Tharpe Says Bealeton Plan Would bring revenue, jobs

Don Tharpe took his cue for White Marsh, a traditional neighborhood design proposal at Bealeton, 17 years ago from a Lee District supervisor.

Tharpe wanted to subdivide a portion of his 232-acre farm at U.S. 17 and Route 28.

David C. Mangum, then a first-term supervisor, suggested he model the project after Kentlands, the acclaimed new town in Gaithersburg, Md.

The more Tharpe learned about Kentlands, the more he liked the idea of a pedestrian-friendly community that would allow residents to walk to shops, restaurants, school, parks and work.

He described Mangum, who died in 2001, as a visionary.

Tharpe's plan for the 97-acre White Marsh site calls for 312 dwellings, 278,500 square feet of commercial space, a main street, a square, parks, trails, organic farm, a church site, swim club and tennis club.

It also includes a site for a small hotel.

These and other uses would be organized around a grid street pattern that would give priority to pedestrians rather than vehicles.

This plan differs very little from the plan submitted to Dave Mangum in 1993, Tharpe said.

Tharpe submitted the White Marsh plan to the Fauquier County Department of Community Development on Friday.

The site comprises a 60-acre parcel, which would include 95 single-family homes, and a 37-acre parcel, which would include 217 dwellings and the commercial space.

Existing zoning allows for up to 240 homes on the 60-acre parcel.

For the full story, read the June 3 Fauquier Times-Democrat