Click Here for Past News Archives, Through 9/30/2006
10/29 - Make your votes heard on Nov. 7 -
Voters in Loudoun County will be asked to vote for or against two proposals to sell $38 million in general obligation bonds to finance a number of Loudoun County transportation projects - including improvements and interchanges along the Loudoun County Parkway, Rt. 7, Rt. 50 and other areas. Proponents of the bonds feel these immediate decisions and action will quickly alleviate local "hot spots" in traffic gridlock. Opponents feel the wrong message will be sent to Richmond, notifying lawmakers that Loudoun residents don't need more of their taxes back to improve local roads.
Regardless of your position, be sure to vote, so Loudoun County can more accurately record the consensus opinions of citizens in these matters. (Regarding citizen opinion, be sure to check out Washington Post's coverage of the past CPAM citizen hearings in the Loudoun Extra section today; many citizen comments are transcribed verbatim).
10/29 - Make your voices heard to VDOT -
Hearings regarding the upcoming six-year construction plan for Virginia transportation will be held this Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 6 PM in the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. This hearing is specifically addressing Northern Virginia, and representatives from VDOT and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will be present to hear citizen's perspectives on transportation problems and solutions to address.
Along these lines, BSO increasingly sees great discussion and editorials surfacing focused on Richmond, vs. Loudoun County, in this regional transportation debate - for example, see today's Washington Post Close to Home editorial section, with a letter entitled "Abandoning Virginians to Gridlock" by Charles Chappell (a South Riding resident).
A great example of thoughtful, regional planning with significant VDOT support (and approval from both Loudoun and Fairfax county Boards of Supervisors) can be found in the Public Private Transportation Act partnership focused on Rt. 28 improvements projects, most notably removal of traffic light-controlled interchanges from Rt. 66 to Rt. 7.
10/21 - Supervisors Pass Route 50 "Transition Area" CPAM -
This past week the BOS passed by 5-4 the Route 50 Comprehensive Plan Amendment, which essentially changed the land use zoning along Route 50 (from the Fairfax County Border to Route 659) to more mixed business and community/residential use (with no cap on retail establishments), vs. primarily business and industrial. Proponents welcome the additional business opportunities and Loudoun "gateway" features; opponents preferred less residential development near the airport. Hopefully the "strip mall" movement isn't reflected in the coming landscaping, architectural and traffic use designs for this area.
10/10 - First Public Hearing Successful on CPAM -
This first hearing on the CPAM proposed changes for the Dulles South/Transition Area was quite successful, with over 100 citizens sporting stickers, placards and pamphlets responding to the invitation to attend and speak. In a rare appearance, three Virginia General Assembly Representatives spoke first, representing this region and condemming the CPAM. A large contingent of residents and local business owners followed, interspersed with farmers, statisticians, a tourism publisher and various activist and developer support group members. It generally appeared that those FOR the proposal (31) were locally-focused or fearful of additional taxes, and those AGAINST (54) spoke of more regional environmental, transportation and business issues. Some good quotes:
"Don't forget the new teenage drivers in the equation"
"Where's the environmental impact study, or fiscal analysis?"
"By-right development doesn't work"
"We don't need any more strip malls, and we're turning into locusts"
"Don't leap before you look"
"Developing countries would be astounded..."
"Say no to CSPAM"
"Put it to a referendum vote"
Also overhead in the halls (and therefore properly labeled heresay), an evident recent comment from our County Treasurer, to paraphrase, "you guys (BOS) are smoking dope; our revenues are already coming in short to support the housing we've got..."
10/10 - Braddock South Area removed from CPAM -
The geographic area under consideration for new development (approx. 33,000) new homes was
significantly reduced this past Tuesday, by removing the portion south of Braddock Road and some areas
straddling Rt. 50 (a possible reduction of 10,300 new homes). With the
addition of a 2nd Public Hearing
on the matter this Saturday (10/14), this move by the BOS appears to reduce the overall impact of the CPAM,
and give partisans on both sides of the table some fewer issues to get their teeth into. How this affects the
ability of developers to contribute to the county and regional transportation network remains to be seen, but
it likely doesn't improve the situation. Please attend the Public Hearings and make your opinion count!
Final Public Hearing Scheduled, Transition Area CPAM -
Currently the Final Public Hearing for this controversial development proposal will be held on Tuesday, October 10th at 6:30 pm in the County Government Building - 1 Harrison St , downtown Leesburg.
Gum Springs Regional Citizens Network Info Session -
(From GSRN) "You are invited to an information session/rally that the Gum Spring Regional Citizens Networks is hosting Wed. 10/4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arcola Fire hall about the Transition Area CPAM. This a great opportunity to learn more about the proposed changes to our area."
Tough Week for Regional Transportation Solutions -
As Leesburg Today (9/29) puts it, "Regional Road Plans Killed". If you haven't been following the the news out of Richmond lately, concerning a special General Assembly for transportation issues, lawmakers were unable to make ANY substantive progress on any of the bills or considerations up for debate. No bonds, no taxes, no alternative revenue streams, no agreements at all on how to solve regional bottlenecks in the Northern Virginia (including Dulles South) transportation grid, regardless of the development activities. Very unfortunate, including the $260,000 taxpayer bill for the discussion itself - information about the special assembly can be found in all regional news sources.
Updated Debate on Local Development -
PEC has declined participation in the upcoming October 4 Debate at the Arcola Community Center organized by
the Dulles South Business Alliance. Interestingly, a full-page advertisement was posted in the Loudoun County
Washington Post Insert for today (10/1) explaining their (PEC) positions, and questioning the Right Growth Policy Institute.
RGPI has lately been providing many advertisements to various news sources, and the overall volume of ads from the various interest groups has been mushrooming. There's certainly a wealth of perspectives playing out in paid media on the local issues; more debates and forums with public opinion adequately represented is certainly a good thing.
Posted - South Riding Newsletter, Fall 2006 - a Board of Directors member perspective on Dulles South CPAMs - "These CPAMs will improve the quality of life for South Riding residents and position us well for a successful future."
