A Letter to the Residents Along Davis Ford Road:
Since my earliest days in office, I have worked alongside those in the Davis Ford area to navigate the challenges posed by Special Use Permit #2020-00019. After 5 years of debate, project modifications, and public engagement, the Board of County Supervisors approved the Transformation Temple application without my support. Supervisors Weir and Gordy joined me in voting against the project. While the applicant worked diligently to overcome community concerns, I remain skeptical of placing a septic system for such intense use in the Occoquan Reservoir Protection Area (ORPA), along with compatible use concerns.
The public hearing lasted well past midnight, a testament to how deeply you and your neighbors care about this issue. Thank you to everyone who took the time to advocate for this community, speaking at the hearing, signing petitions, and otherwise staying engaged throughout this long process. While the outcome was not what we hoped, please know your voices mattered.
The concerns we raised together led to a number of mitigations. Changes based on your efforts include decreasing building footprint and capacity, adding a left turn lane, improving architectural details, requiring low-flow fixtures, and reducing programming, such as removing daycare and commercial kitchen plans. These changes are not insignificant and would not have happened without your dedication.
Still, our work does not stop here. My focus now shifts to ensuring that the applicant follows through on every commitment made during the Public Hearing—both during and after construction. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any concerns moving forward. Thank you again for your involvement in this issue these last four years, I look forward to your continued engagement.