Prince William County has hired Mark Buenavista as the county’s new Planning Director, effective Jan. 23, 2023. The Prince William County Planning Office is responsible for reviewing development applications, including rezonings, special use permits, comprehensive plan amendments, Agricultural and Forestal District applications, zoning appeals, variances and public facility reviews.
Buenavista has 14 years in planning and architectural design, including nine years of experience with county governments in the region. During his time in county government,Buenavista has overseen the planning, programming, facility planning, design and construction administration of multiple large-scale projects and public-private partnerships. Most recently, he led new affordable housing development and existing market affordable housing preservation projects totaling approximately $1.7 billion.
The county’s Planning Office Director oversees support staff to the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Historical Commission, Agricultural and Forestal Districts Advisory Committee, Architectural Review Board, and the Trails and Blueways Council.
“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Buenavista at an exciting time in our county as we continue our Pathway to 2040,” remarks Chair At-Large Ann Wheeler. “The Comprehensive Plan will shape growth and the future of Prince William County, and we look forward to Mr. Buenavista’s leadership in the Planning Office and contributions to help advance this plan.”
During his time as the Director of Design, Development and Construction Division at the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development, Buenavista directed the overall planning, acquisition, development and preservation of low- and moderate-income housing and associated community facilities in Fairfax County.
Before joining Fairfax County, Buenavista led advanced project and construction management, created long-range real estate planning, acquisition strategies and disposal of property as an Engineering Specialist with the Howard County Department of Public Works as well as capital project management and development review for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Buenavista hiring comes after the Board of County Supervisors voted to lure Baltimore City Administrator Christopher Shorter to lead the county’s government, replacing Christopher Martino who retired a year ago. Shorter will make a $350,000 annual salary, one of the the highest of any local government leader in the Washington, D.C. region.
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On June 22, 2024, the Ira Dorsey Scholarship Ball, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Xi Alpha Lambda Chapter, seated in Prince William County, VA, awarded $73,000 in scholarships to 17 students through the chapter’s foundation, the Ira Dorsey Scholarship Endowment Fund. These scholarships will support their college journeys at prestigious universities such as Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, Purdue University, Howard University, Shenandoah University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Cornell University, Spelman College, North Carolina A&T State University, and Norfolk State University. The event highlighted the commitment of the Ira Dorsey Scholarship Endowment Fund to fostering academic excellence and supporting the educational aspirations of young scholars in our community.
