Ray’s Regarde up for Wednesday hearing, would bring 325 new homes to Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE — The Prince William County Planning Commission on Wednesday will hear the case for Ray’s Regarde.

It’s a proposed housing development that could bring 325 new homes, both townhouse, and condos overlooking Interstate 95 in Woodbridge.

The project would be built on 55 acres at the end of Horner Road, where a string of burnt-out and abandoned homes sit, including a large, white six-bedroom house that was built nearly 100 years ago in 1920.

County officials would have to rezone the land from agricultural, suburban, and urban residential to planned mixed use. The Prince William County Planning Office has had the case under review since at least 2016.

The developers offered to construct a new roundabout at the intersection of Horner Road and Summerland Drive, which is a congested intersection during morning and afternoon rush hours. They’ve also offered to add a left new turn lane from Prince William Parkway to Summerland Drive and extend the length of those turn lanes.

The intersections operate at a failed level of service during rush hours, according to project documents [PDF].

Additionally, the homebuilder will lay concrete for new a new sidewalk on Horner Road between Forest Glen Drive and Kilby Elementary School, and a new walkway on the Northside of Prince William Parkway, which abuts the property.

Part of the plan calls for abandoning a portion of Horner Road to build the neighborhood. Longtime Prince William residents will remember Horner Road used to cross I-95 and run along the same path as today’s Canon Hill Road.

The developer is offering the county cash proffers to include $15,000 for every townhome and $11,000 for every condo sold for transportation.

For schools, it’s offered $17,000 every townhouse and $10,000 for every condo sold.

The project is located squarely in the county’s development area on the eastern side of the county.

Despite the monetary proffers for transportation, Doug Widener, with Citizens Alliance of Prince William told us via email this project will create more traffic headaches for drivers, and for taxpayers who may be asked to fund the bill for new commuter parking:

Traffic-related Problems: 
1.     Almost 2,800 vehicle trips per day will be added to already badly congested roads and intersections if this project is approved.
2.     The adjoining stretch of I-95 is already one of the most congested roads in the nation.
3.     The nearest commuter lots are more than a mile away and already full on workdays.   
4.     Building new commuter lots is very expensive.  “Building new surface parking typically costs between $5,000 and $10,000 per space. Structured parking (parking garages) typically cost between $15,000 and $20,000 per space.”
5.     There is no local bus service – or shopping – within walking distance of the project.

The Planning Commission will take up the matter at its 7 p.m. meeting inside the McCoart Building at the Prince William County Government Center.

Following a decision from the Planning Commission, the project will head to the Board of Supervisors which will make the final decision on the needed land rezoning.