Prince William Conservation Alliance

Talking Points for the Board of County Supervisors Public Hearing, Tuesday December 5, 2003

SARATOGA HUNT PROPOSED REZONING

BACKGROUND AND ISSUES:

Saratoga Hunt is located just north of Minnieville Drive and east of Silverdale Drive. This is the applicants� third attempt to develop this 130-acre site. This current rezoning application requests a change to R10, the highest density for single-family houses.

The major concerns include:

- Request is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. This site contains significant environmental resources: Neabsco Creek, Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Areas, wetlands, and floodplain run through the 130 acres up for rezoning.

- There would be development in areas dominated by severe slopes and erodible soil types. There are 15-25% slopes and areas greater than 25% slopes at this site. A large part of the property is soil type Sprigs Silt Loam, listed as having severe limitations that preclude development or disturbance without approved mitigations; clearing and disturbance should be held to a minimum.

- Site surrounds a Bel Air Plantation, a Designated Cultural Resource, listed on the national register of historic places and Virginia landmarks. The foundation of this house was a fortification against the Susquehanna Indians; in1673 Revolutionary War soldiers occupied the grounds; in the1770's biographer Parson Weems, who penned the story of George Washington cutting down the cherry tree and throwing the silver dollar across the Rappahannock, lived and is burried there; in 1825 this site was the headquarters for the union forces, although at times confederate soldiers occupied the grounds; in the 1860's Bel Air Plantation was a working plantation. The slave cemetery has never been located.

- Proposal would increase traffic on a two lane section of Minnieville Road which is now at 16,600 vehicle trips/day (over capacity)

- Increases student population at schools already over capacity

- Result in decreased level of service for fire and rescue, which is already over capacity (station 17)

- Leaves taxpayers a "bill to pay� to correct these problems.

The original density was for 235 homes, then decreased to 206 homes. The current proposal is for 155 homes on 130 acres, of which 39 acres (30% of total acreage) are Environmental Resource. The Comprehensive Plan recommends one home per each developable acre near Designated Cultural Resources and Environmental Resources. This means 97-100 homes would be allowed for Saratoga Hunt, per the Comprehensive Plan.


Saratoga Hunt: A Case Study in Failed Planning
Prince William Conservation Alliance