Fourteen months ago, Stafford supervisors envisioned a vibrant and futuristic downtown area near the county courthouse where families and friends could meet, eat, shop and socialize. They called the potential development Downtown Stafford. John Holden, the countyâs economic development director, had previously told supervisors the county-owned, 28-acre site, which lies parallel to the southern edge of Courthouse Road near the U.S. 1 interchange, would be built with fewer brick-and-mortar retail outlets. Holden said broadband and smart energy, lighting, water and temperature controls would all be incorporated into energy-efficient housing units and commercial buildings. The technology would be so sophisticated, Holden said, it would electronically monitor the levels of trash in trash containers.