Prince William County planners have approved 58 percent fewer residential unit permits this fiscal year compared to last.
If the county continues at the same pace until the end of the fiscal year on June 30, there will be approximately 4,500 units approved, compared with more than 7,800 last year, said Steve Griffin, county planning director. The majority of construction projects under way in the county “tend to be more commercial and industrial or smaller residential units,” Griffin said Thursday. The county did handle more rezonings and special use permits than expected this year, Griffin said.
Griffin’s estimate could change due to more construction starting in warmer weather, said Kim Hosen, a Woodbridge representative on the Planning Commission, who added that the decrease could be an indicator of market conditions.
The county is approaching maximum density “much sooner than we anticipated,” according to Sean Connaughton, Prince William Board of County Supervisors chair.
The county has very few parcels of land available for large-scale residential projects, he said. Instead, there is more interest in redeveloping existing properties.
“If anything, we are starting to see a shift of residential applications moving from the west toward the east, where there is more infill and more interest in revitalization,” he said.
One of the last large parcels of land left in the county is the 1,500 acres proposed for the Brentswood Community of 6,800 homes west of Manassas.
Site Development Permits Fiscal year to date
Projects permitted : 402
Residential units in projects: 3,655
