Dear Concerned Citizen:
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a hearing on February 3rd to consider the Belmont Bay development plan for townhomes and rezoning areas next to the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. As you may know, the Planning Commission recommended approval by a 4-3 vote when a Commissioner switched her vote at the last minute. It is imperative that our concerned citizens and coalition Members write to the Board and if possible, sign up to testify against the rezoning or at least insist on a 100-foot buffer between the refuge property line and the townhouses. You can reach Board Members and Board Chairman Deshundra Jefferson here: https://www.pwcva.gov/department/board-county-supervisors/contact-us/
I’ve met with two Board Members thus far and spoken to another. All have received only a few emails on this matter, most against, and the Belmont Bay HOA continues to advocate its passage despite significant community opposition and near unanimous opposition from non BBHOA residents and organizations. We need to come out in force and contact the Board immediately! Talking points are attached, and important new information from the 1999 hearing has been uncovered by BBHOA resident William Sheffel, Jeanne LaCroix and others. The Army Corps of Engineers confirmed the burial of hazardous waste on the refuge… PCBs and other compounds produced by the Harry Diamond DOD Laboratories. They and all local land use organizations warned that a buffer from the development, which is now the closed golf course, was essential to protecting both the refuge and citizens from land disturbance that could lead to these wastes being exposed from the water table both properties share below. We could be sitting on another “Love Canal, NY” situation and no testing of ground water has been done for these chemicals.
In short, all local land use and environmental organizations oppose the rezoning without a 100-foot buffer and most oppose any townhouse built next to the refuge altogether. BBHOA previously strongly opposed the rezoning but has changed its position as they fear a possible larger development we do not like (unlikely if two previous attempts fail) and they received promises of a lap pool and a community center (which was promised by the previous developer). If you are a Member of the BBHOA, please let our Supervisors know you oppose the development or its proposed 50-foot buffer. Individuals and organizations opposing the development include:
ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING A 100 FOOT BUFFER AND ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING
Beacon Park Towns at Belmont Bay Residents – Jose and Iris Santiago
Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay – Rob Hartwell, President (over 300 Members)
Friends of Dyke Marsh – Glenda Booth, President
Lake Ridge Occoquan Coles Civic Association – Dr. Jack Kooyoomjian, President
Lake Ridge Occoquan Coles Civic Association – Kathleen Harding, Secretary
Lake Ridge Occoquan Cole Civic Association – Clancy Mcquigg
LOCCA-PELT – Dr. Tony Bennett, President (also representing Coles District)
National Parks Conservation Association – Kyle Hart
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance – Tom Blackburn, Advocacy Committee Chairman (formerly Audubon Society)
Occoquan Bay-Meadowood Wildlife Survey – Jim Waggener, Director
Prince William Conservation Alliance – Ashley Studholme, President
Prince William Wildflower Society – Claudia Thompson-Deahl
Riverbend Estates Citizens Association – Daniela Horsman, President (Old Belmont Bay)
Woodbridge Potomac Communities Citizens Association – Unanimous Board of Directors (also Representing Potomac District)
Please copy me on your emails or letters opposing and sign up to speak at the Board Hearing if you can do so. We cannot forego the safety of our neighborhoods or compromise our principles of degrading the environment or water quality so many of us moved here to enjoy!
Sincerely,
Rob
Rob Hartwell
President
Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay
571-212-2129