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Article: One County's 'Open Space' Is Another's 'Golf Course'; Around D.C., Definitions of 'Rural' Are Often Miles Apart
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 14, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The nearly completed Balmoral neighborhood, named for the Scottish
castle where the British royal family retreats in summer, is a
suburban version of gentrified charm: estate homes, big lawns,
winding creeks and woods, and an 18-hole golf course designed by pro
golfer Fred Couples.
"Sheer elegance," boasts the sales brochure, "carved out of dense
forest and lush meadows."
The neighborhood is also one of the largest projects ever built in
what is intended to be Fairfax County's western preserve of open
space, environmental purity and rural character.
Does Balmoral fit in? Legally, yes. It meets the building
restrictions for the vast conservation area because there is only one
home for every ...