HCA Offers $8M for Rt. 659

This story was reported in Leesburg Today.
Not only would BRMC bring millions in taxes to the county
but now they are offering a to improve Belmont Ridge Rd.
so that residents on Rt. 50 corridor will have easier access.
This will also address issues raised by the planning commission.

skins fan


HCA Offers $8M for Rt. 659
Leesburg Today
Dusty Smith

May 19, 2005 -- With the recent reaffirmation of state health department approvals, Hospital Corporation of America is now gearing up for a public hearing regarding its local land use applications that the board of supervisors must authorize before construction can begin on a 164-bed hospital in Broadlands.

As part of the package, HCA representatives Thursday announced the company would proffer $8 million toward road improvements for Rt. 659 with the goal of improving access to medical care for residents in the Rt. 50 corridor.

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http://www.leesburg2day.com/current.cfm?catid=17&newsid=10664

 

Was wondering when HCA would start "throwing money" into the equation.

 

The more they throw, the better!!

 

Yeah baby! Maybe I can get me a new set of irons. Or better yet, get the BoS some new clubs!

 

FWIW .. 8 million is a drop in the bucket with the costs of widening 659 to 50.

Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Neilz, you seem to always have the answers. Can you help with this one:

If BRMC isn't built and an office building goes there. How much will the office building have to provide in road funds?

 

That's a great question. I've got another one: How much has LHC/Invoa contributed to the utterly inept and poorly planned Route 7 access to LHC's campus? I find it amazing that it takes me 20-25 minutes to get from my house in Southern to LHC.

 

If I understood the article correctly, we'll learn a lot more when the official proffer goes to staff for review. $8M is a very large drop in the bucket, but the devil will be in the details of how it is allocated, and how it CAN be allocated within the existing structure of who is already responsible for what, and what the right of way issues are, particularly if they're talking about relocated 659.

That will be pretty interesting on its own, given that the Tri-County Pkwy/Battlefield Bypass issue has generated a month's worth of leafleting by interest groups against any north-south road construction in Loudoun. The disinfo we're getting here has been very strong against any alignment on 659, because it is a "stealth outer beltway". If the enviro-groups hold to their policy of the moment, the impact will be greater in the northern portion of 659 than in the portion below 50 (in Loudoun--south of 50 659 is flailed for impacting Manassas), because of the whole "Central Reserve" project at PEC. Oatlands, Banshee Reeks, Beaverdam Reservoir.

We'll see what happens. How does it improve access for everyone west of 15?

Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

Neil,

$8M is not exactly a drop in the bucket.
Perhaps you didn't read the article? BRMC stated that the $8M along with other proffers in hand or anticipated would likely cover the cost of improvements to Belmont Ridge all the way to Rt. 50. Not to mention that is $8M that we taxpayers don't have to cover and the road gets widened much sooner.

skins fan

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"Combined with proffers in hand or anticipated from other developers, Looney estimated the money would cover the cost of improvements from the Greenway to Rt. 50.

And if there’s not enough to cover the portion of the relocation of Rt. 659 from just north of Brambleton to Rt. 50, the county can set aside the hospital’s tax revenue for three or four years to pay for that need, Looney said.

“We have done everything that has been asked of us to mitigate the concerns, to give the county what they’ve asked for,” Looney said. “Now we’re stepping up and taking care of one of the county’s top road priorities.”
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I don't believe any office building developer has to proffer anything toward roads, that's an already approved use for that area. No need to throw money when you don't need a zoning change.

FWIW ... money has already been allocated to widen Rt 659 to 4 lanes from Truro Parish to the Greenway. This is already in the current proffers for Broadlands, as well as some developments along Belmont Ridge.

However, the area between Truro Parish & Brambleton will need some road funds to build to 4 lanes.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

The routes to RT 7 existed long before LHC built in Landsdowne, both Belmont Ridge and Ashburn Road were major roadways from well before the Broadlands were developed.

However, I believe by spring/summer 2006 (or 2007), Claiborne should be straight through to Rt 7. I know that there was some talk with the county about the overpass for the W&OD trail and entrances created on both sides of the road.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I'd like to know what 'anticipated' proffers there are besides what is being done in Brambleton? There are still alot of farmland, and privately owned areas of Belmont Ridge before you hit Aldie.

And exactly where are they going to route 659 through the village of Aldie? RIght now its 2 lane to Loudoun County Parkway (Rt 606).

They could probably spend less than 8 million to buy some land there around Rt 50.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

neilz-
Route 659 is being relocated to the west. You can see this as you drive south on Rte 659 from Broadlands. Just before the new high school, you can see where the road will veer to the right.
Because of this relocation, I don't know that there are any plans to widen roads through Arcola (which is what I think you mean instead of Aldie).
There are only proffers to do a 2 lane improvement on Rte 659 from Broadlands Blvd to Truro Parish. The hospital was planning to widen 659 from the Greenway to Broadlands Blvd. to 4 lanes. The additional money being proffered will pay for widening 659 to 4 lanes from Broadlands Blvd to Truro Parish.
This then leaves the "gap" of 659 from Truro Parish to the new relocated 659 that has no proffer money for widening.

 

Cliff is right, and I think there are some right of way issues on the relocation. Between solidifying right of way and what it costs per mile per lane, I think we'll all get better info when the specifics on both sides are available for review (if everybody prints them).

While the relo handles taking the traffic out of the jig-jog through Arcola (which then allows Arcola to get its village back), it also goes closer to Beaverdam. This should get interesting when all the impervious surface, riparian buffer, and water people get involved (if they do, which will also be interesting).


Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

I just looked at the aerial photography for the area (a little out of date, it doesn't show the current work, but that private runway is probably exactly where they want to run the road...

 

If you mean Glasscock (sp?) field, NW corner of intersection of 659 and 50, I believe the current alignment for the relo is west of there, near the power line easement. It swings up west of the existing intersection of Evergreen Mills and Belmont Ridge, comes through Brambleton, and back out near Briar Woods.

The airstrip is on land owned by someone who owns the other three corners too, if I've learned right, and that is affecting some of the planned improvements to 50 and that intersection (on all corners), primarily because of the negotiations on price for the land.

You might want to look at the aerials for Stone Ridge. The ongoing construction in that community is about up to the powerline area. Kirkpatrick (Greenvest) has a portion, and Luck Stone may have a bit all the way down at Bull Run. Since Stone Ridge is a Van Metre community too, you could probably get good info through your own declarant. The Van Metre rep at Stone Bridge is top notch, so I bet you'd get good info.

Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

Cliff,

correct on Arcola vs. Aldie ... but down there on Rt 50, just accross from Stone Ridge, a client has an Aldie mailing address ... which is why I was thinking Aldie.

The 659 relocation is only to bypass Brambleton, it will then dump further west onto the road that Belmont Ridge hits at the blinking stoplights. That's a two lane, with nothing scheduled for improvement past that point, to Rt 50 .. so there are still bottlenecks from Rt 50.

About the widening of 659 from Truro Parish ... I had thought Van Metre was busily getting working on getting additional proffers from the developers along that section of Belmont Ridge in order to widen that area.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Steve Snow was quoted in Leesburg Today regarding the BRMC offer:
http://www.leesburg2day.com/current.cfm?catid=17&newsid=10694
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The new proposal did not perk the ears of Supervisor Stephen J. Snow (R-Dulles), who has championed other efforts to get developers to increase funding for roads, schools and parks.

“It’s all about geography: location, location, location,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if they give $20 million or $30 million. They need to move to the Dulles South area. I’ve told them that 10 or 20 times.”
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Pretty arrogant to say that he would turn down any amount
of money for road improvements and does not care if BRMC
addresses the issues raised by planning. Snow also doesn't
care about the $3 - $4 million per year in taxes that BRMC
would generate for the county. Obviously he wants to bully
HCA or Inova into building a hospital where he thinks it
should go regardless of need, population or the fact that a
Rt. 50 facility would not be built for 10 - 15 years.

This just goes to show how Snow represents our district.

 

Sad but not surprising. Totally hypocritical.

At the least acknowledge the significants of the offer. One can continue to have the view Dulles South should get their hospital first, but don't discount a VERY significant offer to support our dismissmal road infrastructure needs.

Additionally, they don't get it: NO ONE WANTS TO BUILD A HOSPITAL WHERE IT IS NOT COST JUSTIFIED! No one, HCA or INOVA.

This opinion is completely disregarding our traffic situation. The 659 enhancements are not just for a hospital!

What's the alternative. Higher taxes? We certainly aren't going to get $8,000,000 from an office building. Additionally that 8M is only a portion of the infrastructure enhancements for the area offered by HCA.

This comment, by our Supervisor proves: logic is not part of the decision cycle. Other motives are driving this issue. Motives not congruent with our road or healthcare needs.

(p.s. if someone is upset about continuing to read about the hospital issue... why did you open the thread and read this. I have no interest in the American Idol thread, and have never looked in it. Doesn't mean I don't think it's not relevant to some. I am just pointing out, you have a choice. If you complain, I have to conclude you're more interested in stiffling debate. Debate that is producing logic you may not agree with)

 

Good PS AFGM!!! haha

Snow is an idiot...he doesn't care about the "district", he only cares about South Riding. He has tried to pride himself on all the "things" he's gotten developers to build. Now they are offering a good chunk of change and all of sudden it isn't about the money or services? Now its about location. You're right AFGM, he is a hypocrypt.

What's funny is that INOVA is the one saying they won't build for at least 10 years. How come all the pro South Riding hospital folks aren't protesting that issue? After all it was Loudoun Hospital that got everyone all hyped up about the three for all...where are they now? If I had been all for that scam sorry cpam...I'd be madder then a wet hen right now. Maybe the hospital ferry is going to come along and build it.