Proposed development will bring more traffic and noise to Queensmill area

Dear Editor,

For the second time in less than a year, the 550 homeowners of Queensmill subdivision are faced with a new subdivision plan along Coalfield Road that is simply unacceptable. The proposed Queensgate subdivision would force 1,500 new cars per day through Queensmill and make Lady Ashley Road a main traffic artery, taking over 3,000 cars per day. Lady Ashley Road was not built for that traffic, nor do the children and families along Lady Ashley Road believe that many cars are a safe situation.

At the most recent meeting with the Chesterfield County Planning Commission, several statements were made that simply do not make sense to Queensmill residents. A county senior planning staffer, Amy Somervell, did not know the name of the owner of the proposed new subdivision. The other county staff member present, Stan Newcomb, stated that even if the traffic count on Lady Ashley Road goes over 3,000 cars per day, more than twice the limit now allowed by the county, he did not care, he was going to support the proposal. We were also told that this proposal does not have to go before the board of supervisors.

The proposed Queensgate subdivision would put 125 new homes along Route 288, with only a berm that would bring traffic noise over the new homes and down into Queensmill. It has no elementary school plan, other than to force more trailers at the already overcrowded Watkins and Evergreen elementary schools. It will become a new, northern Virginia-style eyesore along Route 288, and eventually force the county to spend thousands of dollars to put up noise abatement walls.

Our questions are many. How can we get the commission to "care" about the citizens currently residing in the county? How come this proposal does not have to go before the supervisors? Why do we want to look like overcrowded northern Virginia? Why are we stuffing in another subdivision in an area that already has overcrowded schools and stressed county services without a proper road plan that meets current county standards and a proper school proposal other than more trailers?

The last election in Chesterfield was turned upon unlimited growth versus proper planning and common sense for the current citizens of Chesterfield. The politicians who spoke of common sense won the election. We ask them: does this make sense to you? Do we need the noise, traffic and overcrowded schools these 125 homes will bring? When one of the 3,000 cars per day hits a child on Lady Ashley Road, what will your new proposal be?

Bob Lawrence, Vice President

Queensmill Civic Association According to Planning Director Kirk Turner, "Subdivision of property by law is a ministerial function normally accomplished by a county's paid staff. In this particular instance, conditions of approval of the larger Centerpointe project require the proposed subdivision plan to be reviewed and approved by the planning commission at a public meeting. The applicant submitting a subdivision plan has the right by law to resubmit plans for approval that were previously denied as many times as the applicant cares to." Editor