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HotForce and Community Concerns, Issues, and Priorities
December 2002

HotForce and Community Concerns,
Issues, and Priorities

Regarding

Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Clifton, Va

This memo identifies concerns and issues that have been identified to date by the Hotforce Committee, and suggests a set of priorities to guide our relationship with the NVRPA and GMU.

The following concerns and issues were identified (not exhaustive):

  1. Continuing concern about safety on the road (Yates Ford) and the volume of traffic generated by Hemlock programs.
  2. Concern about adverse impacts on the environment by the Hemlock programs, including pollution from cars and busses, noise, adverse impacts on neighboring residents, creation of erosion, run-off, stream bed degradation, etc.
  3. Concern over the direction of GMU programs--is the university using Hemlock for programs other than outdoor education experiences for school children, and do they intend to grow those programs?
  4. Concern over reacting too negatively to programs at Hemlock. We should try to avoid being accused of the NIMBY syndrome.
  5. Concerns about GMU accomplishing corporate education at Hemlock versus focus on the outdoor education of youth. The temptation by GMU is to use Corporate education as a quick way of charging premium rates for programs to increase cash flow to the program. Corporate education can be accomplished elsewhere. Hemlock should be used for its main, unique intended purpose.
  6. The NVRPA is intended to principally support activities for Northern Virginia residents. One way to discourage uncontrolled growth in utilization by groups outside the D.C. area would be to charge differential pricing, whereby outsiders pay more for programs than N.Va and other local groups. Local taxes support the Park. Therefore, others should pay more.
  7. The NVRPA has identified the portion of the Park that is to be heavily used by the outdoor education programs. Those areas are removed by some distance from the homes that border the Park in Noble Estates. Concern was expressed that utilization of other areas, such as closer to Noble Estates has created noise and disturbances to those homeowners and families. Program activities should be limited to the areas identified in the Management Plan, and a buffer maintained between these activities and nearby residences.
  8. Concern continues over the size, plan use, and location of a planned new building at Hemlock. There seems to be some time before such a building could be constructed. Hotforce has an interest in this building, and is not opposed to improvements that fit the Management and Operations plans, but it is important to the community that any such building fit the plans, fit the community, and fit the overall environment of the area. Hotforce and NVRPA should work very close together in any development of new construction at Hemlock to make sure all needs are met.

Hotforce Priorities:

The following priorities are suggested for Hotforce and the Hemlock Community (not exhaustive):

  1. 1. Hotforce and the Hemlock community should continue to support children's nature and outdoor education programs at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park.
  2. It is essential to the community that Hotforce and NVRPA pin down the exact programs planned at Hemlock and the land use of the park. This should be explicit, clear, and focused. The Management and Operation plans should identify the limits of capacity and the limits of future growth.
  3. Hotforce and the community should be opposed to any use of Hemlock as an extension of programs by GMU that are outside children's nature and outdoor education programs which have been successful at Hemlock and which are unique in the Northern Virginia area.
  4. Continued concern exists over traffic and safety.
    1. Hotforce and the community should continue to oppose any tour bus use on Yates Ford Road, and a date certain should be set and adhered to for stopping these busses.
    2. In support of traffic safety concerns, the promised VDOT traffic survey should be done ASAP. It should be comprehensive, to clearly identify traffic entering Yates Ford Road, that terminating and starting in the housing areas along Yates Ford, and that terminating and starting at the Hemlock Overlook Park. This is essential to draw a baseline of impact of Park traffic on Yates Ford Road.
    3. There is some evidence—observed locally—that Yates Ford is already over capacity in auto and bus usage considering the width and curves in the road. A definitive level of acceptable use needs to be established.
  5. The NVRPA and GMU should provide Hotforce with a full accounting of persons who are employed at Hemlock (Park, GMU, part-time), those who reside at Hemlock (Park, GMU, part-time), the responsibilities of these persons, their costs, and how they are paid.
  6. Hotforce and the community should support any NVRPA or Fairfax County plans for a walking/bike path adjacent to Yates Ford Road from Kincheloe Road to the Park. Because of costs, this might be down the road a little, but from a safety standpoint, it would remove pedestrians, runners, children, and bicycles from the roadway.
  7. Hotforce and the community should urge GMU to move any corporate education to other locations, which would not adversely impact traffic, safety, and proper utilization of Hemlock.
  8. Hotforce and the community should participate with NVRPA in the planning and approval process for an appropriate new structure on Hemlock. Concerns about this building include size, use, and placement. These must be in full agreement with the Management and Operations Plans.
  9. Differential pricing should be introduced for groups coming from outside the D.C. area, thereby giving priority to local school children--the parents of these children who pay the taxes to support the park.
  10. It is necessary for Hotforce and the community to fully understand the lines of demarcation (borders) of Hemlock Overlook Park, Bull Run Marina, Bull Run Park, and any acreage in between these parks that is not now included in these three parks. It is essential that it be very clear what is included in Hemlock and what is included in other areas--as well as their use.
  11. Hotforce should support a comprehensive study of the history of the land in Hemlock Park. It is known to the community that this area was an important Railroad Junction during the Civil War, and it changed hands several times. Some Civil War trenches still exist. The body of historical sites and information on the Park property should be known and included in the Management and Operations Plans.
  12. Hotforce should coordinate well with the Clifton Town Council. Many of the impacts of Park programs felt by the immediate Hemlock community are also felt by the residents of the Town of Clifton. This should be a full and supportive partnership as the Park further defines its programs and the size of these programs.

Drafted by David Smith

Phone: 703 749-9134
Fax: 703 356-3858