The Trojan Horse of Annexation

Dear Editor:

I keep hearing again that Purcellville needs to annex property outside of its borders so they can control what is developed on the land. Let’s call this what it is—a flimsy argument wrapped in the guise of concern. The notion that annexing land into the Town will magically grant us control is, at best, a clever ruse. 

The real power to control development lies in the water and sewer rights we already possess. High-density development, the kind the county and others quietly crave, hinges on municipal water and sewer services, and guess what? Only Purcellville has the infrastructure to support that.

Sure, someone could dream up a standalone water and sewer plant, but it would never meet the demands of the dense development these folks are plotting. The truth is, we already hold the cards. By withholding sewer and water services, we dictate what a developer can and cannot build on land near our borders.

Land in the county is indeed “controlled” by the county at significantly less density. Take the Valley Springs Annexation proposal. It is already “controlled” in the county for 39 homes on 117-acres. If annexed into the town, it would indeed be “controlled” by the town at 1.2 million square feet of industrial. Who would you rather “control” it?

So, let’s not be fooled. The push for annexation isn’t about “control;” it’s a Trojan Horse, a clever trick to sneak high-density development through our gates under the pretense of better management, then waving the wand of rezoning. It’s not surprising that the folks who do not support the 2030 Town of Purcellville Comprehensive Plan are advocating for this kind of “spin.”

Let’s stay wise to their game and protect our community from being overrun by developments that don’t serve our best interests.

Uta Brown

Purcellville