A proposal to build a new $26.6 million middle school on Davis Ford Road was rejected recently by the Prince William Planning Commission because of environmental, traffic and road safety issues.
The school would bring additional traffic to Davis Ford Road — a road citizens had refused to let the county widen a few years ago, said Ron Burgess, commission chair.
“I think the access point [to the school] is a safety issue,” said Martha Hendley, commission vice chair.
Prince William County Police Chief Charles Deane, she said, had disputed that adding a policeman to direct traffic would help.
The transportation and environmental elements of the plan were also considered weak, according to Ray Utz, the county’s long-range planning chief.
The entire plan had been approved, however, after being reviewed by the county staff.
About 40 of the site’s 57 acres would be clear-cut of trees and the steep slopes leveled, Utz said. The remaining acres would be protected.
The 135,300-square-foot school would hold more than 1,200 students near the intersection of River Forest Drive, said Maureen Hannan, Prince William County Schools supervisor of land acquisition.
The school was planned to open in 2009 and would have relieved overcrowding at Woodbridge, Benton and Parkside middle schools. It also would have met the school’s goal of three new middle schools by 2010, Hannan said.
Citizens and commissioners encouraged the school board to look at other sites, such as the McCoart site, just a few miles south of the proposed location.
There are already plans for the McCoart site, however, said Supervisor Martin Nohe, R-Coles. The school board would have to purchase neighboring land, which would likely be too expensive, he said. The county spent $200,000 an acre for an earlier purchase in the immediate area.
“No matter what other sites we look at, [the school’s opening] will be delayed,” Hannan said.
The school board said it needs to build 15 new schools by 2010 to meet the need of more than 6,000 new students. The board has only identified five locations for schools.
“We badly need schools, nobody disputes that,” Hendley said. “We are behind.”
Proposal
» Site at 5901 Davis Ford Road
» Cost $26.6 million
» Property cost $75,000 per acre
» 57 acres
» 135,309 square feet
» 1,233 students
» County estimates 3,166 additional middle school students by 2010
Source: Prince William County Planning Department and School Capital Improvement Program
