Landowners, developers and residents were at odds over two different development applications during the July 17 Planning Commission public hearing.
Commissioner John H. Elgin (Leesburg) exchanged words with residents from the Providence Ridge development in Chantilly. The Providence Ridge residents came out Monday night to express their opposition to the proposed Treburg development.
"We need to tell the Drees company to go away and take their plan and leave the area R-1," resident Katie Tunell said. She added that the proposal was "absurd and ridiculous."
If approved, the Treburg development would allow approximately 13.95 acres to be rezoned to build 42 single-family-detached homes along the west side of Gum Spring Road and north of Braddock Road.
Residents of Providence Ridge said they were concerned about the residential density proposed for the property and that one of the reasons most of them had bought their homes was because of the rural zoning surrounding them,
"I am not opposed to someone building on that property, but I just think when you look at a property of that size there are too many houses," Joe Grzesiak said.
ONE OF THE owners of land in question, Gene James, responded to the residents comments, stating that what he and the other landowner were doing with the property was allowed.
"I have to tell you that it angers me some of the things people are saying," he said. "They are part of the growth in the area and now they want to limit the growth."
James, who said his family has lived in the area for almost 30 years, said that the application for Treburg was submitted before most of the Providence Ridge residents purchased their homes.
"They didn't do their research," he said. "When you choose to live in the path of growth, you will certainly eventually see the growth."
Following the hearing, James and the other landowners said the assertions of the people of Providence Ridge were incorrect.
"That they want to preserve the very view that they took away from us is hypocritical," James said.
Elgin said that he did not agree with the assertions of the residents and, as he exchanged harsh words with them, stated their development was by right and therefore added nothing to the county in the way of proffered road improvements or school contributions.
"The fact remains that you may be disturbed by the fact that there are going to be more houses near you, but that is a fact of life in this county," he said.
Residents responded to Elgin from the audience stating that they individually add to the county through the high taxes they pay.
The commission voted to send the Treburg project to committee for further review.
"I am quite sympathetic," Commissioner J. Kevin Ruedisueli (At-large) said. "I think there are ways for this project to be improved further."
RESIDENTS FROM the 24 homes on Mountain View Drive came out in force to oppose two proposed developments known as the Reserve at South Riding I and II.
The Reserve at South Riding II is the larger of the developments and would rezone 17.95 acres to allow for the construction of 47 single-family homes north and south of Tall Cedars Parkway and west of Poland Road. The Reserve at South Riding I would rezone 8.41 acres for the development of 49 townhouses adjacent to the South Riding community west of Mountain View Drive.
Residents of the small community know as Meadow Lane said the Reserve I would add a majority of the townhouses to their street, something they say is completely wrong for their community.
"I don't think it is fair to come down and say we are going to put 34 townhouses on your street and you guys are just going to have to deal with it because that is the only way we can make money on the property that we bought," resident Jenny Smith said.
The residents provided commissioners with an analysis of the project's data, saying that much of it was incorrect.
"Their maps don't even show our community," Smith said. "They have a road going through [a neighbor's] house."
While the project would improve parts of Mountain View Drive, which the residents call a "country road," residents felt the improvements were not enough for the traffic the Reserve I would bring.
"Mountain View Drive is more than just a stretch of road in front of the proposed development that needs improvement," resident Ron Addington said. "The entire road needs improvement and this piecemeal approach will not work."
Resident Tom Michaud said he and his neighbors received the notice about the public hearing in the mail only 22 days before Monday.
"We feel that they were trying to sneak this by us," he said. "And unfortunately we have never been able to get the developer out to our community to discuss these problems."
The commission voted to send the Reserve at South Riding I and II to committee for further review.