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Major Changes Required With Fauquier County Planning
If Fauquier County is to recover a major revenue stream anytime soon, there must be a formable change in the thought pattern of our county leaders. In the past, planning in the greater Warrenton Metropolitan/agricultural area primarily has limited the county’s growth to large “acres/acreage” parcels. Well, “real estate times” have changed and the faster we understand where “real estate” is going, the quicker our county, government services and funding, and its residents will benefit.
Recent history of real estate “purchasers” depicts specific “generations” such as Baby Boomers, the X generation, and others. “Mc-Mansions” are beautiful homes that many families would enjoy for years; their current owners purchased most at a different time in the “real estate sales pricing cycle” than today’s purchasers see. Foreclosures, short sales, distressed homes, job-losses, income reductions, and “consumer confidence” have entered today’s “market.” Economics 101…Supply and demand are major factors, with a direct correlation to pricing, in all markets whether we speak of commodities (homes and vacant land) or services. Now influx current, viable, and convincing data that indicates that the “generation” of those 35 – 50 years of age is “currently out of the market.” Trading up, no matter what the price range of “home,” is now not an option to a large portion of the consuming public.
So, where are we? Today, affordable housing is “not a dirty word.” Reasonably priced, within your means, and inexpensive are definitions that overflow into every range of home pricing, whether that be low or high-end homes. However, much like those home purchasers after World War II when they purchased 900 square foot homes, today’s buyer in looking more for efficiency, pricing, and its future resale value. “Lot costs” play a major factor in home pricing and the past and current actions of our local leaders does everything it can to prevent “low cost lots” in Fauquier. (“Remember, agriculture is a business.”)
Fauquier’s controlling residents and leadership has dictated for ions how our county would/has developed in the past. Lack of advanced planning for and the absolute prevention of the construction of water and sewer treatment plants, and its accompanying “piping and system,” will hold Fauquier back for the next 10 – 15 years. The neighboring counties of Culpeper, Prince William, and Warren county leadership and supervisors, with their past actions, have assured industrial, commercial, and residential potential, thereby assuring their counties coffers will “re-fill” faster and with a broader base…then solely relying on residential property owners to “carry the county budget.”
How many years have we asked the county to follow its own published plans for county infrastructure and development. Keeping their heads in the sand will not fund Fauquier’s budget.
Don Khoury
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