Occoquan Watershed Coalition Archives, Occoquan Reservoir Crossing Board Matter

Archives Occoquan Reservoir Crossing Board Matter

Archives
Occoquan Reservoir Crossing Board Matter

The Board has repeatedly taken steps to protect the Occoquan Reservoir and its watershed. In 1971, the County joined surrounding jurisdictions to implement the "Occoquan Policy" and thereby eliminate point sources of pollution that threatened the Reservoir and the ecological setting of the watershed. The County then addressed non-point sources of pollution, such as roads, high density and industrial development. In 1979 the Board initiated the Occoquan Basin Study, eventually downzoning, in 1982, approximately 40,000 acres of land in the watershed.

Between 1982 and 1993, the County successfully defended its actions to protect the watershed and the Reservoir in a series of lawsuits brought against it. In 1994, the Planning Commission considered seven Comprehensive Plan amendments that would have directly attacked nearly 25 years of effort to protect the watershed through sensible land management. The Planning Commission did not act favorably on any of these nominations to amend the Comprehensive Plan.

The Board's commitment to preserve the Watershed has extended to road projects. You will remember that in 1981, the Board deleted the "Ridgefield Road/Lee Chapel Road " extension from the Comprehensive Plan. In 1987, VDOT replaced this road on the 2010 Sub-Regional Transportation Plan. Because of VDOT's action, the Board helped promote the I-95 Corridor Study, which clearly showed that the origin and destination of travelers would not be aided by a mid-Reservoir crossing. The Board reaffirmed its commitment to the revised County Comprehensive Plan and asked that VDOT remove the "Ridgefield Road" line from the 2010 transportation Plan.

In 1995, VDOT made another attempt to place a road across the Reservoir, proposing to consider over twenty possible routes directly spanning this source of drinking water and suggesting a route that would require a crossing near the Yates Ford Road Bridge. The Board directed the formation of a citizen's working group to provide direct input to the County's Transportation Advisory Commission. This Citizen's group rejected any attempt to evaluate specific routes, but instead reached consensus on a series of criteria by which to evaluate specific routes. First among the citizens concerns was the need for valid data on the need for a central crossing over the Reservoir.

The Boards of Fairfax and Prince William Counties formed a Joint Subcommittee of Supervisors to examine protection of the Reservoir in light of transportation requirements. They commissioned an origin/destination study of the traffic moving from Prince William County and points south, to Fairfax County and destinations north and east of the Occoquan reservoir and Bull Run. The origin/destination study unequivocally demonstrated the lack of need for a central crossing of the Reservoir. The Joint Subcommittee ratified their findings of no need for a central crossing in November 1998.

While this study was ongoing, VDOT, in September 1998, again placed a central corridor, similar to "Ridgefield Road" on the "Northern Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan/Improvements Beyond 2020."

We have learned our lessons on how to protect our vital water supply, the watershed and our southern ecological preserve. We must be ever vigilant. Based on our long history of action to protect the watershed and armed with convincing transportation evidence,

I move that the Board of Supervisors again reaffirm its commitment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan and restate the Board's firm opposition to any central crossing of the Occoquan Reservoir from the eastern bridge at Route 123 to the western most boundary of the Reservoir. In light of previous VDOT actions, the Board should authorize the Chairman to send a letter to VDOT reaffirming it's clear intention that no such crossing be added, or shown, on any Northern Virginia Transportation Plan, for 2020 or beyond.

The Board of Supervisors, passed Supervisor McConnell's motion by a unanimous vote!

Archives
Occoquan Reservoir Crossing Board Matter

January 24, 2000

The following Board Matter was presented by Supervisor Elaine McConnell, Springfield District, at a Meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on January 24, 2000:
Madame Chairman:

The Board has repeatedly taken steps to protect the Occoquan Reservoir and its watershed. In 1971, the County joined surrounding jurisdictions to implement the "Occoquan Policy" and thereby eliminate point sources of pollution that threatened the Reservoir and the ecological setting of the watershed. The County then addressed non-point sources of pollution, such as roads, high density and industrial development. In 1979 the Board initiated the Occoquan Basin Study, eventually downzoning, in 1982, approximately 40,000 acres of land in the watershed.

Between 1982 and 1993, the County successfully defended its actions to protect the watershed and the Reservoir in a series of lawsuits brought against it. In 1994, the Planning Commission considered seven Comprehensive Plan amendments that would have directly attacked nearly 25 years of effort to protect the watershed through sensible land management. The Planning Commission did not act favorably on any of these nominations to amend the Comprehensive Plan.

The Board's commitment to preserve the Watershed has extended to road projects. You will remember that in 1981, the Board deleted the "Ridgefield Road/Lee Chapel Road " extension from the Comprehensive Plan. In 1987, VDOT replaced this road on the 2010 Sub-Regional Transportation Plan. Because of VDOT's action, the Board helped promote the I-95 Corridor Study, which clearly showed that the origin and destination of travelers would not be aided by a mid-Reservoir crossing. The Board reaffirmed its commitment to the revised County Comprehensive Plan and asked that VDOT remove the "Ridgefield Road" line from the 2010 transportation Plan.

In 1995, VDOT made another attempt to place a road across the Reservoir, proposing to consider over twenty possible routes directly spanning this source of drinking water and suggesting a route that would require a crossing near the Yates Ford Road Bridge. The Board directed the formation of a citizen's working group to provide direct input to the County's Transportation Advisory Commission. This Citizen's group rejected any attempt to evaluate specific routes, but instead reached consensus on a series of criteria by which to evaluate specific routes. First among the citizens concerns was the need for valid data on the need for a central crossing over the Reservoir.

The Boards of Fairfax and Prince William Counties formed a Joint Subcommittee of Supervisors to examine protection of the Reservoir in light of transportation requirements. They commissioned an origin/destination study of the traffic moving from Prince William County and points south, to Fairfax County and destinations north and east of the Occoquan reservoir and Bull Run. The origin/destination study unequivocally demonstrated the lack of need for a central crossing of the Reservoir. The Joint Subcommittee ratified their findings of no need for a central crossing in November 1998.

While this study was ongoing, VDOT, in September 1998, again placed a central corridor, similar to "Ridgefield Road" on the "Northern Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan/Improvements Beyond 2020."

We have learned our lessons on how to protect our vital water supply, the watershed and our southern ecological preserve. We must be ever vigilant. Based on our long history of action to protect the watershed and armed with convincing transportation evidence,

I move that the Board of Supervisors again reaffirm its commitment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan and restate the Board's firm opposition to any central crossing of the Occoquan Reservoir from the eastern bridge at Route 123 to the western most boundary of the Reservoir. In light of previous VDOT actions, the Board should authorize the Chairman to send a letter to VDOT reaffirming it's clear intention that no such crossing be added, or shown, on any Northern Virginia Transportation Plan, for 2020 or beyond.

The Board of Supervisors, passed Supervisor McConnell's motion by a unanimous vote!