Speculation is running rampant through this end of Chesterfield. It’s not an exaggeration. The Village News Facebook page could be that case in point. I was surprised to see our posting of the Matoaca Megasite story garnered 26,096 people.
I think people are interested in what this will bring to Chester (not Matoaca). If you’re not talking about it now, you soon will be.
Many locals are firmly against the facility that will be located on 1,675 acres along Branders Bridge Road. It’s with good reason. They are concerned with traffic, and the building of the East-West Connector that would be built along the bottom of the property at Beach Branch Creek east toward Harrowgate Elementary School.
Many of those I have spoken with are on the fence. Much like an election, they can’t decide if they want things to remain the same or move to the future.
Speculation is defined as engaging in transactions involving considerable risk but offering the chance of large gains. Does this describe the residents of the community or of the county? Sometimes you wonder what those in government have in mind when they make big deals that affect so many for the good or bad. How did Amazon work out? Starting wages at $12 an hour and out of control traffic that could cost tax payers 100s of thousands of dollars before it’s over.
As I am writing this, one resident texted me to say: While the Governor, Kirk Cox and Mrs. Jaeckle are patting themselves on the back, some of us are going to lose our houses and others will be living next to a highway and a train. That’s nothing to smile about, she said. But we don’t matter, it was all decided before the news came out.
So here’s the rub. The deal’s done, at least all indicators lead to that. Maybe it won’t be so bad. If you listen to Chesterfield Economic Development, it’s the best thing since sliced bread. But we the citizens of Chesterfield need to know who is making the dough?
What companies will locate on the property? What guarantees do we have that they won’t be driving big trucks down West Hundred Road? I’m told the East-West Connector will be built before the industrial facilities go in. If you are one of the up-to-5,000 workers there and you live in west of Chester are you going to drive home by going east on the new highway?
The fix is in, so what we have to do now is decide what we as a community want. A park, a better road, a new school (Harrowgate,) a community center or other amenities you might think of. You can’t stop a moving train. You can try but if you don’t like what’s going on you should lay down in front of it. But if you see that train moving faster than you can keep up with demand a new station.
