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Nation’s Capital.
As we look toward the yawning mysteries of change ahead, the time is here to see this sweeping open space as a profitable resource in itself to the people who live here.
Opportunity
and choice
This open space land has become a huge new business opportunity for real estate speculators and major national commercial development companies. That is a healthy American private free enterprise system at work. But as a matter of public policy, the rules for use and the future of this land is our business to determine — not theirs.
We need this landscape between our towns kept in open space for hope and livability. Not simply for the economic future of agriculture and eco-tourism here, but for the visual order and powerful beauty of meadows and hills which open the mind to play upon untouched ideas in science, medicine, government, technology and industry.
The issue is drawn today in sharpest terms between the final choice of either keeping rural land open by concentrating growth inside the greenbelts around towns, or to commercially build this remaining open space over, forever.
Those now in public office can honor a hardwon legacy here by setting clear public policy limitation on development to inside our growing towns where public services and affordable housing are available. Wise for both the tax pocketbook and the power of future visual order.
It is a future which may he beyond our vision, but does not he entirely beyond our control.
Arthur Arundel was a Marine Corps special forces officer awarded two Purple Hearts in the Vietnam and Korean wars. He lives with his family at The Plains and is founder of the non-profit Great Meadow, site of the adaptive use of a 700acre Fauquier farm formerly slated to become 500 houses until he bought and donated it in perpetual open space for field events. He is a career journalist and Board Chairman of this newspaper.
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