Prince William County, Virginia has forestalled the assaults of development on their historic places and the character of country life before. In country known for horsebreeding, officials have been willing to look economic promises in the mouth - like a gift horse, going so far in 1988 as to initiate a Congressional land taking for Manassas National Battlefield Park rather than allow a shopping mall to pave over history. Notwithstanding, this September the Planning Department is recommending a 3,000-acre development in Haymarket that would include a 150-acre history theme park seven miles from Manassas National Battlefield Park.

County public information spokesperson Kathy Bentz said the Board of Supervisors will make their final decision about Disney's proposed America Project, following completion of a public hearing process. Proposed in essentially rural country, areas of the project previously designated as green space are planned in terms of "preserved open space" and "developed open space." Disney's America Project landscape plan provides for perimeter buffers and setbacks ranging from 50 to 500 feet and restricts structure heights to minimize visual impacts in general. In particular, the plan eliminates "intrusions" on the preserved site of two significant Civil War battles.

Traffic has been another key issue in the battle to prevent urban sprawl from affecting the rural character of Virginia. As proposed, rates of Disney America project development are restricted to specific time periods, primarily after 2005, provided that average daily traffic impacts generated by the project do not exceed established limits. If the project is approved, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will study project-generated traffic and air quality impacts on an area that stretches south from Frederick County to the Piedmont and from the Chesapeake Bay into West Virginia. VDOT will also monitor annual vehicular trip figures with particular emphasis on the I-66 route from Washington, D.C.