Adverse Impact Analysis for the ‘Railroad Alternative’ Route (6.0 miles)

The TOWN OF HAYMARKET ROUTES:
Featuring the RAILROAD ALTERNATIVE

The Town of Haymarket Routes have included three variations, including Dominion’s Railroad Alternative Route.  The route analysis below is from the Town of Haymarket Report on Datacenter and Powerline  https://protectpwc.org/2014/12/12/town-of-haymarket-report-on-datacenter-and-powerline/

A. Dominion’s Preferred Preliminary Route (aka Railroad Route)

• The routes bisect two heavily populated residential subdivisions.
• The routes bisect several commercial parcels within the Town.
• The routes traverse most of the Town’s Conservation District.
• The routes traverse two of the Gateways into the Town’s Historic District.
• The routes traverse that area of the Town that constitutes a portion of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.
• Given the power demands of the new datacenter (100mw), the new transmission lines will not provide capacity for additional future growth.
• The aesthetics of the design creates a visual image that is not in concordance with the Town’s Historic District ordinances.
• The routes are not in accordance with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
• The routes are not in accordance with Prince William County’s Comprehensive Plan.
• The routes, terminus point and proposed substation are not located in the principal area of future residential, commercial and industrial growth.
• The overhead routes will adversely impact the value of many existing residential units.
• Diminished property values do not appear to be explicitly considered as a factor by the SCC.
• The routes will adversely impact several existent commercial properties in the Town’s southwestern corner.
• The routes will be constructed largely within the 100-year flood plain.
• The routes will traverse several designated wetlands.
• The routes may jeopardize the Town’s ability to comply with the provisions of the Chesapeake Bay Act.
• Upon information and belief, the routes will traverse areas containing several endangered species.
• In addition to the fiscal impact that will be absorbed by residential ratepayers, many of those residential ratepayers within the Town limits will also have to absorb the visual impact of the overhead lines on their viewshed.
• The overhead lines would allow for the construction of substations and communication arrays on the towers and within Dominion’s ROW without public hearings or public facilities reviews.
• Upon information and belief, Dominion has not negotiated with the Norfolk Southern Railroad (NS) regarding use of NS’s existing ROW.
• The overhead routes have a ROW that is severely limited by existing utility and railroad ROWs and numerous conservation easements.
• Due to environmental and topographical constraints, placing the transmission lines underground would be prohibitively expensive.
• Due to environmental and topographical constraints, placing the transmission lines underground would present significant engineering challenges.
• The overhead routes present a potential health hazard.

B. Dominion’s Alternate Preferred Preliminary Route and Public Input Preferred Alternate Preliminary Route  (South of I-66))

• The routes pass through at least eighteen (18) residential lots.
• The routes cross four heavily populated residential subdivisions.
• The routes cross several commercial parcels within the Town.
• The routes traverse most of the Town’s Planned Interchange Park.
• The routes traverse two of the Gateways into the Town’s Historic District.
• The routes traverse that area of the Town that constitutes a portion of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.
• Given the power demands of the new datacenter (100mw), the new transmission lines will not provide the capacity for additional future growth.
• The aesthetics of the design creates a visual image that is not in concordance with the Town’s Historic District ordinances.
• The routes are not in accordance with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
• The routes, terminus point and proposed substation are not located in the principal area of future residential, commercial and industrial growth.
• The overhead routes will adversely impact the value of many existing residential units.
• Diminished property values do not appear to be explicitly considered as a factor by the SCC.
• The routes will adversely impact several commercial properties in the Town’s northwestern corner.
• In addition to the fiscal impact that will be absorbed by residential ratepayers, many of those residential ratepayers within the Town limits will also have to absorb the visual impact of the overhead lines on their viewshed.
• The overhead lines would allow for the construction of substations and communication arrays on the towers and within Dominion’s ROW without public hearings or public facilities reviews.
• The overhead routes present a potential health hazard.

C. Dominion’s Alternate Public Input Alternate Preliminary Route, North of I-66

• The route traverses the Town’s Planned Interchange Park.
• The route traverses one of the Gateways into the Town’s Historic District.
• The route traverses that area of the Town that constitutes a portion of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.
• Given the power demands of the new datacenter (100mw), the new transmission lines will not provide the capacity for additional future growth.
• The aesthetics of the design creates a visual image that is not in concordance with the Town’s Historic District ordinances.
• The route is not in accordance with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
• The route, terminus point and proposed substation are not located in the principal area of future residential, commercial and industrial growth.
• The overhead route will adversely impact the value of many existing residential units.
• Diminished property values do not appear to be explicitly considered as a factor by the SCC.
• The route will adversely impact a large commercial parcel in the Town’s northwestern corner.
• In addition to the fiscal impact that will be absorbed by residential ratepayers, many of those residential ratepayers within the Town limits will also have to absorb the visual impact of the overhead lines on their view shed.
• The overhead routes present a potential health hazard.