During a town hall meeting, some homeowners in the Forest Lakes community voiced their concerns over the possible expansion of the Hollymead development area that's being discussed as part of the Places 29 Master Plan. Scott Elliff, a board member of the Forest Lakes Community Association, said more development near the neighborhood would make traffic worse.
"We don't need it. We don't want it. It would all be focused on this little intersection here which you can see is very busy already," Elliff said.
Five thousand people live in the Forest Lakes community and most of them come and go at the Ashwood Boulevard and Route 29 intersection.
"Places 29 is supposed to be a plan to reduce traffic. To improve it. To improve infrastructure. Why would you possibly take any steps toward allowing new growth?" Elliff said.
The community association also said new infrastructure is needed first, before adding the possibility of any new growth. Albemarle County Supervisor, Ken Boyd, received several emails from the community about the proposal to expand the growth area.
"One other thing I think is confusing for the people is that they believe if we increase the development area that that's approving development and it does not do that. It's not approving it, that's a whole separate process that we have to go through," Boyd said.
Boyd also said the county would need financial support in the form of proffers from private development to pay for infrastructure improvements.
"What I'm looking for is to get some investment to improve that intersection to widen the road there. To get Berkmar Drive extended and built and I think it's going to take private investment to do that," Boyd said.
The board of supervisors is expected to vote on Places 29 Master Plan next Wednesday.
Reported by Jennifer Von Reuter
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