Planners recommend approving Wartime Museum plan

DALE CITY, Va. - Some people see the proposed American Wartime Museum as a chance to revitalize the oldest parts of Dale City.

Others see it as a project that would bring too much noise and traffic too close to their neighborhoods.

And when the proposal came before the Prince William County Planning Commission Wednesday night, most members said they had a hard time deciding how to vote.

After a public hearing and about two hours of discussion, the Planning Commission voted 5 to 1 to recommend approval of a map amendment that will allow the museum on a 67-acre site near the intersection of Dale Boulevard and Interstate 95.

Kim Hosen cast the dissenting vote, Edgar Bruce Holley was absent from the vote and Chairman Gary C. Friedman abstained.

The proposal will go to the Board of County Supervisors in October.

If approved, the museum would open on Veterans Day in 2014 and would offer an interactive look at American military history, museum officials said.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $50 million, which will be funded mostly through donations, museum officials said.

The county has contributed $721,565 to the museum over the past seven years, according to county documents.

Many of the 25 people who spoke at the public hearing supported the museum and talked about the improvements and tourists that would come to Dale City. They also spoke about the importance of remembering military history.

“It would be an asset for the community,” said Kathy Bentz. “Prince William County is the perfect home for this museum.”

Others, mostly residents of Ashdale, the neighborhood closest to the proposed site, spoke against it, citing concerns about traffic and noise from planned outdoor re-enactments.

“I’m not against the military.. My thing is, I don’t want the museum in my backyard,” said Maura Riggins. “I don’t know what traffic is going to be like when the museum is built.”

Others were concerned about preserving historical artifacts and a cemetery that may be found on the museum site.

Planning commission members said they also had their reservations about approving the map amendment, partly because of the way in which it came to them.

The Board of County Supervisors initiated the zoning map amendment for the museum. Planning commission members said that if the museum itself had applied, the commission might have been able to get more information and details about the museum’s plans before voting on it.

“I think that Prince William County needs tourist attractions. Anything that brings outside residents into the county has potential to be a positive thing,” said Friedman. “That being said, I cannot support the motion because we don’t really know what we’re looking at here.”

In the end, the planning commission recommended approving the map amendment. They also recommended that the Board of County Supervisors place some restrictions on the museum, including requiring the museum to provide an archaeological survey of the site, to provide a traffic impact analysis and to work with the police department to control traffic for special events and security.

The proposed map amendment will go to the Board of County Supervisors in October.