By DAN TELVOCK
Spotsylvania planning commissioners hit the brakes on Tricord Co.'s mixed-use Summit Crossing proposal near Massaponax because they don't know enough about the project.
Commissioners decided at their Oct. 15 public hearing to table the comprehensive plan amendment for Summit Crossing for 30 days. They will pick it back up at their Nov. 19 meeting.
The Summit Crossing proposal is a mixed-use development with approximately 5,900 residential units and approximately 3.6 million square feet of office space.
Before the rezoning process, Tricord needs an amendment because 57 acres of its 925-acre project are outside the area in the comprehensive plan where growth is targeted, called the primary settlement district.
The 57 acres are in the rural development district, intended to maintain rural and historic character and protect water quality. Tricord is seeking to bring the land into the primary settlement district.
Commissioner Cliff Vaughan said he wants to explore the project more before he votes on the amendment. He said on paper the project looks promising, but he hasn't seen any details about how this project will effect county services.
"I think the Planning Commission needs to have ongoing work sessions because of the sheer magnitude of it," he said. "I don't want to do this in a vacuum just because it sounds nice, and it does."
Tricord is proposing Tax Increment Financing to fund a new Interstate 95 interchange to relieve gridlock and Summit Crossing Parkway that would be a parallel road to Mills Drive.
A TIF uses revenue generated in the development to pay for the transportation improvements. That millions of dollars in revenue wouldn't return to the county coffers until the transportation improvements are paid for. The federal government must approve the interchange first and there is no guarantee that will happen.
"The interchange I think is something very much needed by our hospital," said Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center CEO Timothy Tobin during the public hearing.
Commissioner Mary Lee Carter, who also serves on the Commonwealth Transportation Board that doles out state and federal road dollars to localities, praised the developer for proposing ways to address the infrastructure needed to improve traffic flow.
Some commissioners said the complex proposals to pay for the transportation improvements need to be a part of the comprehensive plan amendment discussion.
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com