Dear Belmont Bay Concerned Citizen:
Over the last many years, we have debated and discussed a plan to build a huge flyover over Route One and the railroad tracks extending Route 123 (Gordon Boulevard) into Belmont Bay. The Belmont Bay HOA came up with an alternative design and offered other suggestions for a traffic circle at that intersection and an elevated bridge at Dawson Creek Road without being even considered. The Flyover was originally designed to support 1800 homes and development plans for 2.0 million square feet of commercial and retail development and “destination” hotel, that has now been dropped. We are a residential community now and even with the 338 new homes proposed by Miller and Smith with only a restaurant for commercial development, we will forever remain so.
Supervisor Margaret Franklin now wants to hold a QR Code Ballot for anyone to vote (it’s not dedicated to our neighborhood), even though our position is clear, and there is no validation that community HOA representatives will be able to verify the vote and ensure it is fair. We have no alternative but to encourage all our residents to vote no on the flyover for multiple reasons:
- The purpose of the flyover was to make Belmont Bay a “destination” commercial and retail community with a hotel geared towards environmental tourism. That is no longer the case
- Franklin described the purpose of the Flyover as ensuring alternative access and egress for the community but that was not correct. It was designed for “destination” access that no longer applies. As for ingress/egress, there are much more reasonable options, such as widen the Highams Ct or develop an under railroad crossing at the other end off the BB Industrial Park.
- The Flyover will cost $100 million taxpayer dollars and is no longer needed and too expensive
- The Flyover will harm Dixie Bones and the CVS and all the stories immediately across from us by eliminating through access on Occoquan Road. It will force us to use the new alternative and either make a U Turn somewhere along Route One to access our shopping centers across the street or go all the way to Horner Road, take a left and come back around
- The truck traffic from the new distribution warehouses, Arban and Carosi and the industrial park may decide to cut through Regency Road in Riverbend Estates to access the Flyover Ramp next to the BBHOA Pool rather than waiting for a new traffic light on Express Drive and Belmont Bay Boulevard; and
- The Flyover will harm easy access and separate our communities off of Heron’s Run and Potomac View Path, creating new hazards and delays
Therefore, the Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay, with over 300 Members, formally opposes the Flyover plan and we encourage our Members to Vote No using the Link Provided below. (To ensure the vote is counted correctly, we urge you to share your vote with us at Info@BelmontBayUnited.com.
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8371492/Route-1-123-Project-Survey
If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please feel free to contact me at the above email or on my cell listed below.
Thank you for caring about our community, our environment and quality transportation and development!
Sincerely,
Rob Hartwell
President
Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay
571-212-2129