For many, if not most of us who live in the western parts of Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, growth can be threatening.

We worry about the land, the viewshed, the environment, traffic, battlefields, historic houses, pollution and a million other things associated with the movements of good people in search of a good place to live and work.

Marshall seems particularly vulnerable to growth. An historic village in a perfect setting, blessed with both rail and Interstate highway east-west communications, near the capital of the most powerful country in human history.

Growth there was and is inevitable.

Happily, Marshall opted for planned development and found partners who understand the special place greater Marshall holds, not only in the string of pearl-like villages along the Manassas to Strasburg axis, but for the region as a whole.

An extraordinary combination of local non-profit organizations and developers who are friends and neighbors of the village have worked together to make the best of a situation that, if allowed to develop piecemeal, had the potential to destroy Marshall rather than enhance it.

See "Serendipity, Strategic Planning & Generosity" on page 12