Support for Aden Road Entrance to Hellwig Park
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We are signing this Petition to express our support for a second entrance off of Aden Road into Hellwig Park. Our full position of support and the facts behind the issue are below.
Thank you.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE 2ND ENTRANCE TO HELLWIG PARK!!!!
The Prince William County Park Authority has contracted to Purchased 10 acres of land located on Aden Road between Keenan Ridge and Liberty Oaks main entrance. The Park Authority intends to use this land as a second entrance to Hellwig Park.
Hellwig Park has undergone a significant expansion of active use to include lighted ball fields for Coles Little League.
The Park now hosts soccer and little league events simultaneously creating significant on site traffic congestion. The Park Authority intends to utilize these ten acres of ground for a secondary access to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety within the park. This access would provide a significant Safety Improvement by allowing additional ingress and egress from the Park. Should an accident occur at the single entrance point, the additional access point would provide emergency vehicles a second way to enter or leave the Park.
As an additional educational Benefit of the ground proposed to be acquired, there is a high quality wetland, protected by the current developer with a 100 foot conservation area, located on part of the ground being acquired. This protected wetland area would provide an unparalleled opportunity for wetland education to park visitors.
The Planning Commission held a Public Facilities Review (PFR) and heard significant testimony from Citizens Opposing this acquisition. We only realized this PFR was taking place the day before; therefore we were significantly outnumbered by those opposing this acquisition. There was significant confusion over facts at the PFR! It appeared that a deferral of a vote would have been the most appropriate action, however, the PC was forced to vote due to statutory requirements which absent a vote to deny, would have resulted in an approval.
The Park Authority has appealed the denial by the Planning Commission, and the Board of County Supervisors will discuss this the evening of Sept 14, at 7:30 pm at the McCourt Building. Citizens will be allowed to speak at Citizens time, beginning at 7:30. You may show up early to sign up to speak!!!
WE NEED SIGNIFICANT CITIZEN SUPPORT FOR THIS ISSUE AND PARTICIPATION AT CITIZENS TIME TO CONVINCE THE SUPERVISORS THAT THE SAFTEY OF OUR CHILDREN FAR OUTWEIGHS THE OPPOSITIONS EXAGERATED ARGUMENTS OF TRAFFIC ON ADEN RD AND UNFOUNDED ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
PLEASE ATTEND AND SPEAK YOUR OPIONION AT THE SEPT 14 BOARD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS MEETING
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS ACQUISITION TO SUPERVISOR MARTIN NOHE (COLES DISTRICT SUPERVISORS AT [email protected] and all Board Supervisors at [email protected] - type in subject line I SUPPORT THE SECOND ENTRANCE TO HELLWIG PARK!! and any other appropriate message you wish to put forth in support of this access point to the park!!
The opposition to this case is well organized and has generated significant support through petition and various email communications. Much of these allegations by the opposition have been exaggerated and misleading, or even false.
Opposition Statements are in black and Our Response is after :
Allegation #1: Not in My Back Yard Significant opposition has been generated by citizens living around the proposed second access.
The closest existing home is over 400 feet from the proposed 2 lane park access road and the average existing home is over 500 feet away through densely wooded areas.
Allegation #2: Aden Road is dangerous and cant handle the additional traffic.
Many of the citizens opposing this access asked the BOCS to remove any future road improvements to Aden Road with the most current comprehensive plan update. Those complaining about the dangerous nature of this road live and use this road every day. Aden is like many other rural roads in PW County that citizens have been driving on for years. If the road is now currently dangerous, why would they not want improvements.
An actual traffic count was conducted by PWC in this location. A Turn Lane Warrant Analysis was prepared and Approved by both VDOT and PWC Transportation Department in April 2010. The Study resulted in only a right turn taper lane into the park entrance off Aden Road being required.
An Intersection Sight Distance Analysis has been prepared and provided to County Staff which indicates ample sight distance in both directions on Aden Road
Separation between the Keanon Ridge Subdivision to the East and the Liberty Oaks Section 3 main Entrance to the West and the proposed access road exceeds all VDOT requirements.
Allegation #3: The proposed Road is environmentally unfriendly:
The Developer of Liberty Oaks prepared a wetlands study with its development of Liberty Oaks and delineated existing wetlands in the area and protected such areas with platting a conservation area- specifically precluding any disturbance in conservation area.
The area protected by the Conservation Area is a pristine wetland feature commonly referred to as a vernal pool. Rather than this site creating an environmental problem, it actually provides for an educational tool as to how valuable wetland conservation areas can be!
The Proposed Road was carefully engineered in a location which eliminates any conflict with existing wetlands.
A road grading exhibit has been engineered and provided to County Staff to definitively show the road would NOT encroach on ANY wetlands.
The Developer of Liberty Oaks will reconfigure 3 lots or 30 acres to only provide enough land to install a two lane road.
Allegation #4: The Park Authority never planned for a second entrance. Quote: no plans included bisecting the park with a new Hellwig Highway to Aden Road. Now, the Park Authority has discovered they just gotta build a new road.
This is simply false. Coles Little League has been showing its membership the final site approved design since 2007. The second entrance is shown in this diagram thus proving the entrance has been in the plans for a very long time.
Other allegations:
Some have referred to the new access as The Hellwig Highway. This access is controlled by Park Authority, as is the Park area, and roadway out to Bristow Road. Significant use of speed bumps is currently used within the current park facility which would serve to eliminate the possibility of through road traffic. Common sense would dictate the average driver would not want to subject himself to the very congestion this road is intended to relieve.
Comments have been made that approved acquisition of land at the current Bristow Road entrance would solve the problem and should be given a chance. The parcel acquired at the Bristow Road entrance will improve the safety of the existing intersection; however, this new entrance configuration will NOT eliminate the traffic congestion and safety concern at the rear portion of the park. (nearly mile from the entrance) Nor will it relieve congestion at the entrance when park visitors try to leave the park simultaneously. Should the Park Authority be denied the approval of this acquisition, the developer of the Liberty Oaks, will simply put a home on the parcel making the access point unavailable in the future.
An allegation has been made that the Park Authority is subsidizing a developer stating this new road would provide access to un-built lots in the Liberty Oaks subdivision, saving the developer the cost of building their own road. In no means is this road subsidizing the developer. The developer already has driveway entrances cut into the adjoining lots directly to Aden Road. In fact, approved grading plans showing these driveway entrances, without any road being needed for these lots, are contained in the staff report.
An allegation that the new road would go through a conservation area intended to protect one wetland is completely false. The proposed road alignment, including a grading exhibit, has been provided to County staff, clearly depicting the avoidance of any portion of the existing conservation area.
Thank you.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE 2ND ENTRANCE TO HELLWIG PARK!!!!
The Prince William County Park Authority has contracted to Purchased 10 acres of land located on Aden Road between Keenan Ridge and Liberty Oaks main entrance. The Park Authority intends to use this land as a second entrance to Hellwig Park.
Hellwig Park has undergone a significant expansion of active use to include lighted ball fields for Coles Little League.
The Park now hosts soccer and little league events simultaneously creating significant on site traffic congestion. The Park Authority intends to utilize these ten acres of ground for a secondary access to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety within the park. This access would provide a significant Safety Improvement by allowing additional ingress and egress from the Park. Should an accident occur at the single entrance point, the additional access point would provide emergency vehicles a second way to enter or leave the Park.
As an additional educational Benefit of the ground proposed to be acquired, there is a high quality wetland, protected by the current developer with a 100 foot conservation area, located on part of the ground being acquired. This protected wetland area would provide an unparalleled opportunity for wetland education to park visitors.
The Planning Commission held a Public Facilities Review (PFR) and heard significant testimony from Citizens Opposing this acquisition. We only realized this PFR was taking place the day before; therefore we were significantly outnumbered by those opposing this acquisition. There was significant confusion over facts at the PFR! It appeared that a deferral of a vote would have been the most appropriate action, however, the PC was forced to vote due to statutory requirements which absent a vote to deny, would have resulted in an approval.
The Park Authority has appealed the denial by the Planning Commission, and the Board of County Supervisors will discuss this the evening of Sept 14, at 7:30 pm at the McCourt Building. Citizens will be allowed to speak at Citizens time, beginning at 7:30. You may show up early to sign up to speak!!!
WE NEED SIGNIFICANT CITIZEN SUPPORT FOR THIS ISSUE AND PARTICIPATION AT CITIZENS TIME TO CONVINCE THE SUPERVISORS THAT THE SAFTEY OF OUR CHILDREN FAR OUTWEIGHS THE OPPOSITIONS EXAGERATED ARGUMENTS OF TRAFFIC ON ADEN RD AND UNFOUNDED ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
PLEASE ATTEND AND SPEAK YOUR OPIONION AT THE SEPT 14 BOARD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS MEETING
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS ACQUISITION TO SUPERVISOR MARTIN NOHE (COLES DISTRICT SUPERVISORS AT [email protected] and all Board Supervisors at [email protected] - type in subject line I SUPPORT THE SECOND ENTRANCE TO HELLWIG PARK!! and any other appropriate message you wish to put forth in support of this access point to the park!!
The opposition to this case is well organized and has generated significant support through petition and various email communications. Much of these allegations by the opposition have been exaggerated and misleading, or even false.
Opposition Statements are in black and Our Response is after :
Allegation #1: Not in My Back Yard Significant opposition has been generated by citizens living around the proposed second access.
The closest existing home is over 400 feet from the proposed 2 lane park access road and the average existing home is over 500 feet away through densely wooded areas.
Allegation #2: Aden Road is dangerous and cant handle the additional traffic.
Many of the citizens opposing this access asked the BOCS to remove any future road improvements to Aden Road with the most current comprehensive plan update. Those complaining about the dangerous nature of this road live and use this road every day. Aden is like many other rural roads in PW County that citizens have been driving on for years. If the road is now currently dangerous, why would they not want improvements.
An actual traffic count was conducted by PWC in this location. A Turn Lane Warrant Analysis was prepared and Approved by both VDOT and PWC Transportation Department in April 2010. The Study resulted in only a right turn taper lane into the park entrance off Aden Road being required.
An Intersection Sight Distance Analysis has been prepared and provided to County Staff which indicates ample sight distance in both directions on Aden Road
Separation between the Keanon Ridge Subdivision to the East and the Liberty Oaks Section 3 main Entrance to the West and the proposed access road exceeds all VDOT requirements.
Allegation #3: The proposed Road is environmentally unfriendly:
The Developer of Liberty Oaks prepared a wetlands study with its development of Liberty Oaks and delineated existing wetlands in the area and protected such areas with platting a conservation area- specifically precluding any disturbance in conservation area.
The area protected by the Conservation Area is a pristine wetland feature commonly referred to as a vernal pool. Rather than this site creating an environmental problem, it actually provides for an educational tool as to how valuable wetland conservation areas can be!
The Proposed Road was carefully engineered in a location which eliminates any conflict with existing wetlands.
A road grading exhibit has been engineered and provided to County Staff to definitively show the road would NOT encroach on ANY wetlands.
The Developer of Liberty Oaks will reconfigure 3 lots or 30 acres to only provide enough land to install a two lane road.
Allegation #4: The Park Authority never planned for a second entrance. Quote: no plans included bisecting the park with a new Hellwig Highway to Aden Road. Now, the Park Authority has discovered they just gotta build a new road.
This is simply false. Coles Little League has been showing its membership the final site approved design since 2007. The second entrance is shown in this diagram thus proving the entrance has been in the plans for a very long time.
Other allegations:
Some have referred to the new access as The Hellwig Highway. This access is controlled by Park Authority, as is the Park area, and roadway out to Bristow Road. Significant use of speed bumps is currently used within the current park facility which would serve to eliminate the possibility of through road traffic. Common sense would dictate the average driver would not want to subject himself to the very congestion this road is intended to relieve.
Comments have been made that approved acquisition of land at the current Bristow Road entrance would solve the problem and should be given a chance. The parcel acquired at the Bristow Road entrance will improve the safety of the existing intersection; however, this new entrance configuration will NOT eliminate the traffic congestion and safety concern at the rear portion of the park. (nearly mile from the entrance) Nor will it relieve congestion at the entrance when park visitors try to leave the park simultaneously. Should the Park Authority be denied the approval of this acquisition, the developer of the Liberty Oaks, will simply put a home on the parcel making the access point unavailable in the future.
An allegation has been made that the Park Authority is subsidizing a developer stating this new road would provide access to un-built lots in the Liberty Oaks subdivision, saving the developer the cost of building their own road. In no means is this road subsidizing the developer. The developer already has driveway entrances cut into the adjoining lots directly to Aden Road. In fact, approved grading plans showing these driveway entrances, without any road being needed for these lots, are contained in the staff report.
An allegation that the new road would go through a conservation area intended to protect one wetland is completely false. The proposed road alignment, including a grading exhibit, has been provided to County staff, clearly depicting the avoidance of any portion of the existing conservation area.
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