Round Hill roundabouts

By Hannah Wever
Review Staff Writer

Published: September 4, 2008

Big plans for the Town of Orange could have an impact on county traffic, so town officials briefed their county counterparts on the project at an Aug 26 board of supervisors meeting.
A mixed-use project planned for the Round Hill property behind Holiday Inn Express within the Town of Orange is still in the conceptual phases. But because the residential/office/retail project could require a change to roads in the county, town officials and Virginia Department of Transportation representatives wanted supervisors to know their plans.
Round Hill Village, as explained by Orange Town Planner Michael Collins, includes 800 dwelling units, 130,000 square feet of commercial space and 25,000 square feet of health club/recreational space. The project would require rezoning of 133 acres at the corner of Radney Road and North Madison Road.
Town of Orange Mayor Henry Lee Carter explained to county officials how beneficial the proposed mixed-use project would be to the town’s economy and residents. Round Hill Village, he said, was “an orderly way to develop the town economically and residentially, and to try to stop the economic slide we’re in that started in the 1950s.“
Carter quoted sobering statistics about the standard of living for town residents, and said the number of families living below the poverty line in Orange had doubled since the 1970s.
“In terms of real money, we have lost substantial ground,“ he added. Round Hill would serve the town’s need for growth in a manner that would benefit the entire county, Carter said.
But in order for Round Hill’s design to work as planned, three traffic roundabouts would be installed. As planned, the roundabouts would be placed along North Madison Road where it intersects with Radney Road, Glebe Road and further down, with Woodberry Forest Road. The first two intersections are within town limits; the last is in the county.
Collins explained that development of a “North Downtown” district, and carefully designed traffic and pedestrian travel ways, are part of the town’s comprehensive plan. Conceptual renderings for Round Hill Village were created with these aspects in mind, he added. Further, the pedestrian-friendly, low-speed, uninterrupted movement characteristics of roundabouts (as opposed to stoplight intersections), were consistent with the town’s 50-year vision.
Currently, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is preparing to begin a traffic impact analysis along North Madison Road to determine what traffic interfaces will best serve the area and in the future.
VDOT representatives and town officials expect to present the results of the traffic impact analysis to the board once it’s completed.
Round Hill Village, following the completion of the traffic impact analysis will apply for a rezoning.