Our farms, forests, and grasslands should be protected. Open space is a critical component of smart development.
We hear the terms “smart growth” and “responsible development” tossed around a lot these days—but what do they actually mean?
For too long, we’ve allowed open space—our farms, forests, and grasslands—to be dismissed as “undeveloped.” As if land without a building on it is wasted or waiting for concrete. That thinking has led countless communities down the path of sprawl: endless strip malls, mile after mile of housing with no distinct identity, and infrastructure stretched beyond its limits. If you’ve driven through the outskirts of Atlanta or Charlotte, you’ve seen it.
Unfettered sprawl is precisely the path Prince William County is on under the previous Chair Ann Wheeler’s vision: unchecked residential growth paired with data center sprawl. Without meaningful constraints, we end up with overburdened infrastructure, disconnected neighborhoods, and the loss of the very places that make this county special.
Open Space Is Smart Development
Historically, boards in Prince William County have recognized the value of preserving open space as a crucial component of a comprehensive smart growth strategy. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors formed the Rural Crescent, an intentional land-use decision designed to protect farms, forests, water resources, and the rural identity of western Prince William.
Open space is critical. It protects our watersheds, drinking water, reduces flood risk, and minimizes the need for expensive stream restoration projects—some now costing up to $2,000 per linear foot. And it enhances our quality of life, providing residents with access to nature, clean air, and scenic landscapes.
When we preserve land, we also maintain fiscal stability. Every acre of forest or farmland protected is one less acre needing water, sewer, roads, police, fire, and schools—costs that often far exceed the tax revenue generated by new sprawl-style development.
We Only Get Great Development Through Constraints
Without boundaries, development spreads aimlessly. However, with explicit land-use constraints, we redirect growth where it belongs—into areas already served by infrastructure, where redevelopment can revitalize aging communities.
Great communities don’t happen by accident—they’re planned with intention. That planning starts by recognizing that open space is not wasted space. It’s what guides wise, focused investment and helps prevent the kind of hollow, drive-through towns we see elsewhere.
This isn’t theoretical—it’s been done. Montgomery County, Maryland, preserved 70,000 acres for agriculture and open space through tools like PDRs (Purchase of Development Rights), TDRs (Transfer of Development Rights), and conservation easements. The result: a thriving agrotourism economy, protected farmland, and revitalized urban cores.
Charlottesville and Napa Valley followed a similar model, striking a balance between conservation and vibrant tourism, while also promoting small business growth. Even our neighbors in Fauquier County have demonstrated what’s possible when a locality prioritizes character over unchecked development.
Where We Went Wrong and How to Fix It
Prince William County has a PDR program. However, unlike those other communities, we made the mistake of allowing industrial buyers—such as data center developers—to compete directly with private landowners. That provision tanked the value of our PDRs and undermined the original mission: protecting rural land for future generations.
Programs like PDRs, TDRs, and conservation easements only work when they’re used to protect open space—not compete with industrial development. We must correct the course. That means restoring the original intent of our open space programs and recommitting to the land values that made the Rural Crescent a reality in the first place.
Moo Thru Is More Than Ice Cream
A great example of a well-executed PDR project is Moo Thru Creamery on Route 29. That business sits on permanently protected land, and the owner received capital through a PDR to create a sustainable, revenue-generating company. No strip malls and no new schools needed—just a smart, community-rooted success story.
The Path Forward
If we want to create a Prince William County that will truly benefit our children and future generations, we must stop treating open space as land waiting to be “used.” It’s already in use for a great purpose—protecting water, feeding families, reducing flood risk, and offering places of rest and recreation.
As Supervisor, I will fight to restore smart growth principles and redirect development back into the places that need investment—not into the last remaining open spaces we should be protecting.
Let’s stop confusing all “growth” with all “good.” Let’s stop trading open land for industrial sites and residential sprawl. Let’s protect what makes Prince William worth calling home.
