Effective transportation infrastructure requires long-range planning, so we’re hesitant to throw cold water on the proposal to build a multi-million-dollar roundabout on Turner Drive to prepare for future retail and residential development along Benns Church Boulevard. Heaven knows, foresight has been sorely lacking in recent decades when it comes to preparing for the rapid growth the community is experiencing.

Here in Isle of Wight, we tend to build first and worry later about the consequences. So kudos to those who look ahead.

Still, the rush to commit close to $2 million in town and county tax money to a roundabout that will serve development that hasn’t even been vetted yet by the Smithfield and Isle of Wight planning commissions reinforces the belief of many citizens that the fix is in when it comes to residential growth. Would the town and county make a deal with private developers and the state to accept millions of dollars for the roundabout if eventual approval of those developments weren’t a certainty? Of course not.

This is why citizens are disillusioned by a planning and zoning process in which “public hearings” are just another box to be checked to comply with the law rather than a sincere effort by appointed and elected officials to hear from constituents and heed their concerns before acting to approve large developments.

On a hurried timetable that requires the county to accept or decline $2.2 million from the Virginia Department of Transportation for the Turner Drive roundabout by Nov. 1, votes are expected this week by county supervisors and Oct. 28 by the Town Council on spending at least $900,000 each for the project. 

Town and county officials say that four developers have agreed to kick in the remaining funds for the $7.6 million project, which would also include new turn lanes for motorists at the intersection of Turner Drive and Benns Church Boulevard.

Imagine the political pressure on the two planning commissions and governing bodies, after the town and county have committed at least $1.8 million of taxpayer money to a roundabout, to later approve all rezonings and special use permits sought by the same developers, lest taxpayers be left holding the bags for millions more.

We’re all for long-range planning when it comes to road infrastructure, but in the case of the Turner Drive roundabout, the cart is way ahead of the horse.

This community has way more urgent road needs than a roundabout for development that hasn’t even occurred.