“I am here to serve. I will serve all without any discrimination,” are the words of Imam Shamshad Nasir, who is the new Imam at Masroor Mosque, at 5640 Hoadly Road near Dale City.
On August 15, the congregation formally welcomed Imam Shamshad Nasir at a dinner specially organized in his honor.
Speaking at this occasion, Imam Nasir highlighted the need to work collaboratively towards education and spiritual progress. He said, “We have to work together towards these higher goals and let go of petty differences that become an obstacle.”
Imam Nasir is a seasoned missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He completed a seven-year intensive, multi-lingual missionary training in 1973. As a missionary of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, he has served in Asia, Africa, and various parts of the U.S. for more than 35 years. Before coming to our area, he was serving as a missionary in Detroit.
Imam Nasir is not only a learned scholar but also a potent speaker and has been a regular contributor to various publications through his writings.
He is known for his work in humanitarian and civic outreach to build bridges and promote interfaith harmony and understanding through peace symposiums and dialogue. Anyone interested to learn about his work, Masroor Mosque, or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community may reach out to him at (909) 636-8332 or via email at [email protected].
Shehla Ahmad
Manassas
The imminent approval of Devlin Technology Park, a site formerly planned for housing that morphed into yet another power-sucking eyesore, will bring the total capacity of data centers operating or planned in Prince William County to nearly 50 million square feet.
That doubles the current capacity of neighboring Loudoun county, and exceeds the 48 million a recent study projected to be the maximum demand for the next twenty years.
How much candy do the kids running your government plan to gorge on? They’re hoping for an early Halloween. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ timeline for the dreaded Prince William Digital Gateway could shove another 27.6 million square feet sugar-high down the county’s throat by early fall.
This mindless candy crush is happening while the bellwether in Loudoun County is flashing warning signs. Not only are they facing budget shortfalls from their over-dependence on data center revenue, but Dominion Power is saying over-development has run them out of electricity.
Meanwhile, Prince William’s Absence of Planning Office has not even estimated the electrical infrastructure required for all their new toys. Batteries are not included.
When is Prince William going to wake up?
The ground is shifting beneath our feet as your Supervisors make a succession of irresponsible choices. Pretty soon your electric bill and your tax bill will be subsidizing big tech behemoths who will be calling the shots. Hold your elected officials accountable now while they’re still running things.
Bill Wright
Gainesville
Your mission states that you wish to “inform” the community about what is happening. Well, your writer’s understanding of the recent removal of Henry “Hank” Scharpenberg from the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee’s (CTAC) leadership role is flawed and does not reflect the real issue at hand.
Had the reporter and the Stafford Board of Supervisors members who called for his ill-considered removal and ultimately yanked Mr. Scharpenberg from his leadership role of CTAC had attended more than one meeting, they would have understood the issues this group faces, works hard on, and discussed at length all year long.
All the newspaper provided in this instance was a political grandstanding platform for ambitious local politicians who selected a “near and dear” topic of their constituents–transportation. Their actions not only harmed a dedicated public volunteer but all the participants of CTAC, some of whom are, like me, not board members but are vested members of the general public at-large.
I am a transportation advocate for the physically and financially-challenged members of the Central Region. If anyone understands barriers and obstacles, we do.
I’ve had my fill of politicians who ignore or provide small token projects for us and glow with self-satisfaction and say, “Look what we did for you!” They don’t mention the sweetheart deals they make with residential and commercial developers who fail to create ADA-approved sidewalks, install audible signals at road crossings, little or no safe access to public services, transit, and all the other things that allow those who are challenged to access quality of life services and employment.
They don’t provide or allow money to be spent on those things. But, they will stand on the backs of devoted citizens who work to create a viable process to achieve good transportation outcomes.
Transportation is a complex issue that requires many facets and considerations to achieve equal, safe, accessible, affordable, and meaningful access to ALL citizens, not just those with car keys. The real power of that process is given to politicians who vote to allow or remove our advisory options.
The BOS members are basically clueless and have little real understanding of what the public needs. That is why CTAC exists.
Politicians only employ knee-jerk responses when the public is critical of their politicians’ choices. Instead of letting those who know how to get the job done, the BOS picked and chose a hot topic to grab the headlines, not the real issues that needed to be addressed fully and completely by those who do understand its complexities.
As an advocate, I have attended and participated in transportation committees and forums on the federal, state, and community levels for almost 30 years on both coasts in three diverse states. My perception of CTAC is that it is a worthy and effective endeavor.
While I don’t always agree with Mr. Scharpenberg and some of the other members, I do respect their knowledge, leadership, and understanding of the complexities of the topic. The mere fact that he was re-elected to his leadership role by his CTAC peers defines that respect implicitly.
Many of the CTAC board members and advocates like me resent the political intrusion by the Stafford BOS has done to arbitrarily take this action of his removal. It is misguided, unfair, and does not in any way represent the public feeling about what CTAC has achieved in its advisory role.
CTAC has no real power other than suggesting and advising to the local politicians in the Central Region on how they perceive the needs of the community should be met without fanfare, politics, or grandstanding.
So back off!
If you think you can do the job better, which I sincerely doubt, leave us alone to do what our mission calls for to use whatever available resources and options that are reasonable, considered, discussed, fair, and ultimately offered to the local stakeholders for review and to be voted upon. We don’t need the BOS stepping on our work and leadership to create a platform for their political ambitions.
We already have plenty of challenges, barriers, and obstacles to overcome.
Jane Leeds
Fredericksburg
It’s a bit unusual to have one-quarter of your county supervisors facing recall petitions from their constituents. It’s also unusual that Prince William County has no Ombudsman or Ethics Office. So, what other recourse do our citizens have?
In the Navy, when a commanding officer is relieved for cause, it is usually not for specific misdeeds but for leadership failures that adversely affected subordinates or enabled their substandard performance. You’ll hear terms like “loss of trust and confidence in the ability to command” or “cultivating a poor command climate.” There is a recognition that bad leadership is unacceptably corrosive to an organization.
Thus, Chair at Large Ann Wheeler’s conflicted financial trading is not only problematic by itself, but as an indication of the shoddy values, she demonstrates to the those she presides over.
Examples of behavior that may not constitute legal violations but are potentially more damaging than those that do, include:
• Setting low ethical standards that invite unscrupulous individuals to exploit them for personal gain
• Using personal wealth or power for electoral advantage or leverage over more vulnerable colleagues
• Using a powerful position to pressure apolitical staff into relaxing professional standards to advance a personally or politically advantageous agenda
• Suppressing legitimate inquiries into improper conduct and performance
The Coalition to Protect Prince William County will be collecting recall petition signatures at the upcoming County fair. See the livestock and then seek us out to help send Supervisors Pete Candland and Ann Wheeler out to pasture.
Bill Wright
Gainesville
By Tom Coyle
Bristow
It seems clear to us that, as a group, our local elected leaders in Prince William County appear to be struggling to make decisions regarding the long-term strategic use of a scarce resource — our land.
Such land use decisions are critical to ensuring our county will be one that continues to attract new residents and new businesses and retains the current attributes that attracted current residents to move here.
The single issue of large data centers in proximity to residences is a complex one that crosses into hotly debated topics such as taxable revenue, open space and zoning use, and increased pressure to balance green space use and residential growth.
Although the various zoning laws, layover grids, etc., can be confusing and even contradictory, what’s clear is that no one, either elected or County Staff, seems to have heard of Moore’s Law. And if they have, they have failed to take it into account as it applies to these large buildings now popping up throughout our county, large parts of which are rural or semi-rural.
Moore’s Law is the observation that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit (IC) doubles about every two years. Moore’s Law is an observation and projection of a historical trend. Rather than a law of physics, it is an empirical relationship linked to gains from experience in production.
It is understood the interior of these centers consists mainly of computer servers and racks, which, if we apply Moore’s Law, will shrink in size and thus need less space to operate. What happens in 10 or 20 years when the requirement for these 500,000 square foot buildings is no more? What incentive can our county offer a private company to continue to occupy a space that is not needed in order to operate and make a profit?
Why would they wish to occupy a 500,000 sqaure-foot space when, due to said law, they would only need a quarter or less of that space? Who do the citizens then turn to to raze the building and restore the area to its original nature?
All the extra tax monies from these centers will not make up for the permanent scarring of our county. Why can’t we analyze best practices from other municipalities around the country and then apply the best of those to use as a framework?
Has any elected official, or county staff, examined the second and third-order effects of approving the construction of these buildings and thus degrading one significant reason citizens move to Pricne William – high quality of life
We implore our county-elected leaders to slow down and demand a thoughtful, factual review of these proposals from staff. If we don’t have the expertise in-house, then hire a well-respected national company to conduct it.
There is no rush to carefully consider all aspects of this issue, given the lasting impact it will have for years to come. Perceived short-term gains (more money in our county coffers) we believe defines false economy and reminds us of the family cat being happily distracted by that new shiny object right in front of her to the exclusion of anything else.
We hope the elected leaders in Prince William County will reflect for a moment on why they ran for office in the first place: to help enrich the lives of the citizens they serve by thoughtful and informed decisions affecting all of us for generations to come.
Bill Wright
Gainesville
Citizens were recently treated to two more mind-numbing episodes in the surreal story of the Prince William Digital Gateway.
The July 13 Planning Commission meeting featured an exchange where Gainesville commissioner Rick Berry asked acting Planning Office Director Rebecca Horner why there was a work session scheduled to discuss the proposal when neither the Comprehensive Plan update nor the overlay district review was complete.
Ms. Horner’s incredulous reply was, “They [the Supervisors] did not require that type of analysis.” Why is the Prince William Digital Gateway jumping the line to be considered ahead of reviews that ought to precede it?
The following evening, the Planning Office hosted a virtual discussion on the Camoin report that they seem to believe validates all their preconceived notions.
When asked when the County would release detailed information on the land and expected capacity for data centers under development, Director of Economic Development Christina Winn said that non-disclosure agreements protect information.
Is that a joke?
Is she really telling us that information essential to evaluating the necessity for the Prince William Digital Gateway will be withheld from public review and scrutiny at the behest of private corporations that stand to profit from public ignorance?
Unbelievable.
What is driving the contrived urgency to push the Prince William Digital Gateway proposal forward in this illogical sequence? Whose armored car is double-parked outside?
Stop the embarrassment and suspicion surrounding this troubling proposal until the Planning Office can get its act together and its story straight.
Potomac Local News occasionally writes editorials and accepts opinion-based letters to the editor on local issues. Readers may email letters.
By Yesli Vega
Coles District Supervisor
Prince William County
In March of 2020 the stock market plummeted nearly 8,000 points and by April unemployment hit 15%. That same month, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors responded by increasing the average residential tax bill by almost $200 per family.
In April of 2021, with the economy still on its back and inflation creeping in, Prince William County residents got socked by their elected body with another hit to their wallet of over $300 on average.
Now, in the midst of a full-blown inflation crisis not seen in over 40 years, the Board has left on the table another average residential tax increase of nearly $200, which save for an act of God or major citizen uprising, they seem poised to pass.
But that’s not all. A brand new 4% Meals Tax on county residents will also be voted on at the county’s budget adoption meeting this coming Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. That means every time you dine in at one of Prince William County’s sit down establishments, county government won’t just be taking a little off the top. They’re adding to the top – and then taking it. In the midst of record inflation and rising food costs.
Back to the residential tax increase. If adopted, the average cumulative impact of the residential tax increases alone since COVID reared its ugly head will be over $1,400 per family.
We don’t have to do this. We don’t have to do either.
This past Tuesday night, I proposed a tax rate of 96 cents that would save the average homeowner $328 from what is currently being proposed. Lowering the year to year tax bill on residents for the first time in nearly a decade and a half. I’ve also proposed that we axe this ridiculous meals tax proposal which will hurt already struggling Prince William County families and restaurant owners.
For those who pretend this would cause the sky to fall, Prince William County Government would still receive $45 million more in additional revenue over last year.
This extra $45 million would enable us to put a down payment on the severe officer shortage the county faces today. Despite $124 million in new spending in the current budget, remarkably, not one extra police officer is slated to be hired despite the fact that we’re 342 officers shy of our own level-of-service-standards and saw crime increase by double digits in virtually every area last year.
This Board, specifically the Board majority, has already socked it to our taxpayers the last two years in some of the most difficult economic times imaginable. Our residents are exhausted, and their dollar is already buying them much less.
We don’t have to do this to them again.
To share your thoughts on the FY2023 Budget, you may email the entire Board directly at [email protected]; call the county’s main line at 703-792-6000 and ask to be transferred to your Supervisor; and attend and speak out at the Budget Adoption meeting this Tuesday at 7:30pm, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192.
In her May 27 Data Center-Market Viability Review forwarded to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, Christina Winn, Executive Director, Economic Development, asserted, “Of the approximately 8,700 acres of land within the Data Center Opportunity Zone, there is approximately 600-1,100 acres Economic Development would consider market viable,” and “Of those parcels, there are only two sites that would meet the 100-acres scenario of a data center requirement.”
While the report notes that the most common requests are for 30-40 acres, it appears the 100 acres used as the basis is built on only the most recent requests from data-center operators.
A July 15, 2021 follow-up letter to the County Planning Director, Winn scaled down the analysis. She wrote that there were now “90 to 830 developable greenfield acres,” remaining with the date center opportunity zone.
As a result of this analysis, in a 5-3 party-line vote with Democrats voting in favor, the Board of County Supervisors initiated the PW Digital Gateway Comprehensive Plan Amendment on July 20, 2021.
Multiple Supervisors who represent constituents who live in eastern Prince William County asked that the public cease “attacking staff” with questions about the amendment, as they are only complying with the instructions from the Board of County Supervisors. I feel it is the role and responsibility of county residents to question staff presentations when the data they report is clearly in error.
A conservative analysis of the County records indicates the following:
25 Existing Data Centers
32 Properties (16 projects) with approved sq. footage, under grading, under construction, etc.
34 Parcels inside the Overlay District zoned for Data Center Development (not all inclusive)
*These parcels have use codes 971 and 972 , vacant land and do not include those requiring redevelopment.
Takeaways:
- Claim: There are only 90 to 830 developable greenfield acres remaining with the data center opportunity zone.
- Truth: There are at minimum 1,645 developable greenfield acres in the data center opportunity zone, not counting the 1,216 acres already approved for Data Center Development.
- Claim: Data Centers require 100-acre parcels.
- Truth: Existing data centers in Prince William County average 21 acres, with the most significant project covering about 83 acres. Overall, data center projects currently in development average 76 acres per parcel.
- Claim: Parcels requiring assemblage were not considered to be ready for construction.
- Truth: At least 11 existing and under development Data Center projects are comprised of assemblages. Prince William has 6.2 million square feet of existing data center usage per county records.
Prince William County has approved 27 million square feet of additional data center usage, bringing the total existing and approved data center square footage to at least 33 million square feet.
Undeveloped parcels within the Data Center Opportunity Zone allow from 19 million to 37 million additional square feet of Data Center development, bringing the potential to between 52 million to 79 million square feet.
One project within the Data Center Opportunity Zone, the KH Data proffer amendment, would add 1.3 million more, and a project outside the zone, the Compton Project, would add 1 million, totaling 2.3 million square feet .and increasing the potential to as much as 75.5 million square feet.
By themselves, approval of the Prince William Digital Gateway, House Family Data Center CPA, and Independent Hill Data Centers — all under consideration — would add as much as 57 million square feet of potent data center usage, increasing the total potential to as much as 29 million square feet for these projects.
Does anybody believe that the demand exists for more than 33 million square feet of existing and under-development data centers space in the county? That’s more than the existing square footage in Prince William and Loudoun Counties combined?
Does anybody (other than staff and a majority of the Board of County Supervisors) believe that the demand exists for a total of 84 million and 129 million square feet that would result from the approval of additional proposals such as the PW Digital Gateway or House Family CPA?
If there are any true believers in the latter, don’t hesitate to contact me as I have several ocean-front parcels in Nevada to sell you.
Robert Weir lives in Haymarket and is elected to serve on the Town Council.
Please consider the following comments to the 95 Express Lanes/Opitz Boulevard Ramp Project
1. The new ramp should be constructed wide enough to support future bi-directional access at this location.
The I-95 corridor currently experiences significant congestion 7 days a week. The future population growth along the I-95 corridor will require the implementation of bi-directional express lanes at some point in the future. The express lanes are currently closed between 2-4pm on Saturdays which is a peak shopping period for Potomac Mills. The Optiz Boulevard Ramp should be constructed with a similar footprint to I-495 Express Lanes/Route 29 Ramp (See Below). It is shortsighted to build the ramp as currently proposed.
2. The new ramp should be constructed to not inhibit a future bi-direction I-95 Express Lanes Configuration
Route 1 is being held hostage as an existing or planned six lane car centric bailout corridor due to the unreliability of the adjacent I-95. A 24/7 reliable bi-directional I-95 Express Lanes configuration is the only solution that will allow Route 1 to be transformed and repurposed into a dense vibrant transit rich corridor. The Bi-directional I-95 Express Lane configuration also creates a long term asset that Virginia can leverage to support future transit expansion opportunities similar to how the Dulles Toll Road enabled the WMATA Silver Line’s construction. A study to construct and convert the corridor to a bi-directional configuration should begin immediately. This was recommended in the I-95 Improvement Plan.
3. The new ramp should be constructed in a manner to permit vehicles with greater than 2 axles/heavy trucks (ex. Class 8) to access the express lanes in the future.
I-95, I-495, I-395 Express Lane corridors should be upgraded to permit heavy trucks to use the lanes. I-66 and Maryland’s future I-495/I-270 express lanes will permit heavy trucks to use the lanes. This policy should be consistent across the region. Enabling heavy trucks to use the express lanes create more revenue opportunities for the concessarie and creates more opportunities for future transportation improvements in the corridor.
Mark Scheufler, Prince William County resident
