Alternate Site Proposal

BERMUDA ADVOCATES FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSES "MATOACA" MEGA SITE at Former TRANLIN SITE

The citizens group Bermuda Advocates for Responsible Development delivered to Chesterfield County Officials yesterday a proposal to relocate the County's proposed "Matoaca" Mega Site to the former site of the failed $2 Billion Chinese corn stalk paper manufacturing facility near Willis Road, instead of the Mega Site location the County is currently pursuing on Branders Bridge Road.

Members of BARD continue to be concerned about the pursuit of an Industrial Mega Site in Chesterfield County, and we are convinced that the proposed site on Branders Bridge Road is completely inappropriate for such use in a residential area. Since County officials seem convinced that a Mega Site is needed in Chesterfield, we have developed an alternate proposal which we feel makes best use of existing available resources in our County. Below is our proposal. It would move the Mega Site away from a large existing residential area, eliminate the need for an E-W Freeway, eliminate the need to relocate Harrowgate Elementary School, eliminate the need for a rail line through existing residential communities, retain the existing Harrowgate Park, and make use of existing County incentives for development of technology industry. Please carefully consider our reasoning when you review. We invite your comments and input. We believe the citizens of Chesterfield would be better served by this proposal, and would be much more supportive of it than the current proposal by the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority (CEDA).

*******************************

BARD PROPOSAL FOR MEGA SITE at TRANLIN SITE vs. BRANDERS BRIDGE ROAD

After three years, the Chinese company Tranlin has effectively backed out of the State subsidized technology site near Willis Road in the Chesterfield Jefferson Davis Technology Zone, absconding with approximately $5 Million in taxpayer dollars. Our group, Bermuda Advocates for Responsible Development (BARD) believes this site offers many advantages over the “Matoaca” Mega Site proposal on Branders Bridge Road in the Bermuda District. Therefore, we believe the County should pursue the Tranlin site and drop the Branders Bridge Road proposal, if there is truly a need for this type of development in Chesterfield.

Here are our reasons:

1. I-95, rail service, Richmond James River Port, utilities (water, sewer, electric) are available on or very near Tranlin, vs. a two and a half mile build to Branders Bridge Road site. Less tax $ for off-site infrastructure would be needed.
2. The Tranlin site is already zoned I-3, so no rezoning would be needed at the Tranlin site, and other Industrial is all around it.
3. Existing large residential development is not adjacent to Tranlin site. Conforms to I-3 zoning requirement.
4. Although Tranlin is a physically smaller site (850 acres, we’ve read), much less buffer would be needed there vs. the Branders Bridge Road site (initial EDA/EDD statements cited a buffer of 1000 acres there!), because it is not adjacent to large residential development. With less required buffer, a "site-ready pad" could still be approx. 600-650 acres, similar to the Branders Bridge Road site, we believe.
5. If too little acreage truly is an issue (we believe not) at Tranlin, concentrate on attracting medium-size industry instead. 7600+ acres is available in the existing and established Jeff Davis and Walthall Technology Zones, according to the Chesterfield Department of Economic Development web site.
6. Tranlin is a problem for the State – placing the County Mega Site there would help solve their loss of the Chinese company.
7. The public would generally be more receptive to tax $ being spent there vs. the Branders Bridge Road site, with its many negative effects on existing residential properties (traffic, noise, environmental, etc).
8. Little or no negative impact on residential property values, unlike the Branders Bridge Road site.
9. Much less traffic impact at Tranlin, with the site very near existing I-95 exit.
10. The on-site and off-site supporting businesses would have the advantage of available existing County Technology Zone incentives package (see County Economic Development Department web site) at the Tranlin site.
11. New industry in an economically depressed area would boost opportunities for existing residents.
12. Closer proximity to John Tyler Community College with its technical student graduate base.
13. Any studies (traffic, environmental, noise, etc.) already done for the Tranlin site could be used for the Mega Site. (Did the State do its homework on this?).
14. The E-W Freeway, rail line, and utilities through existing residential would not be needed for the Tranlin site.

As for a use for the Shoosmith site on Branders Bridge Rd., the State recently established a 2900-acre Wildlife Management Area in Spotsylvania County. If the State believes it’s a good idea for Northern Virginia, why not here? Recent news headline:

Virginia buys part of Oakley Farm in Spotsylvania to create a 2,900-acre wildlife management area

By JEFF BRANSCOME THE FREE LANCE–STAR

Nov 28, 2017

We believe that County residents in the area would be far more supportive of a Wildlife Management Area at the Branders Bridge Road site than an Industrial Mega Site.

BARD believes that RESPONSIBLE Industrial Development in an existing Technology Zone makes much more sense than heavy industry next to existing residential subdivisions. Chesterfield County needs to be responsible and RESPONSIVE to its citizens. We ask that this proposal be taken seriously so that our County can benefit and existing residents are protected.