2007.05.23: May 23, 2007: Headlines: COS - Colombia: City Government: Community Development: TimesCommunity.com: Colombia RPCV Henry Bibber, director of Community Development for the Town of Herndon, will be retiring on June 30
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2007.05.23: May 23, 2007: Headlines: COS - Colombia: City Government: Community Development: TimesCommunity.com: Colombia RPCV Henry Bibber, director of Community Development for the Town of Herndon, will be retiring on June 30
Colombia RPCV Henry Bibber, director of Community Development for the Town of Herndon, will be retiring on June 30
Bibber was hired by Herndon Town Manager Rob Stalzer on Jan. 1, 1990. At that time, Bibber was a planning director for the city of Falls Church. Before that, the Schenectady, N.Y. native and Virginia Tech graduate was a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia. It was during that time, Bibber says, that his interest in community development began. "After I graduated from college, I spent two years in Columbia, South America," he said. "My job in the Peace Corps was rural community development and I learned about urban planning."
Colombia RPCV Henry Bibber, director of Community Development for the Town of Herndon, will be retiring on June 30
Henry Bibber to retire
By: Gregg MacDonald
05/23/2007
Caption: Portrait of Henry Bibber, Director of Community Development for the Town of Herndon. Photo: Times Staff Photo/Jill DiPasquale
Henry Bibber, director of Community Development for the Town of Herndon, will be retiring on June 30 after exactly seventeen and a half years - to the day.
That sort of precision lends some insight into why his long tenure as the town's master planner has been so successful.
Bibber was hired by Herndon Town Manager Rob Stalzer on Jan. 1, 1990. At that time, Bibber was a planning director for the city of Falls Church.
Before that, the Schenectady, N.Y. native and Virginia Tech graduate was a National Peace Corps volunteer. It was during that time, Bibber says, that his interest in community development began.
"After I graduated from college, I spent two years in Columbia, South America," he said. "My job in the Peace Corps was rural community development and I learned about urban planning."
Bibber said he was attracted to Herndon because of its vitality as a town.
"What attracted me to Herndon was the fact that the Town of Herndon puts value in planning and cares about what happens in the town," he said. "That aspect of Herndon has not changed, although the characteristics have changed somewhat."
His first major project was completing the town's 2010 comprehensive plan.
"That plan has served very well as a guide for development and redevelopment in the town," Bibber said. "Only now, 17 years later, are we preparing a new comprehensive plan."
"Certainly one of the most innovative features of the plan was the designation of areas for conservation and other areas for development and redevelopment," he said.
Bibber also recalls that the town, at that time, was enacting some very progressive ideas.
"We did not attempt to prescribe specific uses for parcels. We instead developed a system of judging the impact of uses on adjacent properties, which was very unique for that time," he said.
Bibber also cites the completion of the Herndon Parkway as one of the most challenging and rewarding accomplishments of his career. He is quick to note, however, that he sees himself only as a contributor toward that and any other noted achievements.
"The real credit goes to the council and the town," he said.
"Henry is very sensitive to the political environment that we operate within," said acting Town Manager Art Anselene.
Asked how the town has changed during his time as the director of community development, Bibber says that the town today has to deal with transitioning from development to redevelopment and "the diversity and challenge of the town's growing foreign-born population."
"Henry's leadership and vision are largely responsible for shaping the Town of Herndon's development over the 17-plus years of his tenure," said Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis.
"He approached complex projects with an easy-going and pleasant demeanor - a real pleasure to work with. On behalf of a grateful community, I wish him all the best in his retirement."
Bibber and his wife live just outside Manassas and own property in the hills of the Shenandoah Valley, where they plan on backpacking and enjoying nature.
"I may find some additional planning work to become engaged in," Bibber said. "But probably not on a full-time basis."
©Times Community Newspapers 2007
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Headlines: May, 2007; Peace Corps Colombia; Directory of Colombia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Colombia RPCVs; City Government; Community Development; Virginia
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Story Source: TimesCommunity.com
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Colombia; City Government; Community Development
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