WOODBRIDGE, Va. â The president of the Belmont Bay Homeowners Association says a clear majority of residents oppose a proposed $100 million flyover interchange at the intersection of Richmond Highway (Route 1) and Gordon Boulevard (Route 123).
In a message sent to residents and shared with Potomac Local News, KP Lau, president of the Belmont Bay HOA, detailed the results of two surveys showing overwhelming community opposition to the project.
According to Lau, during a contentious public meeting held earlier this month and hosted by Prince William County Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin and county transportation officials, residents were asked to participate in a live vote. Of the 73 people who voted that evening, 53 opposed the project while 20 supported it.
Following that meeting, Supervisor Franklin directed the Prince William County Department of Transportation to post the survey online to gather additional input from both residents and non-residents. Lau says the survey closed with 956 responses from Belmont Bay residents, with 797 (83%) opposed and 159 (17%) in favor. An additional 96 non-residents responded, with 83 against and 13 in favor.
âThe majority of the Belmont Bay residents have spoken again,â Lau wrote. âThe design of the flyover is flawed, and the price tag of $100 million is a waste of tax dollars. It is time for us to put the flyover on permanent freeze.â
Lau added that the HOA board formally rejected the flyover project three years ago; however, the recent push to revive the plan has prompted renewed concern among residents.
During the July town hall meeting, residents expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and questioned who, if anyone, had been advocating for the project. Franklin and county staff said the project was being revisited due to requests from unnamed community members and reiterated that the project remained in its conceptual stage. Franklin asked attendees to scan a QR code during the meeting to cast votes in favor or against proceeding with the design.
In his latest message, Lau also proposed a new ingress/egress option for Belmont Bay. He suggests exploring the construction of a road along the southern edge of the Belmont Bay Industrial Park, which he says may allow for a less intrusive and more affordable underpass. This road could serve commercial traffic, while Dawson Beach Road would remain residential, improving traffic management and offering a viable backup route in emergencies.
Supervisor Franklinâs office for comment on the HOAâs position and the survey results. As of the time of publication, she has not responded.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. â A town hall meeting hosted by Prince William County Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin drew a passionate crowd Monday night, as residents of the Belmont Bay community voiced their overwhelming opposition to a proposed $100 million flyover interchange at Routes 1 and 123.
Franklin and county transportation officials presented a concept plan to elevate Route 123 over Route 1 and extend it directly into the Belmont Bay neighborhood, describing the project as a long-awaited second access point for the growing residential community. The meeting, held near the Belmont Bay neighborhood, included a presentation outlining the flyoverâs features, including new trail access, a pedestrian bridge, and a reconfiguration of local roads to improve traffic flow.
But attendees quickly pushed back, questioning the need for such a large infrastructure investment. Many demanded to know which residents or businesses had requested the project â a question Franklin and staff did not answer with specifics.
âWho do you think is driving this?â asked Rob Hartwell, a member of the community’s HOA and vocal critic of the plan. âThey keep saying there are neighbors who want this, but Iâve only talked to two people, and they were both here tonight.â
Hartwell said both the Belmont Bay HOA and the Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay are already on record opposing the project. He also challenged the project’s premise.
âThis flyover was originally proposed to support over 1.5 million square feet of office and retail development â but thatâs no longer happening,â he said. âWe are a residential community now. We donât need this level of access anymore.â
Franklin told attendees the proposal remains in the concept phase and emphasized that no additional funding beyond a $3 million design allocation from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has been secured. She said the meetingâs goal was to gauge community interest before pursuing more funding.
As part of the meeting, Franklin asked residents to scan a QR code on their phones to access a survey asking whether they support the project. Several attendees raised concerns about the surveyâs integrity, noting that county officials controlled the voting platform and provided no transparency about how results would be tallied or shared.
âYouâre taking a secret vote?â Hartwell asked.
Franklin responded that the survey would help determine next steps, and that the county would also release a second online survey for the broader community in the coming days. She reiterated that the proposal remains âon iceâ and that the county wonât move forward without public input.
Still, for many in the room, the process felt rushed and opaque.
âIf you say this is for us, but canât name who asked for it, how can we trust this process?â one woman asked from the crowd.
The current design under consideration is a scaled-back version of a 2011 plan that included a full diamond interchange. Officials said the original project was too expensive and prompted a new study in the early 2020s, resulting in the current flyover concept. County officials said the design has support from VDOT and was selected as the preferred alternative after a STAR (Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions) study.
Franklin told residents the survey results would guide her decision.
âIf the majority says no, this is done,â she said. âThere is no alternative on the table right now. This is the one that has made it the furthest.â
But to many in the audience, the absence of answers to key questions â including who supports the project and how the vote will be verified â left more doubt than confidence.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. â A troubling cluster of discarded tires was recently found lodged on a sandbar near channel marker 15, just downstream from the Route 1 bridge over the Occoquan River.
Local residents and longtime conservation advocates K.P. and Myra Lau, co-founders of the Belmont Bay Paddlers (BBP), a kayak club that has been organizing river cleanups since 2015, made the discovery.
âPreviously, we found them along the southern bank from the railway bridge to this same spot,â said K.P., who helped coordinate the most recent cleanup. âThe location hasnât changed muchâitâs just as concerning now as it was then.â
Most of the tires appear to be from commercial vehicles. âThere were a few smaller ones, but the size and number indicate illegal commercial dumping,â K.P. said, noting that the tires included both truck and standard car sizes.
While Prince William County officials have expressed interest in the issue, local action has been limited. K.P. said Supervisor Victor Angry voiced support for installing surveillance cameras on the Route 1 bridge but acknowledged that someone would need to spearhead the effort for it to move forward.
In the meantime, BBP continues to partner with the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District. After retrieving the tires, the group contacts Veronica Tangiri, who coordinates tire disposal through the countyâs Adopt-A-Stream Program.
Although the Laus are no longer formally managing the BBP organization, they still lead biannual cleanup efforts. âWe used to have crews of kayakers go out, but this year Myra and I just did it ourselves once we realized how many tires were out there,â K.P. said. He added that cleanups often coincide with broader neighborhood events to reinforce the message that trash on land eventually ends up in the river.
K.P. calls for increased public awareness and visible warnings to deter future dumping. âSigns that say âNo Tire Dumpingâ and the possibility of tracking tire serial numbers might make people think twice,â he said. âEnforcement existsâitâs a Class I misdemeanorâbut awareness and visibility are key.â
Nestled along the tranquil shores of Belmont Bay, The Spot at Belmont Bay near the water is quaint and charming. Whether you're arriving by boat or strolling in from the neighborhood, this locally owned gem invites couples to unwind with handcrafted cocktails, scratch-made dishes, and a view that turns every meal into a mini getaway. With a cozy indoor space and a breezy outdoor patio, it's the perfect setting for a romantic evening or a laid-back date night.
Three-Course Date Night Menu
Starter: French Dip Sliders
Tender braised beef, sautéed onions, and white cheddar on a club roll, served with a rich mushroom au jus for dipping. A savory beginning that sets the tone for the evening.
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A group of Belmont Bay homeowners has filed a complaint with the Virginia Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman, accusing their homeowners association (HOA) board of violating transparency regulations. The complaint, submitted by KP Lau, president of Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay (CCUBB), alleges that the HOA board conducted business behind closed doors, failed to notify residents about key meetings, and did not follow its own communication protocols regarding land deals and rezoning discussions.
Allegations of Secret Meetings and Lack of Communication
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A town hall meeting is scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, August 6, 2024, to discuss the proposed development of 300 new homes at Belmont Bay in Woodbridge. The conference, hosted by developer Miller & Smith, will occur at 7 p.m. at The Osprey Community Building, 401 Belmont Bay Drive, Woodbridge.
Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson and Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin will attend the event to inform residents about the development project and offer a platform for community feedback.
Dr. Jack Kooyoomjian, President of the Lake Ridge-Occoquan-Coles Civic Association (LOCCA), emphasized the importance of resident participation in this Open House to ensure the developers hear community concerns and suggestions.
Residents of Belmont Bay are encouraged to attend to learn more about the project and to have their questions addressed by representatives from Miller & Smith. The developers will present details about the new homes and gather input from the community regarding the proposal.
Prince William County has rescinded permits granted to a developer to dump construction debris on what used to be the Belmont Bay subdivisionâs golf course as work continues on an expansion to the waterfront community.
Caruthers Properties withdrew its rezoning application, effectively concluding the developer’s effort to construct 1,400 new housing units at Belmont Bay, located in Woodbridge.
The Board of Concerned Citizens United welcomed the news for Belmont Bay, with President KP Lau expressing gratitude for the decision. “Personally, I would like to express my appreciation to the Caruthers for this momentous action. I believe it is appropriate at this juncture to take stock on where we are and what the future will hold for Belmont Bay,” said Lau.
The rezoning application, filed with Prince William County in June 2021, aimed to add 1,400 housing units to Belmont Bay, primarily on one-third of the former golf course land. Additionally, the proposal included the establishment of two public parks on the remainder of the golf course and replacing the Ospreys Event Center with 244 housing units. The plan also outlined the construction of 800 apartments in the Marina District and additional homes in various areas of Belmont Bay.
A vision of a hotel and conference center and a thriving business district once envisioned for Belmont Bay when construction began in the early 2000s was never realized, driving the developer’s desire for the rezoning.
The developer had hoped to build the final development phase on the land it acquired in the 1960s at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan rivers. A new boardwalk would have extended nearly 1,000 feet from the patio of the Beacon building to the George Mason University Science Center for river studies, which opened in 2018. Also, a new tree-lined urban plaza, performance space, and a new green space would span the length of Harbor Side Street between Beacon and the science center.
The proposed development faced opposition from environmental organizations, including the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, citing concerns over habitat destruction and adverse environmental impacts. Rob Hartwell, Vice President of the Riverbend Estate Association, joined forces with concerned citizens to oppose the rezoning application, emphasizing the need to preserve open space and protect wildlife habitats.
The application withdrawal follows months of deliberation and critique from the Prince William County Planning Office. The Planning Department raised 87 critical issues for the applicant, including concerns about open space allocation, amenities for current residents, and traffic implications. Despite a revised application presented in May 2022, which made minor technical adjustments, the proposal failed to adequately address the Planning Department’s concerns or engage with affected residents.
While acknowledging Caruthers Properties’ rights as landowners, Belmont Bay residents emphasize the importance of transparent dialogue and consideration for the community’s well-being in any future development plans. Moving forward, residents look forward to collaborative efforts with developers, environmental organizations, and local authorities to ensure responsible development that preserves the quality of life and natural environment in Belmont Bay.
A "reimagined" Belmont Bay neighborhood is proposed for North Woodbridge, marking the latest development in the storied mixed-use district that, for the past 20 years, has failed to achieve its grand vision.
The Caruthers Companies, the Belmont Bay developer, filed an application with the Prince William County Government to rezone 170 acres of land at the secluded neighborhood of townhomes and condos, located at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan rivers in Woodbridge. The developer hopes to build what it calls the $550 million final phase of development on the land Caruthers acquired in 1960.
At the center of the project is the Beacon building, a newly-built community center to replace the existing harbor master budling at the development's marina on the Occoquan River. A restaurant or food hall would be located inside the building, and an exterior patio would provide a place for both residents and the public to gather for open-air, waterfront views.
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Drivers traveling over across the Occoquan River on Route 1 have seen their share of orange cones in the past few years.Â
A project to widen the road from four to six lanes between the river and Mary's Way, across from Marumsco Plaza, just wrapped up.Â
Now the Virginia Department of Transportation is looking to modify the intersection at Routes 1 and 123. It's once again talking about putting a bridge over the highway, providing more direct access to the Belmont Bay neighborhood -- something its been talking about for the past 10 years.
