Dear Community Member,

As a resident of Mason Neck, you should be aware that George Mason University (GMU) is proposing to build an academic and conference center for the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) on Mason Neck. The site is located at the end of Belmont Blvd, and will be named “Point of View.”  It will serve as an International Conflict Resolution Conference Center and includes 15 cabins, a visitor information center, a conference center, a dining facility and administrative offices. The site is designed to host groups of a hundred or more.  GMU now has a permit to build a 250,000 gallon per/day sewer treatment plant to support this project. 

Here are our concerns:  

• The capacity of the sewer treatment plant far exceeds the needs of the ICAR, as a matter of fact, it exceeds the needs of all of Mason Neck. What are we missing? Is this really a plan for intense development?
• The scale of this treatment plant offers a large “gateway” for the development of adjacent properties and the ability to develop properties on Mason Neck at much greater densities, to include townhouses and condos. 
• The sewer treatment plant is permitted to discharge treated sewerage into Thompson’s Creek, a part of the Kane’s Creek watershed.  Kane’s Creek is described by Fairfax County as the most unique estuary in the state of Virginia, “deserving the highest level of protection”. It is also described as the standard for the Chesapeake Bay. 
• The sewer treatment plant was authorized without the knowledge and approval of adjacent property owners, and by-passed the entire Mason Neck community with out providing us an opportunity to comment or oppose the permit.
• The Comprehensive Plan for Mason Neck opposes all development through the use of large scale private or public sewer treatment facilities it also opposes industrial, commercial or institutional development as is being proposed. 
• This plan creates a disruptive and potentially hostile and threatening environment for the fragile Mason Neck ecology, wildlife, as well as the residential communities our Comprehensive Plan seeks to protect.
• GMU makes no commitment to use the 80 acres to buffer the ICAR site or to help preserve the tranquility that we all seek.
• An International Conflict Resolution Center does not belong adjacent to any Mason Neck residential community.
• The transportation plan requires all commercial, student, faculty, administrative, and the hundreds of visitors to access the site by way of Belmont Blvd. a narrow one-way residential road without sidewalks, shoulders or adequate street lighting.
• The scale of the GMU plan is unnecessary and unwelcome. GMU currently has more than adequate on campus facilities including conveniently located auditoriums, conference rooms, dinning facilities to support large international meetings.
• Common sense suggests that a “Conflict Resolution Center” should be isolated, not located next to tranquil residential communities as proposed.

GMU was given the Lynch 40 acre home site on Mason Neck, an adjacent 80 acre site, and a 5 acre site to support its ICAR program. GMU states that this site is the ideal location for the Conflict Resolution Center because of its natural and peaceful setting. We applaud GMU for educating students in international conflict resolution and for establishing centers for the resolution of conflicts. However, as an educational institution, GMU should not only be teaching, but also helping to set meaningful environmental standards for our students, community and nation. Developing the most environmentally sensitive sites, building sewer treatment plants which will dramatically change the face of Mason Neck, and making no commitment to preserve and protect the environment we have fought to save these many years is not a standard of excellence we should accept. 

It’s time for a different “ Point Of View” and we hope you will join us in opposing this plan.

(Over)

Here’s how you can help: 

• Call (703) 541-5545 and leave a message on the voice mail. A member of the Association will contact you.
• Check our website Belmontbayassc.com and send us your comments and email address so that we can keep you informed.
• Attend Tuesday’s Mason Neck Citizen’s Association and call for them to aggressively oppose this plan.
• Contact our local elected representatives by phone or email to let them know you oppose this plan.

George Arnold

President,

Belmont Bay Community Association, Inc.