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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In an annual effort to conduct the Point in Time (PIT) survey and gauge the homeless population in Prince William County, the Department of Social Services’ Homeless Services Division led volunteers from various sectors in a 24-hour survey from January 24 to January 25.

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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The Prince William County Board of Supervisors convened for a two-day meeting on January 29 and 30, addressing key issues and sparking debates on proposed changes to public comment procedures.

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.

Sheetz, a well-known chain of gas stations and convenience stores, is seeking approval from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors to demolish and replace one of its early locations at 4021 Prince William Parkway in Dale City.

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The Prince William County Department of Transportation and the Prince William County Planning Office are gathering public input for a multimodal corridor study on Route 28 in the Yorkshire area.

This study, funded by an $80,000 grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Transportation Planning Board, explores cost-effective alternatives to enhance multimodal travel options over a two-mile stretch of Route 28.

A survey is available on the Yorkshire Multimodal Corridor Study page to facilitate public participation. According to the county government, the survey is crucial for the study’s development and will remain open until February 29, 2024. An open house is scheduled for February 15, 2024, at Yorkshire Elementary School, 7610 Old Centreville Road, Manassas, at 6:30 p.m.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors County 2040 Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the Board of County, designated Yorkshire as an activity center when it approved its most recent comprehensive land-use plan in 2022.

Meanwhile, the county government is also considering constructing a four-mile Route 28 bypass, an extension of Godwin Drive, from UVA Prince William Medical Center in Manassas to Route 28 in Fairfax County.

Last fall, the Board of County Supervisors sunk an additional $1 million for the bypass project’s redesign. Transportation Director Rick Canizales raised uncertainties about Fairfax County’s commitment to the $300 million project.

Potential challenges include demolishing six homes in Fairfax County and 70 homes in Prince William County. Canizales told Prince William’s Supervisors in October 2023 that concerns have been raised about political hesitation for the project during an election year in Fairfax County. The bypass, discussed for over a decade, remains scrutinized for its future viability.

In 2020, the Board of County Supervisors unanimously decided to widen a nearly four-mile stretch of Route 28 in Yorkshire, between Liberia Avenue in Manassas and the Fairfax County line instead of building the bypass. The project had been estimated to cost about $400 million.

However, one month later, the Board overturned its decision in a 5-3 decision along party lines, with Democrats voting in favor, prompting a return to the Godwin Drive extension (Route 28 bypass). Former Chair At-large Ann Wheeler pushed for reconsideration and expressed support for the Godwin Drive extension and a future bi-county parkway connecting Interstate 95 in Dumfries to Dulles Airport in Loudoun County.

However, an $89 million funding allocation for the Godwin Drive extension faced potential withdrawal by Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Chair Phyllis Randall, who also serves as Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large.

“I’m not going to allow this [funding] to be unappropriated for months and months,” Randall scolded during September 8, 2020, Board of County Superviosrs meeting, in which she and a delegation from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority lined up to speak the board members, most of whom were just nine months on the job. “I will put forth a motion to disappropriate the project altogether.”

The threat also prompted a shift in support from the Manassas City Council, ensuring endorsement of the Godwin Drive extension two months after it initially voted to pull support for the bypass. 

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To streamline public engagement and avoid lengthy meetings, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors is set to review its policy on public comment during a two-day meeting at the Old Hickory Golf Club on Monday, January 29, and Tuesday, January 30.

Supervisor Victor Angry spearheads the proposed changes, aiming to reduce individual public comment time from three to two minutes per person. His proposal also seeks to cap the total time allocated for public comments at three hours, encompassing in-person and comments made via online video.

Today, the board allows time for residents’ comments at each meeting and holds public hearings as required by law.

The impetus for these modifications follows a marathon meeting on December 12 and 13, 2023, which lasted nearly 28 hours. The session, dominated by discussions surrounding the PW Digital Gateway data center development adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park, drew hundreds of participants. The controversial 990-acre project was ultimately approved in a party-line vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed.

A similar extended meeting occurred in November 2022, which lasted more than 20 hours and drew residents to speak about a comprehensive land-use plan amendment needed to clear the way for the construction of server farms near historic Civil War battlefields.

The upcoming two-day meeting at Old Hickory is open to the public and commences each day at 9 a.m. While the county has posted the meeting agenda, details for the second day remain sparse. A county spokeswoman has stated that efforts are underway to add more items to the agenda, providing residents with a clearer understanding of the topics to be discussed.

This retreat marks the first for the newly seated Board of County Supervisors, now under the leadership of Democrat Deshundra Jefferson. Jefferson’s election resulted in the removal of Democrat incumbent At-large Chair Ann Wheeler.

The current public comment policy allocates time at the beginning of each afternoon and evening session of regular meetings, allowing public members to address non-calendar items with a three-minute limit per speaker. The Chair enforces decorum, prohibits obscenity, and ensures sign-up in person. Prince William County residents receive priority during the comment period, and virtual comments are accepted through the official County website, aligning with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

The Prince William County School Board recently approved this updated version in December 2023, influenced by public input and board member remarks. This raises the number of citizen comment slots from 20 to 30. If 20 or fewer people sign up to speak, each speaker will still be allotted three minutes, consistent with the existing policy.

Many residents criticized the school board for allowing members of the Prince William Education Association (PWEA), the county’s teachers union, to monopolize the speaker slots, as many reserved them to urge the school board to pass a collective bargaining agreement.

 

Delegate Ian Lovejoy (R-22, Bristow) updated his legislative priorities at the end of the first week of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly.

Lovejoy emphasized his focus on two key issues: limiting the siting of data centers near certain areas and addressing potential conflicts of interest among local elected officials involved in land use proceedings.

Siting of Data Centers in Residential Areas:

Lovejoy introduced an amendment to the Code of Virginia, specifically adding a new section to address the siting of data centers. According to the proposed amendment:

– Any local government land use application required to build a data center must be approved only for areas one-quarter mile or more from federal, state, or local parks, schools, and property zoned or used for residential purposes.

The amendment came after the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in  2023 approved a data center complex on 990 acres next to Manassas Battlefield National Park and another next to a densely populated neighborhood at Linton Hall and Devlin roads in Bristow.

Disclosures in Land Use Proceedings:

Lovejoy also proposed amendments focusing on disclosures in land use proceedings.

– Members of the board of supervisors, planning commission, and board of zoning appeals involved in land use proceedings must fully disclose any business or financial relationships with the applicant or title owner of the land in question.

– A disclosure includes relationships within the 12 months before the hearing, and any member with a business or financial interest or a specific relationship shall be ineligible to vote or participate in such cases.

– Penalties, as a Class 1 misdemeanor, are outlined for individuals knowingly and willfully violating these disclosure provisions.is the most severe class of misdemeanor offenses and may include up to 12 months in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.

The proposed amendments aim to enhance transparency in land use proceedings by requiring elected officials to disclose relevant relationships, thereby minimizing potential conflicts of interest.

Lovejoy is serving his first term as a House of Delegates member. He previously served on the Manassas City Council.

The 2024 General Assembly session ends on March 10, 2024.

In response to the recent surge in crime rates in Prince William County, Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin is set to host a Zoom town hall meeting on Monday, January 22, at 7 p.m. The town hall aims to address community concerns and provide insights into the county’s current public safety situation.

The decision to hold this annual town hall comes on the heels of a shooting in Woodbridge, resulting in the first homicide victim in Prince William County for the year 2024. A woman lost her life after being shot and taken to a local hospital.

Franklin will be joined by Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham and Captain Dave Smith as guest speakers for the event.

The county’s annual 2023 crime report underscored concerning trends in violent crime, with a staggering 70% increase from 2019 to 2022. This category encompasses offenses such as murder, manslaughter, rape, sodomy, and robbery.

The report showed the overall crime rate had surged by 23% in the past year alone, translating to 38 reported crimes per 1,000 county residents, up from 32 in 2021. Most of the increased crime has been reported along the Route 1 corridor in Woodbridge.

Prince William County saw 22 homicides in 2023, two more than in 2022.

The town hall will be conducted virtually. Here’s the Zoom event link, and for those who prefer to watch without active participation, the live stream will be available on YouTube at YouTube.com/@WoodbridgeBOCS.

Franklin, a Democrat, has entered the race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. This move follows the announcement by incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger that she will not seek re-election but instead run for Virginia’s governorship in 2025.

Derrick Anderson, a U.S. Army Green Beret from Spotsylvania, is vying for the Republican nomination after an unsuccessful attempt in the 2022 GOP Primary Election.

Franklin recently secured re-election to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and has been part of a progressive majority that has brought significant changes to the county government.

Notable decisions include hiring Christopher Shorter as one of the highest-paid county executives in the Washington, D.C., region and advocating for increased police salaries. Franklin also played a role in establishing a racial and social justice commission while voting to abolish a federal partnership on immigration enforcement.

Despite active community engagement, Franklin has faced criticism from restaurant owners in her district, particularly regarding a contentious meals tax. Former Chair At-large Ann Wheeler, who faced criticism alongside Franklin, lost the 2023 Primary Election to Democrat Deshundra Jefferson, now the At-large Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

Franklin’s political background includes eight years as a congressional aide and subsequent work as the vice president of a PR firm starting in 2020. The 7th District, covering eastern Prince William County, leans towards Democrats and includes Stafford, Spotsylvania counties, and Fredericksburg.

On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to delay the vote on trailer – or modular – classrooms until the February 6 meeting following a request from the county School Board.

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