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By MAKY BLEWITT
Arundel Newspaper* Richmond Bureau
RICHMOND — Success in Richmond this session for most Northern Virginia legislators hinged on the fate of a group of land-use bills that curbed localities’ zoning control.
The legislation, which fueled a feud among the region’s legislators, pitted senators and delegates against their local governing bodies and rendered the delegation virtually ineffective because of its lack of unity, stemmed from the Fairfax County government’s downzoning action in December.
Sen. Charles L. Waddell, D-Loudoun, successfully pushed legislation that reversed the county’s action within the special transportation tax district. For those who supported the legislation as a protection to district landowners and the formation of future tax districts, the bill cured an ill.
For those in opposition, the bill slapped the face of a local government that was attempting to address the county’s growth concerns and interfered with an issue before the courts.
Waddell said he plans to ask the governor to insert a severability clause within the legislation that would delete any section of the law that the courts rule unconstitutional. ' Sen. Joseph V. Gartlan Jr., D-Fairfax, who led the opposition against his seatmate’s bill, said that Waddell’s request indicates his concern about the bill constitutionality.
Other legislation, sponsored by Ford C. Quillen, D-Scott and approved by the legislature, iocks in the zoning of land that once has accepted proffers in rezoning cases.
The “vesting” legislation was opposed by numerous local governments including Rappahannock, Fauquier, Loudoun and Fairfax counties, Who say that the bill ties their hands to manage growth.
Localities successfully lobbied against more severe vesting legislation that would have frozen •the zoning of land once a developer had indicated his plans to develop property by submitting a preliminary plat.
Air and Space Museum: Sen. Clive L. DuVal, D-Fairfax, is predicting the satellite Air and Space Museum will be located at Dulles International Airport. Successful legislation, introduced by DuVal, permits the state bonding authority to finance, up to $100 million in debt, the first phase of building the museum extension.
The Smithsonian Board of Regents reaffirmed on Jan. 29 its preference to locate the museum at Dulles. However, the Maryland Congressional delegation is attempting to defeat the board’s decision. The museum could generate as much as $1 million a year in sales taxes for the
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