WOODBRIDGE — Designs for a new animal shelter in Prince William County will be completed next month.
County Public Works Director Thomas Bruun told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that if all goes to plan, the project will be put out to bid early next year and construction could begin as early as June. It should take about two years to build the shelter that is anticipated to cost about $14 million.
HAYMARKET — With the Haymarket Town Council’s 5-1 decision to rezone 9.94 acres from business commercial to “Residential Moderate Density” land use designation, schools in the Gainesville District will become increasingly more crowded.
“We don’t run the schools,” said Haymarket Vice Mayor Susan Edwards just before voting in support of a rezoning request that would allow 79 new townhomes to be built in Haymarket.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — On the heels of the announcement that Amazon will be locating its new HQ2 in Arlington, George Mason University announced that their Science and Technology Campus will double in size over the next five years.
“The university has grown considerably in recent years, adding approximately 1000 additional students year over year. Today, our student body includes over 37,000 individuals. Enrollment is projected to grow to 43,000 students by 2024. Student enrollment in STEM programs is growing faster than most. Our SciTech campus facilities are essential to meet the needs of this growing student body,” Dr. Deborah Crawford, George Mason’s vice president for research said in an email.
DUMFRIES — Dumfries has a new look.
On Nov. 20 the town council held its first meeting in the new building in which they finalized the design of a new town logo.
Virginia State Police stepped up enforcement on Interstate 66 on Friday.
Additional state troopers were out in force targeting HOV violators. The move comes one year after state officials enacted tolls on I-66 inside the Beltway, generating tolls of more than $44 one-way.
STAFFORD — The Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted in favor of moving forward with a grant application that, if approved, will help bring broadband Internet services residents in Marlborough Point and Widewater.
Stafford County has partnered with King George-based company, KGI Communications, LLC for the grant application.
WOODBRIDGE — (Press Release) Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Firefighters responded to the report of a townhouse fire in Woodbridge. Units arrived on scene at 1932 Pohick Creek Court, to find the homeowner fighting a kitchen fire with a garden hose. Crews took over firefighting, ensured there was no remaining hazard and that the fire was out.
The blaze is under investigation by the Prince William County Fire Marshal’s Office. Two occupants were displaced. One family dog was killed in the fire another was rescued by the resident. Fire and Rescue units from OWL VFD, Dale City VFD, and PWCDF&R responded to the incident.
DUMFRIES — Mayor Derrick Wood attended the National League of Cities Conference November 7 through 11 in Los Angeles.
“The NLC is a bipartisan organization focused on connecting officials to local government solutions,” said Wood.
WOODBRIDGE — Prince William County Parks and Recreation Commissioners will now have their compensation tied to attendance.
The county Board of Supervisors voted to withhold commissioners’ $400 monthly compensation if they don’t attend the regularly scheduled monthly meetings. The move comes after some commissioners missed multiple meetings over the past three years and still collected a paycheck.
