Downtown Stafford

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors moved closer to making Downtown Stafford a reality.

Supervisors held a public hearing on Tuesday and then voted four to three to adopt a plan that would conceptualize what the downtown project would look like as well as changes in the plan that would support the development. Also included were revisions to the zoning that would support the project's development.

The project site is located near the county's iconic courthouse, and across from Stafford Hospital.

However, residents continue to be wary of potential problems such as traffic and higher taxes.

Stafford County residents spoke their minds, and most said they were unsupportive of the project as it is. The goal of the Downtown Stafford project is to create an area that would be a mix of retail, residential, and government buildings that would attract people, similar to Downtown Fredericksburg.

They plead with the board to vote no on the matter due to the possibility of increased traffic in an area that -- located on Route 1, a major county thoroughfare -- already has many traffic issues. Drivers said two signal lights on Route 1, near the county's courthouse, continuously slow traffic in that area.

Many who spoke said the downtown project would make traffic worse.

Others were concerned with the potential for a high tax burden that could potentially be placed on the shoulders of residents. One resident, Mike Rodriguez, was concerned that the funds used to develop the project could be put to better use in improving county roads and building more schools.

Some were in favor of the project, such as Hank Scharpenberg who acknowledged that there were some issues to work out which included concerns with traffic.

After the assembled residents had spoken, many on the board made their thoughts on the subject known. Falmouth District Supervisor Meg Bohmke expressed reservations due to the fact that when the issue was brought to the county's Planning Commission the result was an approval of the comprehensive plan but by a four to three vote which Bohmke considered a red flag.

"I would really like to have a Downtown Stafford but I don't think this plan is ready for a vote. We may be getting a little too ahead of ourselves."

Hartwood District Supervisor Gary Snellings also decided to oppose the resolution citing that no traffic impact study had been made by the Virginia Department of Transportation nor was there a report on how it would affect county services. The lack of these reports and other issues were enough to convince Snellings to oppose the measure.

George Washington Supervisor Tom Coen, who declared being skeptical of the project, reiterated that the vote would be about a concept which could be changed at any time. Because of this, Coen felt that the plan could be voted on and adjusted going forward should things not work out.

"We have a lot of control over this, it's in a conceptual phase. I plan to keep an eye on this and we'll take things out if they're not working."

Stafford County officials have a tall task ahead of them Tuesday.