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Frank Principi Helps Developer Lobbyists
By Greg L | 12 November 2008 | Prince William County | 19 Comments
Have the developers in Prince William County found a new opportunity to influence elected officials in local Democrats? It sure looks that way, given this email that recently went out to residents in the 52st District:
From Thursday, November 13, through Saturday, November 15, Supervisor Principi is hosting a forum to discuss plans and vision for the future of the North Woodbridge area.
Experts, developers, and citizens will hold joint forums to discuss transportation, economic development, housing, development/design, and historic preservation.
Please visit the website for more information: www.NewWoodbridge.org or call (703) 792-4646.
-Paul
Delegate Paul F. Nichols
51st District
House of Delegates
12660 Lake Ridge Dr
Woodbridge, VA 22192
(703)-492-4205
DelPNichols@house.state.va.us
(Emphasis added)
It’s bad enough that Democrats are appointing developer interests to land use planning bodies in the county when they may have a financial interest in the outcome of those plans, but for Frank Principi to be providing developers with a venue to lobby citizens for new density residential development projects? You got to be kidding.
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19 Comments
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Greg, you are really off base on this one, Mike May and Corey Stewart are doing the same thing this weekend. The same stakeholder types will be at these open forums.
I’m just sure that with a THREE DAY conference starting on a Friday there’s going to be a LOT of community involvement! Regular folks taking off Friday and spending the entire weekend at a “charette” to talk about development in Woodbridge is ridiculous. This is nothing more than a forum for those who have a financial interest in additional development to buttonhole elected officials and county staff for three days. A fantastic opportunity to pressure public servants to approve overbuilding in exchange for campaign contributions. How outrageous.
How surprising that the legislative aid to “I support abortion on demand” Paul Nichols is trying to confuse folks by saying that Corey Stewart has suddenly changed his stripes and is inviting developers to lobby him. This must be hitting darned close to home to be offering such drivel. I notice Nichols was pretty darned upfront about developers being invited to this fiasco. I wonder where his campaign money is coming from.
Just exactly who do you think will redevelop the Rt 1 corridor?
Not Frank, two things: 1) I am not Nichol’s legislative aide; 2) What does Nichols position on abortion have to do with the redevelopment of the Rt 1 corridor?
Harry must have been “fired”; small wonder…:)
Well is anyone surprised about Principi?? It’s amazing how we are blessed with those who like to spend our tax dollar on such trivial junk. Principi says it going to cost $40,000 for this Charrett. Why don’t the Developers pay for it??Lets be up front about it,instead of using taxpayer money.
I wrote Principi and all Board Members to cut this out,especially due to the slow down of the economy. Plus everyone needs to cut back. Barg always spent money on such projects and we are no further ahead.
Paul Nichols seems like a very nice person and has been more conservative than many of our so called Repb. He is concerned about Woodbridge and he needs to be given a chance.
I heard May was doing a Charrett, Stewart I had not heard. But all of them need to give that money back to the County Now.
This County has spent thousands of dollars on plans and meetings to develope Rt. One and all we get is alot more Apartments and Cars to clog our streets.
I hope someone publishes the names of those who do attend.
Again we have the Developers leading up what they want and THE TAXPAYER PAYING FOR IT.
How great we are?????
Sorry, off topic, but did anyone else notice this irony (or prophecy)? Let’s get that dog (right side of this page) as a welcome-wagon gift for the obama family. http://www.metafilter.com/76295/Illinois-Lottery-Draws-666-on-Heels-of-Obama-Victory
As for Suervisor Principi, He must not have Woodbridge in his thoughts. Grandville Smith was on the Land Use Committee representing Woodbridge; Appointed by Barg;Principi refused to remove him. Sup. Principi appointed Pandak , who does not live in Woodbridge, to the Stratgic plan and The Park Authority appointee does not reside in Woodbridge. How many more has he appointed that does not reside in Woodbridge?? WHO IS LOOKING AFTER WOODBRIDGE?????NOT HIM?????
No more high density PLEASE!!!!!
The developers will come and play nicey-nice with the staff, laughing and joking like they are old buddies. The few citizens who are there will be reps from groups like LOCCA Pelt. The citizens there will talk about the need for parks, etc. The developers will schmooze with them, trying to butter them up for support and throw out plans that show condo community drawings that always coincidentally look like they are in the middle of a forest and never accurately reflect what the end result will look like. Then the developers will go on and on about how they want to meet the needs for parks, schools, etc and create new urban communities that will revitalize the corridor.
The citizens will think they are getting what they want and be fooled by the drawings. Principi will say how great it is that we can all work together. The developers will all come to Principi’s next fundraiser and contribute generously. And the taxpayers will pay the bill.
You’re right, the developers should pay for this since it is a joke!
Too bad no one will show up and ask the developers to pay for 100% of the infrastructure costs (roads, schools, libraries) that this new devlopment will cause taxpayers to have to pay. See how anxious they are to redevelop when they are the ones paying for the results.
You got that right,Sandy. Just who represents Woodbridge? Principi represents Barg and she pulls the strings.This is Bargs donation to the Developers, delivering Principi as their mouth piece.
Can you see the new Civic Assoc.being tied up with Principi and Developers?
He says it’s to be non-partision, I doubt it.?
Harry, not sure where you got info, but May is having a Charrett not Corey Stewart. I do think that none of them should spend $40,000 for this .
We have spent thousands of dollars for planning and the latest one was the Potomac Communities.??? Why do we need more???
Potomac Communities has given us more TH, Single Family and APARTMENTS, all up and down RT.One. And all those cars.Wow and the OLD RT.ONE STILL LOOKS THE SAME. Looks like junk and the hang out at 7-11 is still a disgrace to all of us.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS!
The County has developed a plan for the area called Potomac Communities.
This was done years ago, has a specific planner assigned to it and the County has sunk a bunch of money into developing and supporting this plan. Potomac Communities has brought many high intensity developments along Rt. 1. and beyond. More of the developments in Woodbridge were involving vacant properties rather than redevelopment of old deteriorated properties.
One shinning start in the midst of the crap is Featherstone Shopping Center. They have really done a nice job modernizing there center as well as adding beautiful landscaping along what was nothing more than a concrete and asphalt jungle…..This had NOTHING to do with Principi.
What is interesting along the Rt1 Corridor is that Principi REFUSES to allow the county in to clean up the existing junk properties. Nothing has changed in this area yet he wants to spend $40,000 of taxpayer’s money to get a plan together for a very small section.
I really, really hope it makes a difference, I doubt it and I won’t hold my breath.
Above all Principi needs to insist the County do its job and get the existing business in line and not make exceptions.
Got on the phone and confirmed at Stewarts office that he is not having a Charrett. He would have to do all of PW since he is the Chair for the entire County.
Since he is a Lake Ridge resident he may be there at Mays.
This meeting is Thursday,Friday and Saturday. I wonder how many people will take off from work on Thurs. and Fri? Not the run of the mill resident. They can’t afford to miss work.
Why couldn’t Principi do what May is doing? Have it one day on a Saturday.
Principi has appointed many people to committees for Woodbridge District but they don’t live in Woodbridge. How great this is that we have no reps. on some committees.
Sounds like Barg when she appointed McQuigg as Woodbridge Rep. and her reply was,well he spends most of his time at the fire station,so I guess you could say he lives in Woodbridge. Boy she really didn’t give us much credit.
I can tell Principi that he shouldn’t try to fool us as we have really gotten wise the last 20 years and most of us will not let him rule like this. His time is coming.
Oh, I forgot. The agenda calls for a Bus Tour of Woodbridge. This is apparently so Principi can learn where his District is and what the areas are called. Since he doesn’t know Mar. Village from Mar. Hills. He’s got a lot to learn. The people knows where we are and knows the areas.So why are we wasting a half day sightseeing?
Let’s change the name of Woodbridge to BARGVILLE!
I have a better idea- in 2011 let’s change it from Woodbridge/Hoodbridge/Bargville to ROYSETOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My god! This is outrageous! Inviting developers to a meeting about development??? But they have a financial stake in it!!!
Next you’ll be telling me they invite Big Oil to Congressional hearings on Alaskan oil drilling, defense contractors to discussions on which planes to build, bank CEOs to meetings discussing bank bailouts, HMO executives to health care hearings, and Fannie Mae officials to hearings on the mortgage industry. It’s crazy, I tells you, CRAZY!!!!
I understand it was the Developers who paid the $40000 to have this charrett. Wow,sure didn’t want our tax money to pay for it but if the Developers pay for it, then we know for sure who it will benefit. Barg here we go again.To bad the public was not fully informed that Principi is working for Barg not the citizens who pay his salary.