A handful of road improvements along Gum Spring Road caused some drama at the July 6 Board of Supervisors meeting. Because property owners declined to cooperate with developers, the supervisors exercised eminent domain for the first time this term.
Three sites face improvements: two at the intersections of Gum Spring Road and Rt. 50, and one at the intersection of Gum Spring Road and Braddock Road.
Several supervisors stated their unease at taking the action.
"Frankly, I wish we'd never have to do this again," said Mick Staton (R-Sugarland Run).
"Philosophically, I really have trouble with eminent domain in any case," said Supervisor Lori Waters (R-Broad Run).
Supervisor Bruce Tulloch (R-Potomac) was "uncomfortable" with the situation, but said he was confident that "due diligence was paid by the county attorney's office that all negotiations tried to take place."
Supervisor Stephen Snow (R-Dulles) had made attempts to contact property owners, even setting up meetings — but the property owners never showed.
ALL THREE IMPROVEMENTS are the results of proffers from developers, who agreed to upgrade the sites in exchange for developing rights. Two Greens/Kirkpatrick LLC agreed to build a northbound turn lane on Gum Spring Road at Rt. 50. Stone Ridge Community Development LLC agreed to add a third lane on the eastbound side of Rt. 50 on both the west and east sides of the intersection.
Just a mile south on Gum Spring Road, South Riding Station agreed to obtain the right-of-way to expand Braddock Road, which is earmarked to be a four-lane road by August 2005. Braddock Road is currently an unpaved rural secondary road.
In a telephone interview with the Connection, Waters said that when a proffer affects a private property owner, the affected party deserves a say before the proffers are accepted.
"We need to get property owners involved ahead of time," she said.