Allen Neel Says Front Royal Needs More Than Plans — It Needs Action

Front Royal Town Council candidate Allen Neel says the town needs to move beyond studies and discussions and put plans into action. From economic development and water security to neighborhood improvements and government accountability, Neel believes better planning, public involvement, and consistent follow-through are essential to the town’s future.

Neel, chairman of the Front Royal Planning Commission, discussed his priorities in a recent interview ahead of the November 3 election. With five candidates competing for three council seats, Neel said he wanted to move beyond familiar campaign talking points and explain how he would approach some of the town’s biggest challenges.

He identified economic development, smart growth, water resources, and quality of life as the issues that continue to dominate conversations with residents. But identifying problems, he argued, is only the beginning.

“Just wanting it is not a plan,” Neel said.

Economic Development Starts With What Front Royal Already Has

Neel said residents generally support economic development, but they want growth that benefits the community, provides good-paying jobs, and respects existing neighborhoods.

He pointed to professional services, light manufacturing, technology-related businesses, and healthcare support industries as potential opportunities.

Those industries, he said, closely match ideas discussed by Warren County economic development director Patrick Barker, suggesting an opportunity for stronger cooperation between town and county officials.

Neel believes Front Royal should also look beyond vacant land and consider redeveloping underused or poorly utilized properties.

Some properties may be too small to attract investment individually but could become valuable if neighboring property owners worked together.

Existing infrastructure is another advantage. Redevelopment can sometimes move faster and cost less because roads, utilities, and other services are already available.

Rather than waiting for businesses to discover Front Royal, Neel wants the town to identify industries it can realistically support, determine suitable locations, and actively market those opportunities.

He also discussed developing business clusters, where related companies operate near one another.

For example, a hospital could help attract medical equipment repair companies, laboratories, and specialized technology services. Those businesses might eventually serve customers throughout the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia.

Neel said economic growth should ultimately help residents find careers that let them stay in their hometown.

He said he has heard from people who want to be born here, attend school here, work here, and raise families here without leaving for better opportunities.

Tourism remains important, he said, but its seasonal nature requires a broader economic base.

He also sees opportunities to use local expertise. Residents who have worked in government agencies and private industry may be willing to help evaluate proposals and identify potential employers.

“We have a wealth of knowledge in our community that people are just unaware of,” Neel said.

A Second Water Source Needs a Timeline

Water security was another major concern.

Neel said Front Royal has discussed developing an additional water source for years, yet residents still lack a clear public timeline showing how the town intends to accomplish that goal.

He acknowledged the importance of conservation but argued that conservation alone will not eliminate the need for another source.

“Without a doubt, we need another water source,” Neel said.

He wants a formal plan with specific milestones, assigned responsibilities, and regular progress reports.

Neel also referenced the town’s evaluation of a quarry as a possible water source, questioning what steps would follow the preliminary work and when residents could expect decisions.

He said town officials should maintain a publicly accessible project page with frequent updates, ideally weekly.

That would allow residents to follow progress, understand delays, and see how plans change when unexpected problems arise.

He emphasized that responsibility should extend beyond town staff to elected officials.

Neel believes long-term projects need continuity, especially when council members or staff change. A project should not lose direction simply because the people involved are no longer in office.

He also acknowledged that unexpected problems will occur. When they do, the town should adjust its schedule, explain the changes, and continue moving forward.

He said public confidence depends on residents seeing promises backed by action.

Smart Growth Means Making a Plan Work

Neel said the phrase “smart growth” can mean different things to different people.

For him, it means identifying what the community wants, determining what is financially possible, and developing a realistic path to achieve it.

That includes considering infrastructure needs, available funding, state and federal assistance, and the long-term effects of development.

He also stressed that the town’s comprehensive plan should guide decisions rather than simply sit on a shelf.

Neel believes plans must be reviewed, updated, and carried forward rather than abandoned whenever leadership changes.

He described the town as a system whose many parts must work together. Economic development, housing, transportation, water, and neighborhood quality cannot be treated as unrelated issues.

Neel also said local government must remain open to criticism and new ideas.

An elected official may enter office with one approach but discover additional facts that require a different decision. Working with other council members, town staff, business leaders, and residents is essential to turning proposals into workable policies.

He emphasized that public participation must be part of both the planning and implementation process.

“People want to be and need to be involved in both the information as well as the process that goes with it,” Neel said.

Testing Neighborhood Improvements Before Spending Big

Neel introduced another approach he would like Front Royal to explore: tactical urbanism.

The concept involves testing temporary, relatively inexpensive changes to streets and public spaces before committing taxpayer money to permanent construction.

For example, temporary speed tables could help slow vehicles on residential streets. Large intersections might be modified with planters or other attractive barriers to create a roundabout-like traffic pattern.

The town could test those improvements to see whether they work and whether residents and businesses support them.

Neel said such experiments could prevent the town from spending large amounts on permanent changes that later prove unpopular or ineffective.

He also questioned how the town is handling Church Street, where construction and changes around the Murphy Theater have created an opportunity to reconsider traffic patterns and pedestrian access.

Rather than making a permanent decision without testing alternatives, Neel suggested trying different arrangements before related sidewalk construction is completed.

He said he hopes the town will revisit the Church Street decision.

The broader idea is to give the town manager and appropriate staff enough authority to test practical solutions without requiring council involvement in every minor operational decision.

Neel believes elected officials should set goals and expectations while letting professional managers handle day-to-day operations.

“If you have the right people, you can empower them,” he said.

Bringing Residents Back Into the Process

Throughout the interview, Neel returned to the importance of community participation.

He said Front Royal has residents with valuable professional experience, including people who have worked for government agencies and businesses in Northern Virginia.

Some have expressed willingness to volunteer their expertise to help review plans and proposals.

Neel believes that knowledge could help the town make better decisions while giving residents a meaningful role in shaping their community.

He also acknowledged that residents can become discouraged when they participate in committees or studies that appear to produce little action.

Meaningful improvements take time, he said, and require cooperation among elected officials, staff, businesses, and the public.

Neel praised town employees, saying he has been impressed by their work despite limited staffing and demanding responsibilities.

He also stressed that government transparency is essential to rebuilding public trust. Residents should be able to follow projects, understand decisions, and see whether officials are meeting their commitments.

Neel encouraged voters to examine candidates’ positions and review his more detailed proposals, which he has discussed on his Facebook page and during Planning Commission meetings.

He said Front Royal already has many of the resources it needs to move forward, including its location, infrastructure, businesses, and residents.

He argued that it needs a clearer plan to put those resources to work, greater transparency about progress, and the persistence to follow through.

As for how quickly changes could happen, Neel acknowledged that meaningful progress requires patience.

“Come together, and it takes time,” he said.

The November 3 election will give voters an opportunity to decide which candidates they believe can best address the town’s challenges and guide its future.

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials who help shape Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.