Town of Dumfries Colonial Port Redevelopment TAP
The Town of Dumfries has a long history as the oldest continuously chartered towns in the Commonwealth of Virginia. After its inception in 1749 on 60 acres of land at the head of the Quantico Creek harbor, Dumfries soon became the second leading port on the east coast. Since the 1960s, and on par with the growth of Northern Virginia, population has steadily increased to its current size of more than 5,000 people. Diversity of residents has increased as well, and today the Town is a “majority-minority” community. The site in question is one that has long been a nuisance for the Town of Dumfries. Land uses within the study area include illegal non-conforming uses, and a large junkyard with a variety of ongoing storage, repair, and salvage activities. The site is located within a required Resource Protection Area (RPA) with most of the site bordering Quantico Creek and a large portion within designated Floodplain zones.
The Town is interested in purchasing the property and planning for redevelopment, with proper due diligence. This TAP is intended to provide guidance to the Town for turning a nuisance property into a unique redevelopment project. The study is part of a broader effort by the Town to lay the groundwork for creating a walkable, commercially viable town center along Main St. in Dumfries in addition to creating a destination around The Rose casino and park project currently under construction. The goal is to look at ways to achieve goals of mixed-use and higher intensity development, and to recommend policies toward a more diverse housing mix as part of a revitalized town center. Recommendations and findings from this study may be used to inform updates to sections of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code.
1. The Colonial Port Property is not under a specific small area plan designation. Would it be beneficial to create a small area plan for the site and surrounding area?
2. Considering that the site is located mostly in the RPA, what type of development is the best fit for the site? What is the best location of the site for development and what level of density is permitted?
3. What are some examples of sustainable projects of formerly contaminated sites? What are the biggest challenges involving the design of the project?
4. How can this site further help Dumfries becoming a “Destination Place”?
5. Is the infrastructure within the Town sufficient to support any possible development?"
Report Summary: The Town of Dumfries has a long history as the oldest continuously chartered towns in the Commonwealth of Virginia. After its inception in 1749 on 60 acres of land at the head of the Quantico Creek harbor, Dumfries soon became the second leading port on the east coast. Since the 1960s, and on par with the growth of Northern Virginia, population has steadily increased to its current size of more than 5,000 people. Diversity of residents has increased as well, and today the Town is a “majority-minority” community. The site in question is one that has long been a nuisance for the Town of Dumfries. Land uses within the study area include illegal non-conforming uses, and a large junkyard with a variety of ongoing storage, repair, and salvage activities. The site is located within a required Resource Protection Area (RPA) with most of the site bordering Quantico Creek and a large portion within designated Floodplain zones.
The Town is interested in purchasing the property and planning for redevelopment, with proper due diligence. This TAP is intended to provide guidance to the Town for turning a nuisance property into a unique redevelopment project. The study is part of a broader effort by the Town to lay the groundwork for creating a walkable, commercially viable town center along Main St. in Dumfries in addition to creating a destination around The Rose casino and park project currently under construction. The goal is to look at ways to achieve goals of mixed-use and higher intensity development, and to recommend policies toward a more diverse housing mix as part of a revitalized town center. Recommendations and findings from this study may be used to inform updates to sections of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code.
1. The Colonial Port Property is not under a specific small area plan designation. Would it be beneficial to create a small area plan for the site and surrounding area?
2. Considering that the site is located mostly in the RPA, what type of development is the best fit for the site? What is the best location of the site for development and what level of density is permitted?
3. What are some examples of sustainable projects of formerly contaminated sites? What are the biggest challenges involving the design of the project?
4. How can this site further help Dumfries becoming a “Destination Place”?
5. Is the infrastructure within the Town sufficient to support any possible development?"