Please join all communities of Belmont Bay at the Osprey’s Monday evening at 7 pm with Supervisor LaCroix and Miller and Smith for an update on their revised development plan. We are pleased to let you know they have made additional changes that are positive, increasing the buffer between the wildlife refuge, completing phase two environmental testing of the property for hazardous waste (and found none) and adhering to best practices on drainage and dark skies. We hope to see you there and thank Supervisor LaCroix for working with the entire Belmont Bay community and Steve Aylor of Miller and Smith for positive changes.
I moved to this beautiful Community in 2005 to look over my Mothers work to establish what is now the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge. I lived in Harbor View and served on its Board; on the BBHOA social committee, organizing our bus wine trip and other activities; and helped lead the fight against the huge development of more than 1400 homes and brought in nearly every Supervisor and many Planning Commissioners to our community to showcase it.
I was a Member of the Osprey’s Golf Club and introduced the owners to many of our elected officials, including Governor George Allen, State Senator Scott Surovell, Delegates Mark Dudenhefer, Dave Albo and Rich Anderson, and State Senator Tim Hugo. At Christmas, we decorated our 77 foot boat and kept it lit for the entire community and conducted environmental and historic tours for residents and Prince William County organizations. I worked with Congress Tom Davis to obtain funding for dredging the Occoquan River to keep it open for our boaters! I also remember sponsoring our community 5k races and I even had the honor of playing and singing with the Johnny Artis Band during one of our Summer Concerts!
Pam Buchenauer and I led the fight to bury the Power Lines on Route One and we were successful with the help of then Board Chairman Corey Stewart and our Supervisor Frank Principi. We both attended meetings of the Woodbridge Potomac Civic Communities Association and advocated for Belmont Bay. Joyce Jolly and other neighbors started our trash picks that we still participate in. Now that I have moved to Riverbend Estates, I got our neighborhood to join the Belmont Bay neighborhood watch and I continue to patrol all our neighborhoods on Friday or Saturday nights.
I want to thank the Members of Concerned Citizens for being a part of our community and contributing to open dialogue and debate about which way to go on important issues. Our approximately 300 members come from each of our neighborhoods, Beacon Town Homes, the Acclaim, the BBHOA sub associations, and Riverbend Estates and Old Belmont. Preserving our environment and highlighting our community in a positive way will remain our among our goals going forward. Thank you!
Rob Hartwell, President – 571-212-2129