Approval of the CUP is a crucial step for the restaurant that sells only chicken tenders, to move forward with construction. Supervisors will discuss the case at their public meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, inside the county government center at 1300 Courthouse Road.
The development would sit near the intersection of Garrisonville Road (Route 610) and Travis Lane, across from a Dunkin Donuts. Plans include a single-story, 3,077-square-foot building with a drive-through. Access to the site will be facilitated through a new entrance along internal shared access roads, with no direct access to Route 610. The property, spanning 1.16 acres, is part of the larger 44-acre Garrison at Stafford development.
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Updated 7:30 a.m. Feb. 2, 2024 — Residents and officials in Prince William County are grappling with HVAC issues at the recently constructed $17 million Animal Shelter, which opened its doors a year and a half ago in November 2022.
An anonymous complaint prompted action from the Police Department, which raised concerns about unacceptable temperatures and humidity levels in various areas of the Animal Services Center.
The complaint, posted in the Eastern Prince William Chatter Facebook Group, states “The heating, cooling and ventilation system in the new animal shelter has not functioned properly since construction. The animals and staff have been suffering unnecessarily for over a year now. The leaders of the county’s facility services have been hiding this from the community because they don’t want to expose themselves to the Board of County Supervisors.”
The Facilities and Fleet Management (FFM) initiated an investigation, identifying problems with the Energy Recovery Unit (ERU) and facility humidifiers, County Executive Christopher Shorter explained to county supervisors in an email.
FFM took steps to return the ERU to service and activate the facility humidifiers. Adjustments to the Building Automation System (BAS) now allow remote temperature control. Despite these efforts, the county called on three contractors on January 19 to assess the BAS and propose necessary adjustments.
There is no estimated repair cost, and the timeline for resolving the issues remains uncertain. Shorter indicated his email to supervisors alterting supervisors to the HVAC issues was prompted by the social media post.
The $17 million animal shelter was intended to address the needs of the growing county, replacing the previous 45-year-old facility that opened in 1975. The project faced challenges, including redesigns and cost overruns, ultimately taking more than five years to complete. In 2017, the Board of County Supervisors prioritized the construction of the new facility.
None responded when we contacted all Prince William Board of County Supervisors members for a comment on his story.
The county’s Animal Services Center sits at 14807 Bristow Road near Manassas.
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Loveless commended the proactive response from the landlord, Rick Whealen, and the dedication of officers like Lt Plourde, stating, "Lt. Plourde constantly walks the beat and always makes a point to pop into the store to ensure all is well. His 'feet on the street' approach is a crucial part of our community's safety."
Loveless described the escalating issues at the Sudley Road shopping center in early to mid-2023: "Some regular panhandlers made this their shopping center of choice and worked the patrons as they parked."
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Bloom plays Bob Gaudio, who Gaudio wrote or co-wrote and produced the majority of The Four Seasons' music, including hits like "Sherry" and "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)." Cooper plays Nick Massi, the band's bass singer, songwriter, and bass guitarist.
Both cast members talked about the challenges of singing the iconic Four Seasons songs, the intricate harmonies, and the unique voices each cast member brings to the performance.
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Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen adds a new niche to downtown Fredericksburg – a bourbon bar for those who want a good cocktail at the day’s end. The eatery pays tribute to the area's history with over 180 bourbons and whiskeys on the wall, signature cocktails, and a locally sourced menu.
Launched in 2020, Rebellion arrived in Fredericksburg with the help of Joel Griffin and David Stallard. Griffin serves as President, and Stallard is Vice President of Operations.
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The survey covered encampments throughout the county, including the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
This year, a unique approach was taken to encourage participation in the survey. Homeless individuals who completed the survey were given gift cards as an incentive. The donated gift cards totaled $2,740, said Prince William County spokeswoman Nikki Brown.
“Some gift cards were provided in different denominations. However, any unsheltered person who completes a survey during the PIT count receives a gift card,” said Brown.
Serving Our Neighbors, PWC Community Foundation, Beta Delta Phi Sorority, Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries, and Cooperative Council of Ministries provided gift cards. Several food trucks participated, including the C.H.O.W. Wagon, Northern Virginia Food Rescue, Mike McGuire – The Bus & Grill.
The PIT survey, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, determines the number of homeless individuals in the area and influences the amount of federal funding allocated to the community. The survey results, expected to be analyzed by the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments in January and February, will be released in May.
“This annual initiative not only serves to understand and address homelessness but also highlights the collaborative efforts of the community in supporting this important cause,” remarked Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Shelter Human Services Manager Priscilla Castillo-Woyak, a team leader for this year’s count, in a county-issued press release.”I already work with the population on the family side of things. I love this work. I think we get to know the community better. For me, it’s just important to be here for support.”
Last year’s PIT reveals a notable spike in homelessness in Prince William County, with a three-year high and a 35% increase since the previous year, the Prince William Times reports. The number of homeless people not living in a shelter or hotel was 73, compared to 102 in 2020. However, the number of unsheltered residents doubled since 2022, when it was just 27.
Factors such as the economic fallout from the pandemic, the expiration of COVID-19 housing and income supports, and increased construction activity are believed to contribute to this trend.
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Leading the discussions was newly elected Democrat Deshundra Jefferson, the At-large Supervisor. Jefferson emphasized the need for unity in the face of divisive issues. Jefferson acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed optimism about the Board’s direction.
“If we could just start having conversations with one another and get to a better place with creating norms, with creating different behaviors, that’s a win,” said Jefferson. “This is not going to be an easy four years. I hope that. I feel like we’re off to a good start, and I hope it can continue.”
While little business was conducted on Monday, board members spent the day in team-building sessions, encouraged by Prince William County Executive Christopher Shorter. Despite a similar team-building workshop in 2020, the board’s previous term was rife with disagreement and partisanship, with multiple pressing decisions — from data centers and immigration policies at the county jail to an asphalt plant— resulting in party-line votes.
The current board took its seats on January 1, 2024.
One contentious topic on Monday’s agenda was the proposal to limit citizen comment time. Supervisor Victor Angry proposed reducing individual public comment time from three to two minutes and capping total comment time at three hours. This sparked a heated debate among the supervisors, leading to a decision to table any changes pending a closed-door session with police.
Jefferson advocated for allowing speakers to return to the podium near the supervisors during citizen times, a departure from the current setup where speakers address the Board from a microphone at the back of the chambers.
Jefferson and Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir said changing the location of the speakers could have a calming effect on them. The policy is a pandemic-era holdout left over from 2020, the same year supervisors lost control of a meeting in which Black Lives Matter supporters called for abolishing the county police department.
The debate over public comment changes revealed a split among the supervisors. Angry, Potomac Supervisor Andrea Bailey, and Occoquan Supervisor Kenny Boddye supported the limitations. Conversely, Coles Supervisor Yesli Vega and Weir opposed the changes. Woodbridge Supervisor Margaret Franklin, Brenstville Supervisor Tom Gordy, and Jefferson have yet to express their stance.
Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye states that he, too, has not decided to support limiting public comment and adds supervisors aren’t at their best when meetings run until 3 a.m. or later. “I want every resident to have a direct line to their supervisors, yet I understand the frustration of community members who find themselves waiting in Board chambers for hours to hear about – or speak to – specific agenda items,” Boddye states in an email received after this story first published.
In the original story, we incorrectly reported Boddye supported limiting comment time.
The push for modifications in public comment procedures follows a marathon meeting in December 2023, lasting nearly 28 hours. At that meeting, the controversial PW Digital Gateway data center development was approved in a party-line vote. The decision is currently facing legal challenges.
The training is in addition to training on Robert’s Rules of Procedure, the Freedom of Information Act, and other vital items incoming supervisors were afforded in December.
Community Transparency Advocate Alan Gloss contributed to this report.
The Rose, the first gaming resort in Northern Virginia, will open later than anticipated.
Colonial Downs, the firm that operates Rosie's Gaming Emporium in Dumfries, will manage the gaming, hotel, and conference center when it opens in Dumfries sometime in the middle of 2024. The firm had originally planned to open the center at the end of 2023.
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New information published by Prince William County Public Schools shows the Prince William Education Association is pushing for a 17% pay raise for teachers at $364 million, or about a third of the school division's existing salary budget.
The pay raise would cost the division more than it pays for the schools' transportation program, central office, facilities management, and capital reserves combined.
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A proposed Methadone clinic in Stafford County has residents concerned about a possible uptick in crime.
Residents who live near the site of the proposed clinic, to be located in the Woodlawn Shopping Center on Deacon Road (anchored by a Weiss Market), say they want those who are addicted to heroin to get the help they need, just not at this location near a children's daycare facility.
