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It’s taken a bit more time than expected, but residents in the Buffalo Creek subdivision are finally getting their wish. The subdivision, located off of Route 658 (Five Forks Road), was recorded back in 2006 and is made up of 13 lots. As it stands, there are six homes currently built. One of the roads, Hampden Lane, was dedicated for public use.

That was part of the deal when the subdivision was accepted by the country. There was just one problem. The first 800 feet of the 80’ ft. right-of-way was not part of the subdivision in the beginning and was never dedicated for either public use or accepted by Prince Edward County.

“When the subdivision was first developed, this section of right of way was private, but it precluded the residents of Hampden Lane from ever being able to bring their street up to state standards and have VDOT take it over, because there wasn’t public right of way all the way to Five Forks,” said Sarah Puckett. She serves as assistant county administrator for Prince Edward County. Speaking to supervisors during their Tuesday, Aug. 13 meeting, Puckett and County Attorney Terri Atkins Wilson explained both why it was needed and also what’s caused the delay. 

Property owners in Buffalo Creek have been working for years to get the road up to state standards, so they could turn it over to the state for maintenance. But each time this conversation comes up, the hold up has been the issue of dedication of this northern portion of the right-of-way. Property owners in Buffalo Creek have been working with the owners of that property, who agreed earlier this year to make that dedication. 

One problem for Hampden Lane 

That deed came before supervisors and during their May 14 meeting, the group agreed to accept the deed. But there was one problem before all the paperwork was signed. 

“We had first gotten a deed of dedication and easement, but (the paperwork) was unclear about the county’s role, whether there was an expectation about the county bringing (the road) up to state standards or helping as far as getting it paved in the future,” Wilson told the board. “So we went back to the drawing board and now we’ve got language we feel comfortable with.” 

Specifically in the new document, it addresses the issue. The cost to bring the road up to state standards must be paid by property owners in Buffalo Creek. Under no circumstances will Prince Edward County assume responsibility for either maintenance or pay to bring it up to state standards. With that agreed to, supervisors gave a unanimous vote of approval. 

“This was the first hurdle for these residents to be on the path of hoping they would have a subdivision street that could be (taken over) by VDOT at some point,” Puckett said. “This is good progress for that neighborhood.”