Thursday, May 10, 2007

Traffic, schools, new hospital top BRAC concerns

Fort Belvoir’s installation commander spoke to more than 25 members of the South County Federation Tuesday night in the wake of the 60-day draft environmental impact statement public comment period that ended May 1.

Transportation, schools and the new DeWitt Health Care Network were the top concerns for the federation of homeowner associations that represent the southeastern portions of Fairfax County.

“I’ve been out 70 times and engaged the community, and every time you have spoken and your number one issue is transportation,” said Col. Brian Lauritzen, Fort Belvoir installation commander. “We received 900 comments from the public [in response to the draft EIS] - 400 out of those 900 are about transportation.”

The draft EIS was published March 2 and made available to the public for a 60-day public comment period, which included a public hearing on April 17.

The draft EIS assesses the environmental impacts of Fort Belvoir’s realignment under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, which will impact the areas surrounding the installation as approximately 22,000 workers realign to Fort Belvoir by 2011.

Fort Belvoir currently sustains a workforce of approximately 23,000 with 10 million square feet of office space. Under BRAC, an additional 7 million square feet of office space and 7 million square feet of parking will be required, said Lauritzen. 

Lauritzen also discussed the potential environmental impacts and the precautions that are being taken to reduce those impacts.

“We are very serious about the environment,” he said “The key is that the guys who are paid to monitor this seriously care about the environment - [and are focused] on what we are doing to dampen the environmental impacts.”

The commander discussed the timeline for BRAC, with the final EIS slated for publication around the end of June, followed by a 30-day public comment period. A record of decision is expected in August, which will allow construction to begin.

Following the colonel’s presentation the floor was opened for questions.

“Where are people currently residing [that will relocate to Fort Belvoir]?” asked Tim Rizer, a Hallowing Point community member.

“All of the gain for Fort Belvoir is coming from the National Capital Region - Virginia, D.C. and the surrounding areas,” responded Lauritzen.

Lowell Curtis, a Gunston Manor resident, expressed concern over the $732 million transportation requirement, which does not include funding for any secondary roads that may be impacted by BRAC.

“Where is the money coming from, who is going to fix this?” he asked.

“I wish I had a crystal ball with all of the answers,” replied Lauritzen. “What we’re going to have to do is be creative - for example bus [the workers] in.” The commander added that, since the influx of workers already reside in the National Capital Region, “these folks are already on the roads.”

One representative expressed concern over the number of additional non-DoD workers that would come to Fort Belvoir to accommodate the influx of DoD workers, for example food service workers, gas station attendants and child care providers.

“Twenty-two thousand is the population set to transfer to Fort Belvoir, but what other numbers are associated, on top of that number, with the various workers needed to [accommodate the additional influx]?” asked Crosspointe Community Representative Ken Richmond.

“I am not sure that it’s an appreciable number,” Lauritzen responded. “We’re not talking about a huge number.”

Neal McBride a retired Veterans Affairs employee and a resident of southern Springfield, asked if a VA clinic would be co-located with the new DHCN.

“Absolutely, yes, we are in fact planning on having a VA clinic within the facility,” replied Dr. Richard Repeta, director of DeWitt’s Office of Integration and Transition. “We are still working out the plans, but - it will be a full outpatient facility within the clinic.”

The Land Use Committee chair for the South County Federation, Calvin Smith, asked about the feasibility of using a portion of warehouse space that is currently occupied by the General Services Administration in Springfield to field a large portion of the 22,000 workers expected under BRAC.

Belvoir New Vision Planners recently completed a study on the feasibility of using the site.

“It’s feasible,” Lauritzen responded. “It’s not free - the study basically says it’s a costly and time-consuming endeavor.”

Lauritzen added that the GSA site is not currently owned by the Army or Fort Belvoir. “At this point the law says these folks must move to Fort Belvoir,” he explained.

Tom Husband, a Laurel Hill Board Of Directors member, expressed concern over the long-term impacts of BRAC on the school system and housing.

“What about the BRAC migration after 2011? Is there some planning for the mitigation of that? I read that the schools will receive an additional 3,000 students in their school systems,” said Husband.

“According to that article, 3,258 students will come into these schools over an extended period of time,” responded Lauritzen. “This is what could happen. First, don’t overreact to that number; second, let’s do an analysis of that number.”

Lauritzen went on to explain that, even as Fort Belvoir grows, a number of other defense agencies are leaving the region under BRAC moves not related to Fort Belvoir. As those agencies and their employees leave (6,000 from Northern Virginia, 13,000 from the District of Columbia, for example), those numbers can be expected to offset the demands on the school systems, transportation network and housing markets.

Lauritzen also noted that the county, by approving additional residential development, and home builders play a role in the movement of additional residents to the county.

“If you build a house,” he said, “you’ve signed up to have those folks move here.”