Board approves North Pointe: Blueprints include 900 residences

8/3/06 * Daily Progress [full story]

The small Board of Supervisors room was overflowing with spectators Wednesday night as the board approved the North Pointe development on a 4-2 vote.

The 269-acre mixed-use project has been sitting in approval limbo for about six years as county staffers and the developer volleyed plans back and forth to resolve issues regarding affordable housing, transportation, commercial space and environmental protection.

Though county staffers recommended denial of the project until transportation and commercial impacts could be better assessed, a majority of supervisors said they thought the changes had resulted in a good plan that would be beneficial for county residents.

“If we don’t build North Pointe now in this location, I predict significant growth in the rural area,” Supervisor David Slutzky said. “To me, that would be a disaster.”