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Warren County

Dominion to build plant in Warren County

Dominion Power hopes to have a gas-fired power plant operating in Warren County's Kelley Industrial Park by 2015. The project will cost between $700 million to more than $1 billion.

Construction will employ 300 to 600 workers onsite, and the completed power plant could bring as many as 30 new jobs to the area once it begins operating. Annual tax payments to Warren County are projected to be between $2 million and $4 million.

"It is safe to say that this project will effectively double the existing industrial development of our community and will represent the largest investment in our community since the Avtex Fibers plant was constructed in the 1930s," County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley said. "We are extremely excited about the potential of the project and the financial benefits that it can bring to the county."

Read more at The Northern Virginia Daily....

Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 3:10pm

New lanes open on I-66 in Gainesville

photo by aimhelixI-66 commuters on Tuesday will enjoy two new lanes on the westbound side of the highway. The new lanes were built as part of a $75 million project to increase the highway's capacity from four to eight lanes between Prince William Parkway and Route 29 in Gainesville.

Free-flowing highways are a high priority for Northern Virginia home buyers looking for easy commutes into the Capitol.

Read more in the Manassas News-Messenger....

Posted on Monday, March 29, 2010 - 9:18am

No property tax increase for Front Royal

The Front Royal Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to leave the current real estate  tax rates -- 7 cents per $100 assessed value -- in place. Residents encouraged the Council to tap into the town's "rainy day fund" of about $6 million to balance the budget.

 

Read more in the Northern Virginia Daily....

Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - 9:42am

In Front Royal, need for property tax hike is debated

Laura Henderson DesignFront Royal Mayor Eugene R. Tewalt wants to raise property taxes from 7 cents to 8.5 cents per $100 assessed value, despite the availability of general funds to balance the town's budget without an increase. He calls it a matter of policy -- taxes should rise every year to cover growing overhead costs so that large jumps can be avoided down the road.

Former Fork District Supervisor Matthew A. Tederick disagrees. "I don't want to see a tax increase," he said during Friday's meeting at the Town Hall. "I don't think it's warranted."

Read more at Northern Virginia Daily....

Posted on Monday, March 22, 2010 - 4:38am

Front Royal Council Will Discuss Ruling on Meals Tax

Front Royal Town Council will have a special closed session meeting tomorrow night to discuss a judge's recent ruling about collecting meals tax in exchange for water and sewer service, according to NVdaily.com

The meals tax in question was created for restaurants just outside the town limits. Those restaurants filed suit against the town because it is not a tax that they would be paying if their location was within the town, and should not be included in the water and sewer calculation. And a judge agreed with them.

The town now has some options to consider, including, appealing the judge's decision, annexing the corridor or not allowing any new water and sewer connections in that area.

It would be ideal for all residents if the town and the businesses in that corridor can work out an agreement that will encourage economic growth and protect the town.

"Mayor Eugene R. Tewalt has called a special Town Council meeting for Thursday to address a judge's ruling that says Front Royal cannot require restaurants in the U.S. 340-522 corridor outside the town limits to collect a meals tax in exchange for water and sewer service.

Council members expect to go into closed session during the 7 p.m. meeting to discuss the ruling."

Read the full story.

Posted on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - 5:55pm

NOVA Homeowners Invited to Economic and Housing Forecast Summit

For the fourth year, the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® will sponsor an Economic and Housing Forecast Summit to discuss what’s in store for the housing market and local economy.

This event is for any member of the community who is interested in learning about the local housing market. The speakers will dicuss the importance of improving the housing market to infuence the economy, and how the market in NOVA has been improving over the last few months.

The Summit will be held on Friday, October 30th from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at the Loudoun County School Administration Building, 21000 Education Court, in Ashburn, VA.

The Summit will include a panel of top national, regional and local economic and housing experts who will discuss recent trends and the outlook for housing and the economy for Northern Virginia and the nation.

The $25 non-member registration fee ($20 DAAR members) includes program and breakfast.

To sign up, go to DAAR's website.

Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 8:28am

Chesapeake Bay Reports Call For More Livestock, Runoff Regulations

Last week federal officials released parts of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, according to NewsDay.com.

The report focuses on expanding regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff. Although details of the expanded regulations have not been decided, the report did mention that federal leadership and "muscle" would be used when necessary to enforce the new regulations.

This report, along with others wll be used to develop a bay restoration strategy scheduled for release on Novemeber 9th.

Because many of the Virginia localities in the Chesapeake Watershed are heavily farmed areas, many Virginia property owners could be affected. Property owners will need to ensure that their rights are protected in the process of restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

"Federal officials on Thursday began revealing the building blocks of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, using federal leadership to encourage states to cut pollution and federal muscle, when necessary, to ensure it happens.

Among recommendations in draft reports from federal agencies: expanded regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff, and requirements that increases in pollution be offset by reductions from other sources.

The details, such as how many more animal feeding operations would be regulated, have not been decided, but 'the message here is that there will be, there is a commitment at EPA to increased enforcement and increased oversight of state programs,' EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said Thursday.

The reports will be used to develop a bay restoration strategy, scheduled for release Nov. 9, that was mandated by an executive order issued earlier this year by President Obama.

The EPA said it was working with Chesapeake Bay states and the District of Columbia to establish limits for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments. States would have to develop detailed plans on how to reduce levels of those pollutants from sources such as farms, highways and lawns. The EPA said it would step in if states don't take sufficient action.

While large operations such as industrial chicken farms would be regulated, the EPA said it would also expand regulation of municipal stormwater programs to include high-growth areas.

Jackson said the goal was to use federal leadership, and 'federal muscle when necessary.'

Agriculture is responsible for about half the pollution entering the bay, but Jackson noted there is more turf grass in the bay watershed than corn acreage and the region is much different from when bay restoration efforts began decades ago."

Read full story.

Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 10:50am

Northern Virginia Housing Market Shows Signs of Stabilizing

There have been a number of signs to show that the housing market in Northern Virginia is stabilizing, according to a recent article in The Washington Post.

Some encouraging facts include:

-  Being on pace to have half the number of foreclosures as last year
-  Average price of homes is stabilizing
-  Properties are moving faster
-  The number of homes being sold is increasing

Real estate experts are very happy to see these kinds of stats, and area homeowners should be too. An improving real estate market means more security in home values.

"Real estate agents and county officials in Northern Virginia say the local housing market is showing signs of stabilizing.

Carolyn Capalbo, a real estate agent in Manassas who works in Prince William, Loudoun, Fairfax and Fauquier counties, said she has noticed a 'sharp shift' in the past six months, as a swell of buyers, many looking to purchase their first home, have been jockeying for a smaller pool of houses.

'It's a seller's market,' Capalbo said. 'We have a lot of relocation people who they feel like can come in and get the deal of the century but find themselves in competition over property, and they're shocked.'

The number of foreclosures in each county is down from last year, according to county data. In Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park, foreclosures through the first half of this year numbered 2,200, on pace to total far fewer than the 8,300 last year, said Bill Vaughn, county economist and demographer.

Read full story.

Posted on Friday, September 11, 2009 - 4:20pm

Front Royal Council Agrees to Allocate Funds for Improvements

Image from lkhenderson

NVdaily.com reports that Front Royal town mayor and council are commited to completing a project along Happy Creek Road, which has been due improvements for some time now. In addition to appreciating the completion of the project, residents are also excited about the opportunity to participate in a revenue-sharing program with VDOT which could accelerate the project. Hopefully construction will begin in 2010 and be completed in 2011.

"Mayor Eugene R. Tewalt told the Town Council during Monday's meeting that one of his goals for his first term was to see improvements to Happy Creek Road completed.

While the project probably won't be completed before his two-year term expires in June, the Town Council voted unanimously on Monday to participate in a revenue-sharing program with the Virginia Department of Transportation that will get the project started.

The panel voted to approve the allocation of $532,000 in funds to complete the project, which includes $50,000 to construct a sidewalk on the south side of Sixth Street near the bridge to Happy Creek Road."

Read full story.

Posted on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 1:37pm

Highway Money Meant for Hampton Roads Heads North

Image from dougtoneThe Virginian-Pilot recently published an opinion piece about the distribution of highway funds throughout the Commonwealth. Covering details of how interstate funds for Hampton Roads dropped from $32 million last year to $6 million this year, and to zero dollars by mid-2010, the op-ed piece also points out that localities in Northern Virginia will receive 81 percent of the state's interstate budget this year, and 90 percent next year.

"What is Hampton Roads' fair share of Virginia's interstate highway dollars? How about 21 percent, our share of the state population? Or 15 percent, the portion of interstate miles running through the region?

Did anyone guess 2 percent? Fairness aside, that's the region's actual share of interstate funds this year. Here's another number: 0 percent. That's what Hampton Roads will get next year.

The reality that Virginia's second-most congested region is so shortchanged should have folks across the state scratching their heads. Those of us who fight through the region's monstrous traffic jams to work, worship and pick up the kids have a right to be apoplectic.

An analysis by the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization lays out the grim facts. The study covered state funding from 2004 to this year, as well as future plans by the Virginia Department of Transportation for divvying up road dollars through 2015. Over the 12-year period, Hampton Roads' share is 17 percent, while Northern Virginia gets 58 percent, but those aggregate numbers mask what's happening right now."

Read full story.

Posted on Monday, July 27, 2009 - 2:12pm