49 Residents Join Together to Purchase Land
When Jim George and his wife, Juliette moved into Westminster at Lake Ridge (WLR) in 2020, they were impressed by the entry with the main signage posted in front of serene wooded vacant land.
“We learned from neighbors that there was a hearing in Prince William County dealing with the zoning of that land,” Jim said. “The church located across the street from our entry owned the land and they were about to sell it to a developer to build multi-unit apartments, but the land was zoned agricultural rather than residential.”
As Finance Committee Chair, Jim was informed of the lack of progress that was being made by the builder, and when the developer stopped trying to buy the land, WLR leadership and the ad hoc land committee had the idea for WLR residents to step in to help finance the purchase.
“The land became available and the church said, ‘Okay, if you guys don’t want someone else to come in there we’ll let you buy it’ and I thought it was the perfect chance for future growth,” Jim said.
In total, 49 residents donated to the campaign to help purchase the land for WLR’s future.
WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO HELP WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND?
I think most people had the same idea. The topology of the land is such that there could be a water problem if not properly managed. If we purchased that land, that’s an opportunity to design the land that ensures that there will not be a future runoff issue. As residents we saw the purchase of the
land as a way to protect ourselves and as a way to promote and ensure future growth here.
HOW DID THIS GROUP OF RESIDENTS FORM?
It was informal at first. There was a couple right up the street from us in our little quad who took the lead in fighting the zoning that the developer wanted to have changed. We all had the same idea and focus for space, so it was natural that we came together for the land. Our first objective was to protect the community and second, what do we do with it?
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO SEE WITH THE GROWTH OF WESTMINSTER AT LAKE RIDGE?
I’m most excited to see the structure, the landscaping, and the water management because it is on a hill and there needs to be some special design around that. I’m looking forward to seeing the final rendering of that. It’s going to be incredible to see it all come together. It’s going to be the entire community and that requires movement and it’s going to take some time to do the building. But just to even see the final renderings…I’m excited about that. It makes you feel good. Participating in progress in your community and making it a better place is a good feeling.