A town hall meeting is scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, August 6, 2024, to discuss the proposed development of 300 new homes at Belmont Bay in Woodbridge. The conference, hosted by developer Miller & Smith, will occur at 7 p.m. at The Osprey Community Building, 401 Belmont Bay Drive, Woodbridge.
Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson and Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin will attend the event to inform residents about the development project and offer a platform for community feedback.
Dr. Jack Kooyoomjian, President of the Lake Ridge-Occoquan-Coles Civic Association (LOCCA), emphasized the importance of resident participation in this Open House to ensure the developers hear community concerns and suggestions.
Residents of Belmont Bay are encouraged to attend to learn more about the project and to have their questions addressed by representatives from Miller & Smith. The developers will present details about the new homes and gather input from the community regarding the proposal.
Prince William County has rescinded permits granted to a developer to dump construction debris on what used to be the Belmont Bay subdivision’s golf course as work continues on an expansion to the waterfront community.
Caruthers Properties withdrew its rezoning application, effectively concluding the developer’s effort to construct 1,400 new housing units at Belmont Bay, located in Woodbridge.
The Board of Concerned Citizens United welcomed the news for Belmont Bay, with President KP Lau expressing gratitude for the decision. “Personally, I would like to express my appreciation to the Caruthers for this momentous action. I believe it is appropriate at this juncture to take stock on where we are and what the future will hold for Belmont Bay,” said Lau.
The rezoning application, filed with Prince William County in June 2021, aimed to add 1,400 housing units to Belmont Bay, primarily on one-third of the former golf course land. Additionally, the proposal included the establishment of two public parks on the remainder of the golf course and replacing the Ospreys Event Center with 244 housing units. The plan also outlined the construction of 800 apartments in the Marina District and additional homes in various areas of Belmont Bay.
A vision of a hotel and conference center and a thriving business district once envisioned for Belmont Bay when construction began in the early 2000s was never realized, driving the developer’s desire for the rezoning.
The developer had hoped to build the final development phase on the land it acquired in the 1960s at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan rivers. A new boardwalk would have extended nearly 1,000 feet from the patio of the Beacon building to the George Mason University Science Center for river studies, which opened in 2018. Also, a new tree-lined urban plaza, performance space, and a new green space would span the length of Harbor Side Street between Beacon and the science center.
The proposed development faced opposition from environmental organizations, including the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, citing concerns over habitat destruction and adverse environmental impacts. Rob Hartwell, Vice President of the Riverbend Estate Association, joined forces with concerned citizens to oppose the rezoning application, emphasizing the need to preserve open space and protect wildlife habitats.
The application withdrawal follows months of deliberation and critique from the Prince William County Planning Office. The Planning Department raised 87 critical issues for the applicant, including concerns about open space allocation, amenities for current residents, and traffic implications. Despite a revised application presented in May 2022, which made minor technical adjustments, the proposal failed to adequately address the Planning Department’s concerns or engage with affected residents.
While acknowledging Caruthers Properties’ rights as landowners, Belmont Bay residents emphasize the importance of transparent dialogue and consideration for the community’s well-being in any future development plans. Moving forward, residents look forward to collaborative efforts with developers, environmental organizations, and local authorities to ensure responsible development that preserves the quality of life and natural environment in Belmont Bay.
A "reimagined" Belmont Bay neighborhood is proposed for North Woodbridge, marking the latest development in the storied mixed-use district that, for the past 20 years, has failed to achieve its grand vision.
The Caruthers Companies, the Belmont Bay developer, filed an application with the Prince William County Government to rezone 170 acres of land at the secluded neighborhood of townhomes and condos, located at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan rivers in Woodbridge. The developer hopes to build what it calls the $550 million final phase of development on the land Caruthers acquired in 1960.
At the center of the project is the Beacon building, a newly-built community center to replace the existing harbor master budling at the development's marina on the Occoquan River. A restaurant or food hall would be located inside the building, and an exterior patio would provide a place for both residents and the public to gather for open-air, waterfront views.
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Drivers traveling over across the Occoquan River on Route 1 have seen their share of orange cones in the past few years.
A project to widen the road from four to six lanes between the river and Mary's Way, across from Marumsco Plaza, just wrapped up.
Now the Virginia Department of Transportation is looking to modify the intersection at Routes 1 and 123. It's once again talking about putting a bridge over the highway, providing more direct access to the Belmont Bay neighborhood -- something its been talking about for the past 10 years.
