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After the June 9, 2005 public hearing, the Board of
Supervisors postponed action on the draft text amendment
until its July 14th meeting, and requested time
for a work session to allow opportunities for questions,
final review and any essential refinements.
1.
Background Information. Work on the plan
revision has spanned 18 months. The first draft was
originally called the Strategic Transportation Plan,
and had focused only on the Bealeton, Opal, and Remington
Service District area. The Board of Supervisors and
Planning Commission both supported the draft’s direction,
but wanted its focus to be expanded countywide. With the
draft plan completed, the Planning Commission concluded its
public hearing on February 17, 2005, and forwarded it to the
Board of Supervisors with a unanimous recommendation that it
be adopted.
Now the text amendment to
Chapter 10 integrates the Board of Supervisors adopted
transportation elements for all nine designated
Service Districts. Plus, it covers: (a) General policy
guidelines for transportation systems; (b) Planning role of
VDOT and the County; (c) Existing public and commuting
services; (d) Functional classification of roads, design
standards and policies; (e) Future Virginia Railway Express
Service policies; (f) Bike paths (g) Midland Airport Master
Plan and Access; (h) Transportation Strategies; and (i)
Strategic Actions. The Chapter’s objective is to serve as
the staging element and blueprint for transportation
planning and implementation countywide. The draft amendment
can also assist in the development of Board of Supervisors
recommendations to VDOT regarding specific County priority
projects needing to be placed in the 6-Year Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP).
The transportation strategies takes a broader view
countywide and with adjoining counties on a variety of
topics; some examples are: (a) traffic calming measures;
(b) coordination with Prince William County regarding
growing regional traffic volumes and capacity problems on
I-66 and U.S. 15/29 and the need to focus on multi-modal
transportation efforts; (c) need to implement recommended
safety improvements along Route 28; (d) direct improved
access management planning and improvements along U.S.
15/29, as well as implementing VDOT’s Safety Improvement
Plan for Crossovers in Fauquier County; (e) continued
participation in regional planning and development policy
efforts; (f) bring County design regulations into
conformance with VDOT subdivision street requirements and
associated documents; and (g) work with VDOT in establishing
more design flexibility that result in local streets more
suited to village or town center designs with more
sensitivity to community character, density, scale and
walkability.
2.
Planning Commission Recommendation: On
February 17, 2005, the Planning Commission forwarded the
Text Amendment to Chapter 10-Transportation to the Board of
Supervisors with a unanimous recommendation that it be
adopted.
3.
Staff Request: Staff originally requested
additional time to develop a conversion table that would
remove confusion regarding road classifications that are
slightly different in the Comprehensive Plan, Subdivision
Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance. After more detailed
review, staff has concluded that the Design Standards
Manual (DSM) will eliminate the problem. The next
chapter the Committee (representatives from local
engineering firms, staff and VDOT) begins in August will
focus on public and private street standards. This work
will also result in the replacement of the Subdivision
Ordinance’s outdated Section 6 – Street Classifications.
4.
Document Location for Public Review. The
Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment to Chapter
10-Transportation is not scanned and attached to this
document due to the numerous graphics and maps. However,
a copy is available for public inspection at two locations:
(1) Board of Supervisors Office (Location: 2nd
Floor, Warren Green Building, 10 Hotel Street, Warrenton; or
the (2) Planning Division of the Department of Community
Development (Location: 3rd Floor, Warren Green
Building). |