Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York’s mood quickly switched from playful to exasperated as the county continued at a meeting to take baby steps toward adding a new George Mason University campus.

GMU President Alan Merten on Friday discussed plans to add a new campus, in addition to the 20,000-square-foot office in Sterling leased by the university.

He said the onus was on Loudoun officials to come up with a plan involving the acquisition of land for the property, finding a suitable location for the site, gauging demand and attracting support from the Loudoun business community and state legislature. GMU originally announced plans to add a 123-acre campus in the county in 2005, but the Board of Supervisors rejected the proposal in 2006.

Supervisor Lori Waters, R-Broad Run, told Merten state support would be difficult to come by.

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“Given the state’s financial situation right now, they’re going to be hard-pressed” to support the university’s expansion, she said.

“We cannot depend on people from Richmond for help with these issues,” Merten acknowledged.

Development likely would involve a significant land contribution from Loudoun, as was the case for GMU’s Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William campuses, Merten added. But York criticized the university for failing to respond to an expansion plan he proposed involving property in Ashburn.

“I have somewhat of a frustration here, and we’ve made the offer for you to look at, but we haven’t heard from you,” he said.

“We want to know in the eyes of the business community that it’s the best option,” Merten responded. “Whatever the option is, it has to be a gift.”

“I feel like I’ve been in the same conversation for two years,” York said, just before leaving the meeting.

dsherfinski@dcexaminer.com