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Board initiates comp‑plan study for Klein property after public comment urging protection of parkland
Summary
The board authorized initiation of a comprehensive‑plan amendment to change about 25 acres near the Liberia activity center from parks and open space to a lower‑density residential designation for an applicant’s rezoning; planning staff recommended an expanded study area and noted parks staff oppose removing parkland.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Oct. 7 voted to initiate a comprehensive‑plan amendment (CPA) study for a roughly 25‑acre parcel tied to the Klein project, a proposal that would change the property’s long‑range designation from parks and open space to residential neighborhood (RN‑2).
Planning staff presented a high‑level review and recommended initiation with an expanded study area to allow a broader analysis of how the proposed land‑use change would fit within the Liberia Activity Center. "Staff recommends initiating the CPA 2025‑0005 with an expanded study area, supporting county goals of sustainable growth, housing diversity, and also long term land use compatibility of the site with the surrounding environment," county staff said during the presentation.
Several members of the public had earlier urged the board to retain the parcel as parkland. Martin Jeter, a resident who spoke during public comment, told the board the county’s parks department recommends against removing the parkland, noting the Mid‑County area has among the least park acreage per resident in the county and that nearby green shading on planning maps represents privately owned land, not parkland available to the public. "Your parks department is recommending against removing this parkland because the... Mid‑county area... has the least amount of parkland of any district in the county," Jeter said.
Staff analysis and next steps Planning staff said the request includes a concurrent rezoning application seeking Planned Mixed Residential (PMR) zoning; a CPA initiation does not approve a rezoning. Staff highlighted that the applicant’s proposal for age‑restricted housing could reduce anticipated traffic compared with higher‑density mixed‑use alternatives, but also acknowledged tradeoffs in removing parks and open space designations. The staff recommendation was to expand the study boundary to include adjacent mixed‑use (MU‑3) parcels for context and to analyze compatibility.
The board’s initiation authorizes staff to study the proposed change, conduct community outreach and return with a full CPA analysis and a recommendation. If staff later recommends approval, the item would return to the board for formal hearings and a potential vote on the map amendment and any associated rezoning.
Ending Supervisors said additional community outreach and detailed traffic, parks and environmental analyses will be required before any final plan or zoning actions. The initiation guarantees further study but does not change the site’s current designation or authorize development.
