for a one-story building with a Chipotle restaurant featuring a pickup window, additional retail space, 43 parking spaces, sidewalks along Warrenton Road and Cardinal Forest Drive, and an interparcel connection to the future Tractor Supply store on the adjacent parcel. The project is projected to generate 1,534 daily vehicle trips.


Manassas

Manassas City Council received the final conceptual master plan for the redevelopment of the Mathis Shopping Center during a work session, outlining a vision centered on parks and open space, affordable housing, and mixed-use development to transform the site into a livable neighborhood.

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News

Stafford County Public Schools Principal Dr. Michael Sidebotham has been named to Virginia’s inaugural class of Principals of Distinction. Also in this roundup: Virginia home sales rise for the strongest first quarter since 2022, Dumfries moves forward with a new community center, Stafford’s 50th Arts Festival, a full weekend of events in Manassas Park, plus updates on a fatal crash arrest and an ICE operation in the area.


Manassas

City officials learned of the change the same day it was announced during a City Council work session. The city was notified the same day of a 250% fuel adjustment rate increase effective in April that will appear on May bills.

For a typical home using 2,400 to 2,500 kilowatt-hours, the increase will total about $50. A typical townhome will see an increase of about $30. A business using 10,000 kWh would see roughly $240 more.


Health

Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved rezoning, proffer amendments, and a conditional use permit for a new HCA freestanding emergency room on Warrenton Road during its April 21, 2026, regular meeting. The project will bring 24/7 emergency services to residents in southern Stafford County and the Old Forge area.

The facility, planned for approximately 3.2 acres in the George Washington Election District on the south side of Warrington Road (bordered by Banks Ford Parkway and McCourt Loop), involves rezoning from M1 (light industrial) to B2 (urban commercial). It includes amendments to existing proffers on the site and a conditional use permit for hospital use. The one-story, 30-foot-tall building will total about 11,000 square feet.


Prince William

Prince William County supervisors faced a clear choice on April 21: deliver the deeper residential tax relief promised to residents after years of data-center growth, or route nearly every new dollar from the industry into the county’s revenue-sharing agreement with Prince William County Public Schools.

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Stafford

“Stafford County is dedicated to protecting our natural resources and promoting sustainability,” Tour Stafford Virginia announced. “We look forward to welcoming you to Stafford and sharing our commitment to preserving the natural beauty and historical significance of our county.”

“Eco-tourism is more than just a trend; it’s a way of traveling that ensures the places we love will be around for years to come.”


Prince William

After hours of packed public testimony and last-minute deliberations Tuesday night, the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors approved a revised FY2027 budget that delivers modest residential tax relief while directing $1.115 billion to Prince William County Public Schools — a 12.5 percent increase over FY2026 but $3.9 million less than the budget-recap proposal.

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Stafford

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors received a detailed data center revenue forecast at its regular meeting on April 21, 2026, showing potential net gains of tens of millions of dollars annually by the mid-2030s, while highlighting near-term uncertainties and board concerns about Amazon Web Services (AWS) incentives.

Chief Financial Officer Andrea Light presented the PFM model, which covers only the five approved campuses: Stafford Technology Campus on Eskimo Hill/Route 1, Old Potomac Church near the hospital, Centerport Gateway, Vantage, and Crane’s Corner. Developers have proposed 31 buildings totaling 8.7 million square feet across the sites. The baseline scenario assumes 20 buildings constructed over the 10-year horizon.


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