More Traffic Along Route 50?
Public Hearing on Rt 50 Corridor
On Monday, April 17, the Planning Commission will hear citizen comments on the Route 50/Arcola CPAM (Comprehensive Plan Amendment).

The CPAM proposes significant changes to the growth plan for the Dulles Community/Route 50 corridor, specifically the area from the Fairfax County border that stretches west past Gum Spring/Belmont Ridge Road. A map is available on page 4 of the county report (PDF file).

It's critical that the Planning Commission hear from all residents of Loudoun County, especially those citizens who live in South Riding, Stone Ridge, Brambleton, and other neighborhoods along Route 50.  If approved, these changes will affect all of us.  Please speak up!

Public Hearing
Monday, April 17, 6:30 PM
County Government Center

In this alert:
1. Overview of the proposed changes
2. More details

1.  Overview of the proposed changes
The CPAM proposal, based on recommendations from a developer-led taskforce, would have significant consequences for the Route 50 area and the entire county.  If approved, these changes would:

• Add 3,890 new houses along Route 50, part of the Dulles Community that is only about 46% built out -- more than 10,000 new houses are approved but not yet built.  How much longer will our commutes be? How high will our taxes go?
• Implement a fragmented planning process that unfairly impacts county residents.  By looking at only a part of the Route 50 corridor in isolation, impacts of the proposed changes on surrounding communities were not considered (for example, the number of new residents that would drive through Ashburn to commute to work).
• Negatively impact the county's economy. There is already more than adequate residential and retail development planned for the area.  Adding even more could limit industrial and airport-related businesses and cost taxpayers for the necessary infrastructure.

If you pay Loudoun County taxes, sit in Loudoun County traffic, and have children in Loudoun County schools, these changes will impact you regardless of where you live.  Please speak up, and be sure to provide your name and address.

• Add over three times the students to our already overburdened schools^,
• Come with a price tag of an anticipated $101 million in capital costs^, and
• Further increase Route 50 traffic congestion -- need we say more?

The proposed changes to the growth plan would also:

• Add five times the amount of retail development than is currently planned for.  A study commissioned by the county shows that currently zoned retail space will more than meet the needs of the area through 2030.  Of the retail development currently planned for, only 26% has been built.*
• Improve the look of the "Route 50 Gateway to Loudoun."  However, these aesthetic and landscape improvements can be made without adding new houses and retail development.

^County Staff Report for CPAM 2005-0007, Arcola Area/Route 50 CPAM
*Loudoun County 2004 Growth Summary.  The retail development analysis was prepared for the county by Basile, Baumann, Prost, and Associates, Inc.

For more information:
County staff report for the public hearing (PDF file)
County information on the Route 50/Arcola area
County information on the Route 50 Taskforce

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