Explosive growth is giving us higher taxes, noise, traffic, and the loss of our City’s special character.  Because of its limited size, the City should seek gradual population growth at a rate where we can handle the challenges and related costs of increased density.  Our goal should be shared prosperity and a vibrant community through deliberate growth that puts people at the center of our community.  The city needs to plan our growth so that infrastructure needs do not overwhelm our budget. Our growth should complement the current residents’ quality of life, not degrade it.

Future growth in the City should strive to preserve, protect, and enhance our unique historic resources and the tourism they bring, including historic neighborhoods and sites that lack any architectural protections.  New development should harmonize with existing neighborhoods, not degrade them. The City should encourage new development that is in harmony with the scale of existing residential properties and should discourage “teardowns” of existing homes.

The City needs to broaden its tax base with new employment opportunities and commerce centers by rehabilitating and maintaining our existing, unique inventory.  Since 2020, property taxes are up 47% and water bills are up 55%.  I am dedicated to controlling spending and lowering our tax rate for families.  Burdensome real estate taxes should never force current residents to move out of the City.  Our City needs to establish and adhere to a long range Economic Strategic Plan.  We have a Comprehensive Plan for land use, but an Economic Strategic Plan will protect our long-term economic health.

Because the City is permanently prohibited from expanding its 10-square-mile boundaries into Spotsylvania or Stafford Counties, the future development of all vacant land within the City should be intentional, self-sufficient, and bring the broadest possible benefits for all residents.  The City should commit to protect and improve air and water quality and ensure “no net loss” of our natural resources of tree canopy, wildlife habitat, and the Rappahannock River watershed.

It is crucial that the market includes options that meet the various needs of our diverse community and produce housing choices for people of all income levels. Tax abatements, guaranteed loan programs, and tax credits are some of the ways to help teachers, nurses, and essential workers gain home ownership and enable them to build security. There are state and federal programs that are available to help with this process. Having a dedicated city program to help guide people to these resources would be a good first step.

The City Council should ensure that there are more opportunities for public awareness of all proposed projects and seek broader participation in the deliberations of City boards and commissions.  More town halls and other opportunities for the public to ask questions and get answers and be engaged in the process will benefit all of us.  An informed public is an engaged public.  We need to foster collaboration among elected officials, community leaders and other stakeholders to drive solutions for the growing community.