Sup. Lawson’s move to delay public meetings over COVID concerns voted down

A proposal to postpone Prince William Planning Office public meetings on Jan. 20 & Jan. 27 about possible expansion of the PW data center overlay district and the PW Digital Gateway fell to defeat at PW Board of County Supervisors Jan. 18.

Brentsville Supervisor Jeanine Lawson accused Chair Wheeler and Supervisors Angry, Bailey and Franklin of wanting “to railroad the destruction of the Rural Crescent.”

Some residents wishing to participate in these land use meetings have expressed concerns about holding a public meeting during a surge of the Omicron variant.

Ten groups wrote in a joint letter: National Parks Conservation Association,
 Prince William Conservation Alliance, 
Great Falls Group of Sierra Club, Virginia 
Manassas Battlefield Trust
, Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Assoc., Piedmont Environmental Council
, Coalition for Smarter Growth
, American Battlefield Trust and Virginia Native Plant
 Coalition to Protect America’s National Park, saying, “County residents should not feel like they must choose between contracting COVID or engaging in the public process on an issue with direct and long-lasting impacts. Furthermore, holding a public meeting at a time when so many people cannot participate undermines the democratic process and public confidence.”