For a second time, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) deferred a public hearing to consider contract of sale to convey utility easement to Dominion Virginia Power across Rollins Ford Park. Meanwhile, citizens are divided over where the high voltage utility lines should be located.
High Voltage Power Lines Near the Soccer Fields
Dominion is requesting permission of the State Corporations Commission to build high voltage electric transmission lines in Prince William’s Brentsville District near Rollins Ford and Vint Hill Road. Several of proposed plans would require a Right of Way through the new Rollins Ford Park, which is planning to host soccer fields.
See Dominion’s power line maps here
Dominion's plans show alternatives that run along the Rollins Ford Park and Vint Hill region of Brentsville near the water dam. Line routes would have six tower stations. Of the two plans favored by Dominion, Plan C.1-1 would slightly cut through Rollins Ford Park, whereas C.1-2 would be located just south of it.
Dominion representatives said they most favor Plan C.1-1. One rural resident advocating for that plan, saying it would run through fewer people’s properties.
However, the disadvantage of the C.1-1 is that in it, the power lines comes closer to a highly populated suburban developments, Morris Farm, an HOA subdivision located along Rollins Ford Road.
Morris Farm Residents Respond to Power Lines
After meeting with residents of Morris Farm in Gainesville, Dominion Power agreed to offer slight adjustments to the placement of the lines in the form of alternative plans. New alternatives include C.1-1a, C.1-1b, and C.1-2a. Residents just learned about the new alternatives at the meeting.
Deborah Johnson of Dominion Virginia Power thinks Morris Farm residents will find these alternatives preferable, because they relocate the utility lines slightly farther south, thus making them less intrusive to homeowners' views. However, Johnson said Dominion would not be eliminating the C-1.1 alternative.
According to the County Attorney, the new alternatives require that the public hearing be re-advertised. Thus, the public hearing will be deferred until May 20.
The original hearing was first scheduled for Mar. 18, 2014. However at that meeting, residents of Morris Farm said they had just learned of the easement from the BOCS agenda and requested that the supervisors postpone the hearing. Supervisors agreed, which is how the hearing was moved to April 1.
Morris Farm's involvement also led to the conversation between the homeowners and the power company.
David Jones, a Morris Farm Home Owners Association Board member, spoke with Bristow Beat on behalf of Morris Farm homeowners. He explained that they felt the power line placement C.1-1 would negatively affect their community.
"The Morris Farm homeowners and the Association’s Board of Directors are in opposition to route C-1.1 on account of its close proximity to the 665 home Morris Farm community, and on its detrimental impact on property values and to the health, safety and welfare of Morris Farm residents,” Jones said in a statement.
How Power Lines Receive Approval
Johnson said the decision of which power line plan to adopt lies not with Dominion Power, nor with the Board of County Supervisors, but with the State Corporation Commission. Johnson said that the supervisors and citizens should make their concerns known to that commission, since they will be the deciding body.
Regardless of which plan gains approval of the commission, Dominion would like permission from Prince William County for the easement of Rollins Ford Park.
The granting of the easement, however, is unpopular with almost all citizens living within view of Rollins Ford Park.
Neighbors Disagree Over Plans for Power Lines
At least two camps of residents came out Tuesday evening to protest the easement. Both were in agreement that power lines cutting through Rollins Ford Park were not in the best interest of the county. They said that it would hurt the view shed, and they were also concerned that experts are in disagreement as to the negative health impact power lines may cause.
However, that is where the agreement ended between the groups. Should the easement be granted, rural community members living along Vint Hill Road and Boley Road said should Plan C.1-2 be chosen, the high voltage power lines would run directly through their properties. Thus, they favored C.1-1, which places the power lines further north and closer to the Morris Farm community.
“C.1-1 is the lesser evil, because there is less impact,” said Douglas Bushey of Boley Road.
Bushey said he and his neighbors already feel the soccer fields have infringed upon the rural nature of their land. This however, they feel is going too far, as it would really diminish their land values and rural lifestyle.
But Bushey said it is difficult for a small number of rural residents to fight against a whole subdivision of people.
“You have a bigger turnout because look at all the people,” he said, pointing to a map of Morris Farms. “They have an encumbered view, but what happens when a power line goes through your property? Your property is done.”
Russell Martin said plan C.1-2 would cut through three of his properties, which is why he prefers C-1.1.
Why Dominion Favors Plans C.1-1 and Plans C.1-2
There are other alternatives on Dominion’s map. “The Gainesville-Wheeler line” would add to existing lines near Glenkirk Estates. Carl Yates Picard of Virginia Power said Dominion is leading towards C.1-1 and C.1-2 because other alternatives come with their own sets of challenges.
“The proximity to homes is definitely concerning, and it is not as good of an electrical solution,” Yates Picard said.
The new lines are better energy solutions because they could hold two lines with three wires per line. They would be built with only one line initially, but the ability to add another could save the power company from having to utilize more land in the future, she explained.
Burying of Power Lines?
Brentsville District Supervisor Wally Covington expressed that it was fortunate that the public hearing had to be deferred, saying there are still residents who are just learning about the power lines for the first time. He inquired about the time line for building the power lines; Johnson said the target date for beginning the process is May of 2017.
Supervisors also inquired if burying the power lines is a reasonable alternative.
Yates Picard answered that it would cost approximately $19 million, because a sub-station would be required. Those funds would have to come from the county. After hearing the price, the supervisors dismissed that option.
Morris Farms on New Alternatives
Morris Farms residents, just having learned of the three new alternatives, did not yet have time to properly consider them.
“We are pleased that the Board of County Supervisors continues to support the Morris Farm community, and we will continue discussions with Dominion and our neighboring communities on the transmission line project and the various routing options in an effort to find a compromise,” Jones said.
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