I am writing in response to the article titled “Neighbors Question ‘Country Inn,’ Agritourism Proposals” (Springfield Connection, February 29, 2020). This piece regarding the opposition towards the proposal to increase rural property usage for agritourism in Fairfax County doesn’t fully address the causes for the major opposition point of fear of future land development. This fear of future land development seems to be a trouble of many residents of the county, so the question that arises is about what the larger issue at hand is.
There is a high possibility of this fear being rooted in the idea that residents who own rural property will turn into residents that own suburb property. It is common knowledge that once an area becomes developed, that development continues to expand to the surrounding areas, regardless of whether it is intended or not. Potential development, of course, has its own drawbacks such as a busier community that comes with it. This was expressed as another concern among residents which goes to raise the question, if this proposal is passed, will residents learn to become more accepting of it since they anticipate the busier community that will eventually arise?
Something else to also consider is whether or not residents would actually benefit from this change in community type. The opposition towards this proposal is both emotionally and logistically based.
However, in reality, there seems to be many interpersonal benefits that could stem from increasing rural property usage as opposed to leaving it alone, such as the residents forming a tighter-knit community.
Hannah Phommachanthone
Springfield