Over the past few years, the Potomac District has experienced unprecedented levels of growth, yet challenges remain. Yesterday, at the Locust Shade Ampitheatre in Triangle, Supervisor Andrea Bailey held a town hall to give a state of the district address. During the event, there were several speakers on hand to provide updates on topics from public safety, to transportation, and economic development. Afterwards, Bailey took the time to answer questions from those in attendance, including the oft-debated PW Digital Gateway data center plan, in which her fellow Democrats on the Board of County Supervisors voted to request a water study of the Occoquan watershed on Tuesday.

After the town hall, Bailey spoke with the PW Perspective on its success, how she’s addressing challenges, and what she would like to see happen going forward in the district.

“I was exceedingly excited for the 94 residents who showed up at the meeting,” said Bailey. “It showed their concern, commitment and focus on the growth of the district. It keeps my hand on the pulse of the community, to ascertain their needs.”

She appreciated the efforts of her staff and the Locust Shade Park Rangers in putting together the logistics for the town hall. “They were so generous in helping us to arrange activities at the park and worked diligently in making sure that the town hall was a success. We wanted to make sure that everyone was given the nourishment and a safe space for everyone to feel comfortable, and they did.”

Given the hot temperatures that are typical during this time of year, those efforts were certainly welcome, and Bailey discussed the necessity of having a change from the usual town hall setup. “By not having a podium,” she said, “it opened up an environment for more dialogue and receptiveness. My purpose was for the community to feel more connected to those who are serving them and listening to their concerns.”

Speaking of concerns, there were many that the attendees asked, and one of them were the rising taxes in Prince William County, which has grown annually for the past 12 years. Bailey responded by stating that while she understands their frustrations, she is resolved to developing a solution. “I am planning on creating a commercial tax base task force by the end of the year,” she said. “Prince William County has never had one before, and we need a better grasp of ideas that will produce revenue from different avenues. I invite the community to be a part of the task force because we need their voices and input in order to see this through. We shouldn’t always be going through the citizen’s pockets first, and I think by looking more into the commercial tax base, we can create a path for not only our homeowners, but also for small businesses.”

One of the successes under Bailey’s administration has been the investment in small businesses, including the announcement of the Route 1 Refresh Grant, which will help support businesses along the Route 1 corridor, including reimbursement for website optimization, and to help businesses update their addresses to the new Richmond Highway. “This was one of the first things we had to do when I first joined the Board of Supervisors,” she said. “Our communication with small businesses needed to be enhanced, and we are making strides in that direction.” Bailey also encouraged small businesses to attend her workshops and meet with the Economic Development team to obtain resources.

Bailey was very proud of the growth within the Potomac Shores subdivision, which she refers to as the “golden nugget,” when it comes to its development. “All of our subdivisions are ‘diamonds in the rough,’ and what makes each of them special is that they bring a unique diversity in our community,” she said. “We are especially proud of the pace upon which Potomac Shores has grown, and we are looking forward to the VRE Train Station coming, which will be a hub for more small businesses and more complexes to settle in the area.”

Another announcement that she made yesterday was the Potomac District 10, which will give county employees a 10 percent discount on goods and services. “I value our employees in Prince William County, and we want to show our appreciation by giving back to them,” she said. “It is also an opportunity to retain these excellent employees and show that we care for them.” The plan is for the program to begin later this year.

During the town hall, another topic that was on the minds of the community was gun safety, and Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham provided updates on what the PWCPD is doing to keep the streets safe, including answering questions on the shooting in May which left a nine-year-old girl injured in a shooting in the district. So, what additional measures are in place?

“We are asking HOA’s to build a public safety board to strengthen their respective communities as a patrol arm,” said Bailey. “Growing up in a family of police, I understand the changing needs of a community, and with Prince William County being the 10th most diverse county in the nation, our citizens need to have a heightened awareness of the changing needs within the district.”

“Also, we are asking the community to ensure that they keep their cars and weapons secured. A lot of weapons are being used illegally not because they’re being purchased, but they’re stolen out of vehicles. It is a privilege to own a gun, and we need to protect that privilege.”

Starting in late September, Bailey will be working with the Virginia Department of Transporation on a public safety campaign to encourage drivers to drive more carefully. “We know that due to the last two years, there has been a rise in anxiety levels, and it’s resulted in a lot of accidents, particularly on Cardinal Drive and Route 234,” she said. “These campaigns will be a way to ask drivers to be considerate of others when they’re on the roads.”

What would she like to see take place going forward within the district? “While we have a great pace of building the community, we do need to increase a greater understanding of affordable housing,” she said. “Our district is landlocked, so we need to increase our entertainment and recreation venues. I worked on bringing a pickleball court at the Ferlazzo Building, and a Ninja Warrior training area at Locust Shade. However, I want to create a disc golf course at Forest Green, as well as outdoor screening for movies and even a roller-skating rink in the area. Let’s create more ideas to bring fun and revenue to the community.”

Finally, she also wants to see more focus on the public’s health, as the community is still recovering from the pandemic. “I want to see our health improve as well, both physically and mentally,” she said. “We have to work together to diminish anxiety and improve mental health resources. As we strengthen the health of our community, we will continue to grow.”