Insidenova.com: “The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday moved to schedule for December the rezoning hearings of all three data center projects connected to the divisive PW Digital Gateway, ensuring the largest development in county history will be voted on by the board’s Democratic majority before new members are sworn in next year.”
Prince William County Government: “During their meeting this afternoon, the Board of County Supervisors unanimously voted to extend the tax payment due date for the vehicle classification of tangible personal property by 90 days.”
“Normally, the vehicle classification of the tangible personal property tax payments is due by October 5 of the calendar year. The approved extension means that the vehicle personal property tax for tax year 2023 will now be due on Jan. 3, 2024.”
Insidenova.com: “Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Ann Wheeler on Tuesday walked back her original plans to consider the contentious PW Digital Gateway data center project at the board’s Nov. 21 meeting that falls just days before Thanksgiving.”
“The Tuesday before Thanksgiving is not an appropriate time to hear the Digital Gateway,” Wheeler said during the board’s Sept. 12 meeting.”
Insidenova.com: “The HOA Roundtable of Northern Virginia on Monday wrote to Prince William County leadership, objecting to their decision to take up two rezoning requests related to the contentious PW Digital Gateway data center project in November.”
Ann Wheeler’s anxiousness to schedule a vote on the controversial Prince William Digital Gateway rezoning before the Planning Office has even completed its review is hardly surprising. She has been in the tank for this project from the outset, and her blatant subservience to corporate masters was largely responsible for her electoral defeat.
Now shift the focus to her accomplices, who have thus far evaded the same level of accountability.
Prince William County: “Recently, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a historic $800 million in grant awards for 510 projects through the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, a record amount of funding to improve roads and address traffic fatalities. Prince William County Department of Transportation received $992,000 to be used by the Prince William County Government to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.”
“The competitive grant program, established by President Biden’s historic infrastructure law, provides $5 billion over five years for regional, local, and Tribal initiatives — from redesigned roads to better sidewalks and crosswalks — to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways.”
“‘I really believe this is going to be an additional incentive on top of the county tax reduction and the federal tax credit, specifically because it takes that cost away from the permitting side,’ said Mandi Spina, acting director of the county’s Department of Development Services.”
“In 2016, the county’s Department of Development Services received 14 applications for solar projects; applications for solar projects jumped to 1,087 in 2022. From calendar year 2021 to 2022, Development Services saw a 297-percent increase in the number of solar applications.”
These words encapsulate exactly why the board chamber was FULL of residents for the July 11 vote on Resolution 23-365. Over 1,000 residents – from across the county – wrote to the board in support of that resolution – 908 petitioned via click-to-send email, and more than 100 others sent personal email messages. More than 100 also spoke at the meeting in favor of the resolution.
Mary Ann Ghadban, instigator of the Digital Gateway data center corridor application and Pageland Lane homeowner, wrote and published those statements in multiple local newspapers on the day of the board’s vote. Her group is exactly one that should NOT be given preferential treatment by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors with their votes.
The July 17, 2023, letter to the editor seems to assert that because I do not agree with policies that some constituents put forward, I am being uncivil. Civility has to do with the way we communicate and treat each other as people, not our policies.
For those who have watched the Board of County Supervisors meetings, it will be recognized that I have almost always acted civilly to staff and public speakers. I say almost because there was one instance when a public speaker put up a picture of me that included my daughter, and that crossed a line for me, which I hope is relatable to every parent out there.
“The term ‘civility’ refers to using polite language in formal conversations and is closely related to courtesy and consideration. Unfortunately, it seems that civility has been lacking lately, not just in Prince William County, but throughout our nation,” Wheeler wrote.
Since Barack Obama decided to ‘fundamentally change’ the U.S., we have fallen into the abyss regarding civility on any topic. We are no longer able to discuss politics, race, schools, library books, bathrooms, the definition of the sexes, or God forbid, use correct pronouns as demanded by proper English.
