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Summit Crossing brings questions

October 18, 2006 12:50 am

For now, it's just a dark line on a map.

But that line, representing a four-lane, divided parkway that could one day be part of the Summit Crossing project, comes awfully close to Greg Mahnker's Lancaster Gate home.

Mahnker and plenty of his neighbors showed up at a meeting last night to learn more about the Summit Crossing proposal and ask questions of its developer, Tricord Cos.

"I'm all for the development. I know it's going to happen one way or another," Mahnker told Tricord officials. "But a big road being built next door might be kind of noisy."

Mike Jones, principal owner of Tricord, assured those present that if the Summit Crossing Parkway is ever built, it will likely happen north of where current maps show it--farther away from the Lancaster Gate subdivision.

The entire Massaponax-area project, still in its infancy, would also include a new Interstate 95 interchange, a town-style subdivision, a 550-acre Federal Corporate Campus, a technology center, and land along the U.S. 17 Bypass for Fredericksburg Christian School's expansion.

Tricord officials have not submitted the project to the county for approval yet. Instead, they're trying it first in the court of public opinion, taking notes on what residents do--and don't--want in a new development.

More than 130 people attended Tricord's first public meeting at Germanna Community College last night, listening to an hourlong presentation before peppering the developers with questions.

Which part of the project would be built first? What if state and federal officials don't sign off on the new I-95 interchange? What will be the impact on existing roads like Massaponax Church Road and the U.S. 17 Bypass?

The entire project would develop over a 20- or 25-year period, Jones said.

The Spotsylvania Technology Center will probably be the first piece of the project to get off the ground, he said. It already has county support.

Closely following that would be transportation improvements, he said. A new interchange south of Massaponax's exit 126 would relieve congestion there and improve access to the new hospital.

Without it, much of the project dies, he said.

"There's no way all this can happen without an interchange," Jones said.

As for impacts on local roads, Tricord is engaged in a traffic study now that will help identify potential problems and fixes, he said.

A key part of the project is its potential to attract high-paying jobs to the area. The Federal Corporate Campus and Spotsylvania Technology Center are designed to keep commuters who now work in Northern Virginia and Washington close to home.

Resident Len Hitz said he liked that part of the project but wasn't crazy about the 300-acre Summit Crossing Village that would also be built.

"We already have the high-tech people here if you can bring the jobs here," Hitz said. "But I don't see why we need the residential built. If you build an interchange, people are going to move into the subdivisions. That's more kids in the schools, more people on the roads. I think it'll bring more people."

Those folks are coming whether Tricord builds the homes or not, Jones said. With Summit Crossing, that growth would be managed and the homes would be concentrated in an area that also offers jobs and retail space, he said.

Since Tricord needs a rezoning, the company would be required to offer proffers to pay for the impacts those people would have on the community, he said.

"We're going to get residential growth whether we want it or not," Jones said. "The question becomes where do we want the new folks to live? Do we want them to pay their way or do we want them scattered throughout the county?"

Resident Hal Reniere agreed the county would come out ahead by planning for those new arrivals.

"They're a'comin'. I moved here to get out of the traffic, and they followed me," he said. "This is the way to go."

Mahnker said he'd be thrilled to see the parkway move farther from his home. That road and the I-95 interchange are two of the more important considerations for residents of Lancaster Gate, said Neil Mehltretter, president of the homeowners association.

Residents just want to be sure the new community doesn't detract from their own.

"Our initial feeling is it looks like it's going to be good for the community and drive growth," Mehltretter said. "But at the same time, we have to keep in mind our initial investment and where we live."

For more information about the project, visit SummitCrossing VA.com on the Web.

To reach EDIE GROSS:540/374-5428
Email: egross@freelancestar.com