Broadlands Hospital

I JUST CHECKED OUT THE BROADLANDS HOSPITAL "PROPAGANDA" SITE.
THEY HAVE ADDED SOME NEW THINGS.
IT IS A LOAD OF PR, SO HAVE YOUR BARFBAG HANDY.
ONE THING I FOUND PARTICULARLY AMUSING IS THE "PERSONAL LETTER YOU CAN WRITE" TO THIS GENTLEMAN:
DR. ROBERT STROUBE
COMMISSIONER OF VIRGINIA DEPT OF HEALTH
HCA ALSO GIVES YOU SOME... PLENTY! OF TEXT THAT YOU CAN CUT AND PASTE
INTO THE LETTER. I TRIED TO WRITE MY OWN LETTER BUT IT CRASHED MY COMPUTER. HMMM...

 

Well everyone obviously has their own opinion on this and it is either for or against, there really are no "fence sitters". If you are against this proposal by HCA please go to www.broadlandshospital.ORG and voice your opinion. I am asking that you write letters stating how you feel so that those letters can be included in the "Rebuttal" we are preparing for the elected officials and county health officials. We have petitions circulating and would welcome your signature on those. By NO means is this a done deal. HCA has not recieved approval and the BOS, etc have not even met to discuss this topic. Please get involved and join us if you want to stop this. If you have any questions on how you can help, please email me at: Dmfortier@erols.com. Thanks, Donna Fortier

Donna Fortier

 

Donna,

How did you determine there were no fence sitters? Your own web site lists 12 "Undecided" votes as of 1150 on 9/16.

As a "fence sitter," I'm still willing to listen to (or read) the "propaganda" from both sides and make up my own mind based on facts and what I perceive as the lesser of two evils. I don't care to have a hospital across the street from me but I also don't care to have the dense office building complex Terrabrook envisioned for (or could be built on) that piece of property.

However, I do know that the property will be developed and something will be built on it. The big problem is, what, if not the hospital? Look through the zoning document I provided you. There are other undesirable alternatives that can be built on that property as zoned, so there are no guarantees that the alternative(s) will be any more pleasing to the community. Maybe some alternatives will be less offensive to those who live further away from the property, but those who live closer will still have concerns and/or objections.

Greg

 

The impact on Glebe view dr will be tremendous.Ambulances are not the only vehicles that will be using our roads in an emergency.Anyone southwest of the hospital will use Glebeview in the occurance of an emergency as a cut through.

lyo

 

Yeah, Broadlands will be crowded with more than just Ashburn people.
The roads will be busy. We'll have to really keep an eye on the kids.
We just won't be able to let them ride through the woods unless
they are with a big group.
This just bums me out...
I never thought we would be talking hospital here....

 

You're joking, right?

 

SK8R

How come you consider the info posted on the Broadlands RMC web site propaganda but don't have a problem with the LHC long-term plans info on the Anti-Broadlands Hospital web site?? Or, the "Loudoun Healthcare: A True Community Partner" info?? If that's not propaganda or PR directly from the LHC PR folks, you need to explain what you consider propaganda.

Both hospitals are providing info that is certainly slanted toward presenting their view point. However, I just don't see how you can say the BRMC info is propaganda and not consider the LHC info to be the same.

I'm also interested in hearing where you obtained your information about the kids not being safe in the neighborhoods or walking through the woods if the hospital is built. It would be very helpful to know your source so I have facts to base my decision on.

GCyr

 

Think about it.
With a hospital here we will have increased traffic, and not just Ashburn traffic. It will be traffic from everywhere. Maybe not even just Loudoun County citizens.
That situation alone brings the possibility of increased
vulnerability to the citizens of Broadlands. Now I am not saying we should all be shaking with fear, but we are opening ourselves wider with a hospital here than say a 9-5 business.
With strangers regularly coming and going, you better keep your eye on more than your patio furniture and outside grill.

About the "propaganda".
I feel it is pretty sad that HCA has to give you prewritten statements
to cut and paste to "help" you compose your letter. I am sure they would not send the letter on if it had anything negative, but all of that cut and paste stuff is really cheesy. When I read it all, sorry, I had to hurl

 

I seem to recall that the School Board building going in next to the hospital site is also 5 stories.

 

Is crime a problem in Lansdowne? If it is, I haven't heard about it. I still don't see how we can stop this thing even if we wanted to. How do you convince the Board of Supervisors to vote down an offer to build a state-of-the-art medical center in the center of the population base? I personally would prefer the hospital not get built (mostly because I think that land would remain vacant for quite some time given the current commercial real estate market); however, I don't believe all the "sky is falling" rhetoric that is being thrown about.

 

Vapor8
Moderator <img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>


mod·er·a·tor
noun.

One that moderates, as:
One that arbitrates or mediates.
One who presides over a meeting, forum, or debate.


ar·gu·ment
noun.

A discussion in which disagreement is expressed; a debate.
A quarrel; a dispute.
A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood

-------------------------
Got Broadband? YES
Got Wireless? NOPE

Edited by - ornate_plate on 09/19/2002 19:39:06

 

Is there a point to your post? Besides definitions?

---------------
Got Broadband?

 

Hi. This is in response to Vapor8's comment,"How can an increase of traffic caused by patients and workers going to/from the new hospital, cause an increase in crime?".

Well, I think there is a possibility for an increase in crime only because it draws more people to this area who normally would never have driven here. It just draws more attention to what is here.

I agree that the hospital may increase crime, I don't know by how much, but it most likely will increase the probability. I live near Claiborne Parkway and because my house and my neighbhors house are visible from the highway, I think we are more likely to be targeted for crime. I never used to think this until, to my shock, on 3 separate occasions, cars have been vandalized, windows broken, and equipment stole in the last year from my little street. The main reason this occured,I think, is beause we are visisble from the busy road. So, the hospital will bring even more visitor to this community and could have the same effects.

One thing that I do not see how it can be disputed is the amount of traffic that the hospital will bring to this residential community. I am tired of sitting at lights every where I go. I have to commute to DC on the weekdays and moved here to get some distance from the traffic. This hospital WILL bring more traffic to Broadlands. A hospital does not belong in a residential community. A hospital belongs with other large businesses. The hospital fits in better where the AOL buildings are rather then the residential community in Broadlands. Granted, the area was slated for business use, but I do not think people pictured a hospital. Instead they most likely pictured a shopping center such as Ashburn Village-Something that BENEFITS the Broadlands community. Bottom line-the hospital does not beloing in Broadlands. The only reason it would be going there is for money. Plain & simple.

 

I cannot understand how locating a hospital in this particular parcel of land could be considered appropriate. While I have other areas of concern regarding this project I would like to address only traffic considerations at this time.

• While it is good to have a hospital located near a major highway, the Belmont Ridge Road interchange with the Dulles Toll Road is not the best choice. This road is currently a two lane road that will soon be taking on major traffic from numerous new residential developments including Lansdown, Belmont Country Club and Brambleton. While there is much talk about improvements to Belmont Ridge Road, I do not think we should assume it as fact for purposes of doing this assessment. The County and State are currently facing a major financial challenge and the governor has stated he is not willing to raise taxes. This means there may be no funds available to do the project. Without major road improvements this road will experience major traffic congestion due to already approved projects. Adding the traffic from the proposed hospital to this situation should be a serious concern to us all and to Broadlands residents in particular.
• The main entrance to the proposed hospital is Glebe View Road and Broadlands Blvd. Locating the main entrance of this facility at the intersection of a small local residential road (Glebe View Road) cannot be viewed as a rational decision. This is a small, windy road with single family houses. The local streets in Broadlands will become cut-through for cars attempting to avoid traffic back ups. This is not in character with the very residential streets south of Broadlands Blvd.
• HCA is looking at requesting special variances to allow access directly from Belmont Ridge Road and is hiring architects to tackle “a challenging dilemma”. VDOT does not allow access directly from major roads as it creates dangerous conditions and tends to slow traffic flow on these type roads. I do not think that a community should be forced to accept unsafe driving conditions and additional traffic congestion in their neighborhood unless there was a compelling reason as to why this was required.
• This community will also be affected by emergency vehicles driving at excessive speeds with sirens. There will also be private individuals driving to the hospital under emergency situations. This is a negative to the community that will have to endure noise pollution and potentially dangerous driving conditions in their community.

While I would expect HCA to select the site that provides them the highest profits I would also expect our elected officials and the residents of the area in question to insist on making any approvals or endorsements contingent on community impact assessments. There should also be a requirement that alternative sites are evaluated. For example there is vacant land west of Loudoun County Pkwy and south of the Dulles Toll Road that is being evaluated as an urban/transportation hub for eastern Loudoun County. This area to be known as Moorefield Station includes a 596 acre parcel that is still in the planning stages. It is bordered on the east by commercial development. It will be designed to have a gradual transition to a suburban environment to the west. Might there be an alternative site within these 596 acres that can be properly planned out to accommodate a hospital? Might there be an opportunity for all concerned parties to mitigate many of the negative impacts that will surely be brought on the residents of Broadlands. I’m sure there are other locations that might be evaluated and offered as viable alternatives to this obviously poor decision to locate in Broadlands. Let’s insist that our elected officials understand what there role should be.

 

Hi everyone,

I have posted a similar request on our website and thought about posting here as well. We are asking that any of you that are concerned about this hospital coming to please put your thoughts on paper and email it to me at: Dmfortier@erols.com. These letters will be included in our rebuttal that is going to the state and all officials involved in this decision. Also for those of you that have emailed me and have not signed the petition and want to you can come by my house. If you need my address please email me and i will give it to you. THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL SO PLEASE GET INVOLVED NOW&gt;

Donna Fortier