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Northern Virginia Sales Tax Referendum The Piedmont Environmental Council has joined 9 other smart growth, conservation and bicycling organizations concerned about the quality of life in Northern Virginia. Vested interests would like us to believe the sales tax referendum will solve our transportation woes. We believe otherwise. Get the latest news, in-depth information, and find out how you can help at www.NoSprawlTax.org . Updated 10/20/02 Massive Gainesville Development Plan Approved While Northern Virginia residents are debating whether to vote themselves a tax hike to pay for transportation projects, Prince William County has just approved a massive new development plan for Gainesville, which is dependent on the widening of I-66. This is a prime example of how much of the sales tax funds will be used: not to decrease congestion, but to turn speculative development schemes into reality. When built, these developments will simply add to highway crowding by consuming new road capacity. Why should taxpayers foot the bill to subsidize poor land use decisions by local governments and developer schemes? "Last week, Prince William County supervisors approved enough potential development around an already jammed interchange at Interstate 66 and Route 29 west of Manassas to accommodate more than three Potomac Mills malls, commercial space for more than five Ronald Reagan buildings and about 5,000 homes."    - Washington Post, August 11, 2002 "What good does the widening of 66 do if Prince William County continues to be the Wild West of development? It's going to have the effect of . . . consuming any new capacity added to I-66."    - Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth Resources The Road to Gainesville Is Paved With Questions - Washington Post, August 11, 2002 I-66 and Route 29 Sector Plan Planning Commission Recommendation Adobe PDF File The Northern Virginia Sales Tax Referendum