(From The Northern Virginia Daily dated Friday 4 March 2005.)

"IT WILL HELP IN THE REALM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY. THAT PROPERTY WILL NOW BE GENERATING SOME MAJOR TAXES ..."

FRONT ROYAL -- The Town Council's decision to buy property near McKay Springs in Cedarville will allow for the future development of an alternative water source along the U.S. 340-522 corridor.

The town already owns the McKay Spring and surrounding land, but the Town Council decided to purchase additional land in the vicinity. A portion of it is necessary to erect a buffer zone to develop the spring.

During Monday's Town Council meeting, Councilwoman M. Eileen Grady made the motion to authorize the purchase of the land, with Councilman Timothy W. Darr seconding it. The rest of the panel unanimously agreed.

The purchase price of $330,000 will be shared equally between the town and county. The land, which amounts to a little more than 8 acres, is being sold by Maureen O'Donnell.

Any property not needed for the development of the spring or for intersection improvement to Rockland Road and Reliance Road will be jointly marketed, according to Acting Town Manager Rhonda S. North.

Councilman Stan W. Brooks Jr. said he supports the land purchase because it "kills three birds with one stone." It secures McKay Springs for future water use. It also ensures the preservation of the historic McKay house. In addition, it serves a purpose in economic development.

"A lot of properties along 522 are chopped into a lot of small pieces. What you have around this piece of property are small pieces the county owns, small pieces the town owns and small pieces private owners own," Brooks said. "What happens in this situation is it is almost impossible, especially when you have two government entities involved, to pull all those pieces together to make it a marketable piece of property."

"It will help in the realm of economic development in Front Royal and Warren County," he added. "That property will now be generating some major taxes as the development along 522 comes along."

Councilman Joseph T. McDaniel said initially he was opposed to the purchase of the land because the historic house cannot be remodeled or used. But, he now supports the project because Town Attorney Blair D. Mitchell told him the town must own the property in order to put the spring into operation.

Councilman Fred P. Foster is pleased the town and county are working together in this effort.

"It shows we work together using taxpayers money, but for the benefit of the community," he said.

Contact Jonathon Shacat at jshacat@nvdaily.com.