|
|
||
First major development proposed for Stafford's Centreport area Date published: 6/24/2007 By MEGHANN COTTER By MEGHANN COTTER Central Stafford County may finally get the development long expected from its last five years of infrastructure improvements. A local company, G&G, proposes to build a commercial, retail and office park on 51 acres just off the Interstate 95 interchange for Stafford Regional Airport. The interchange opened in 2005, following the ribbon-cutting for the airport. Officials expected the two projects to promote commercial growth in that area. "We're making good progress," said Tim Baroody, Stafford's economic development director. The airport is doing well, and his office continues to hear from large companies interested in locating in that area, he said. Three Fortune 500 companies have begun conversations in the past few months. Plans for G&G's Centreport Gateway project include seven office buildings, two restaurants, a bank, a conference center and a hotel. At four stories each, the office buildings would offer a total of 380,000 square feet. That's nearly as much as the 396,000 square feet of office space the county issued building permits for last year. There are no specifics yet on what businesses might locate in the development. But Baroody said hotels, offices and a convention center strategically located next to the airport make a lot of sense. "It holds a lot of promise," he said. The property would need to be rezoned from agricultural use to urban commercial before the work could proceed. The developer made an initial presentation to the Planning Commission this week but agreed that more information is needed before the commission can hold a public hearing. Specifically, the application lacks a proffer package promising road improvements and a cash contribution to reduce financial strain on the county. The county's current comprehensive land-use plan recommends the site be used for light industrial, suburban residential and resource protection, so the developer must get the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to amend the comprehensive plan, which is a blueprint for the county's future development. A public hearing on the development is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. July 18 in board chambers at the county administration center. Meghann Cotter: 540/374-5434Email: mcotter@freelancestar.com
No, we are just going to keep the area as farmland. Now, shopping, and some apartments near the area would make a ton of sense. Keep the development near 95 and keep the area west Aquia Creek rural. Makes sense to me.
Get used to the building. It's not going to stop till it's paved from Boston to Charlotte. More houses, more roads, more malls.
this madness will never end! They just keep on building and building and building! We do not NEED more shopping. I am just as sure that many don't even WANT more retail centers.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
