Welcome to the Government Affairs page! This
page is to inform the Piedmont community of County and State
issues that might have some impact on our community and
those surrounding us. This page is meant to support the
community interest inside and outside the gates of Piedmont.
Views and opinions posted here may or may not reside with
the opinions and views of the Piedmont residents, Committees
or Board of Directors as they are merely meant to inform.
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Old Carolina Road Widening Project |
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The long awaited and much discussed widening of Old Carolina
Road is just around the corner! Thanks in large part to the
efforts of Gainesville District Supervisor John Stirrup, our
Board of Directors and our two past presidents, Wayne Murphy
and Tom Rush, this project, which was originally slated for
2018, is scheduled to get underway sometime in December of
this year, or January of next year. This is a full 10 years
ahead of schedule, and not a moment too soon.
Old Carolina will be widened to four lanes just south of the
intersection of Piedmont Vista Drive and Old Carolina Road,
and will be accompanied by a ten foot wide shared-use trail
running from Heathcote Boulevard in the south to Route 15 in
the north, which will connect the Old Carolina Estates
section of the community to Gated Piedmont. The trail will
run within the right-of-way on the eastern shoulder of Old
Carolina Road in the approximate vicinity of the right turn
lane onto Pennshire heading north on Old Carolina in its
current configuration
I met with Jim Coles of Rinker Design Associates on Friday,
May 30, at the intersection of Pennshire Drive and Old
Carolina Road to discuss the impact of widening Old Carolina
Road on Piedmont, and to review the preliminary plans. Mr.
Cole is a transportation engineer and the Right-of-Way
Coordinator for this project, which is being done under the
auspices of the Public Private Transportation Act.
Overall, the effect will be to straighten Old Carolina Road
and push its route off to the west through the woods on the
Westmarket side of the road. The curb at the southernmost
corner of Pennshire and Old Carolina will be a full twenty
two feet west of its current location, thereby mitigating
the impact on adjacent owners, as promised by Supervisor
Stirrup. The existing asphalt trails will be removed and a
concave drainage depression (all turf -- no rip rap)
installed within newly-created easements put in their place.
Widening Old Carolina Road will also include installation of
a traffic signal at the intersection of Heathcote Boulvard
and Old Carolina Road, raising the height of Old Carolina
Road roughly four feet above its current level at the
intersection of Pennshire, and increasing to ten feet
heading north approaching Little Bull Run, and a four foot
raised median in the vicinity of Old Carolina Estates.
Unfortunately, there will be no left turn from Pennshire
Drive onto Old Carolina Road once the project is complete.
Old Carolina Road will be closed between Heathcote Boulevard
and Piedmont Vista Drive, with traffic being re-routed over
the Heathcote extension, which is currently under
construction and which will be open before Old Carolina is
closed, and Route 15. The main entrance to Piedmont,
however, should not be affected.
This is a big project which will benefit the whole
community. I encourage you to contact me with any questions,
and to consider thanking Supervisor Stirrup for his efforts
on our behalf.
Patrick Heelen, Community Manager
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crackdown
on illegal immigration |
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As reported in Wednesday's (30 Apr 2008) edition of the
Washington Times, the Prince William Board of County
Supervisors voted unanimously to strengthen and expand its
crackdown on illegal immigration. See the story here:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080430/METRO/823602705/1004.
Prior to this change, our police officers could check the
immigration status of only those people for whom the officer
had probable cause to believe were illegal immigrants. Now,
police MUST check the immigration status of ALL people who
are arrested (including those arrested for less serious
crimes and released on summons). Also, the Board retained
the officers' discretion to check immigration status of
those detained for any purpose, even minor infractions. As a
result of these actions, our police will be checking the
immigration status of more people committing crimes in the
County. I know that there was some confusion by other news
sources concerning the effects of the Board's action last
evening (29 Apr) , and I have been contacting those sources
today asking them to correct their stories.
Corey Stewart, Chairman, PWC BOCS
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roadwork in the area |
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Contrary to some reports (((((rumors))))) the County and
Commonwealth (((((state))))) budget shortfalls will not
prevent completion of these ((((critical))))) road
improvements in our area:
1. The widening of US 15 (((((widening))))) to four lanes
from I 66 to Route 234;
2. The extension of Heathcote Boulevard to US 15;
3. The Old Carolina widening and bridge improvements from
Piedmont’s front entrance to Heathcote Boulevard; and
4. The I 66 widening/Route 29 interchange improvements.
All of the foregoing projects are funded by a voter approved
bond and public-private partnership agreements, and are on
track.
However, the budget shortfalls may prevent:
1. A Minnieville Road improvement;
2. Prince William Parkway improvements; and
3. A Route 28 improvement.
We were unaware of any property issues due to the current
approved work with the exception of a utility easement
granted by the HOA Board in 200____ near our front sign for
the US15 widening. We are seeking clarification from the
County on a reported possible impact of the Old Carolina
realignment.
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power
line update |
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The power line request for a new line south and east of our
area is still before the State Corporation Commission. All
testimony is completed. We await a decision. The primary
proposed line will not be near Piedmont, but an alternate
does parallel I66 south of us.
The broader DOE national corridor designation for our area
was opposed by the HOA, local government, state government,
congressional offices, and environmental groups. It would
allow the Commonwealth and SCC to be overruled
(((((bypassed))))) in the name of national security and
allow the power companies to use the federal government’s
broad condemnation powers (((((given to the power
companies))))) to obtain for new lines. Testimony last year
ran overwhelmingly against the designation but the
designation by DOE went ahead with strong energy company
support.
Since then a myriad of law suits have been filed by many
states all over the country and groups to include Virginia
asking for a rehearing. The main issue here is whether the
existing eminent domain power of the federal government,
granted to it by the U.S. Constitution, should be used
(((((being extended))))) without local (((((input or proper
justification))))) agreement.
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Power Line
related |
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New
500-kV Power Line Proposed
Dominion and Allegheny Power have announced
plans for a 500-kilovolt power line through
Frederick, Warren, Fauquier, Prince William and
Loudoun counties. The proposed towers would stand up
to 177 feet tall and require a 150-200 foot wide
right-of-way. The line would cut through private
land, publicly held open space, neighborhoods,
historic sites, historic districts, magnificent
viewsheds and a high concentration of conservation
easements. Allegheny and PJM Interconnection are
seeking federal eminent domain authority (through
FERC) for the sitting of this line.
MORE INFO > |
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POWER LINE LINKS AND INFORMATION:
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Visit the
PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
for great information!
They have added the
power line related legislation to their website. Please
take a look - there are some great bills that are in need of
your support. Take a hard look at House Bills 2397, 2399,
2398, 2119, 2402, 2401, 2708, and 3031. To see an example of
a bill that shouldn't be supported, see
SB 1150. |
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The Gainesville Express Vol 12 (PDF) - Supervisor
Stirrup's Newsletter
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Visit: www.whosedominion.org
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See the recent
Piedlink
Newsletter (Jan / Feb 2007) for additional
information. |
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You can help!
Click here to get a (pdf) list of some selected
state and federal representatives to contact relative to the
Dominion Virginia Power Line efforts. |
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