Can a declarant alter the roads creating traffic problems

You'll probably have to pressure both the developer and the zoning board to rethink the position. Usually, the developer runs things until the homeowners take over,, which can take a while, depending on how big the community is supposed to be. In this case, I'm sure the developers are more interested in the money they can make by jamming more houses in a postage sized piece of land. Remember - in America, money is the ruler of us all and to hell with everything else.

Providing specifics on the problems being caused can also help. Are there a lot of near misses from speeders and pedestrians, people on bike's (especially young children)? Has parking become an issue (developers never use the land to have enough, but people keep establishing four and five car households, all with SUVs). Is noise all hours of the day a problem? Get the neighbors and start gathering information- time and date stamped photos and be very telling.

Is the zoning board elected? If, not, who appoints them and are those people elected? Some (many?) politicians will only listen to the people who raise the most hell - these days it's one of tge few things that can balance out the people with the cash for campaign contributions (yet another reason for all the voter suppression that's cropped up.)

You have lots to do and you'll need help doing it, so start talking to your neighbors and use every method available to you to get the message across. Also see what itveoukd take to get another traffic study f9ne,done, if you have to pass the hat and bring in your own experts. If that becomes necessary, that person or persons may find a way to lessen the impact, maybe eith installation of stop signs ir even those bloody roundabouts I can't stand! Good luck.

Is the developer, declarant the same as yours? I get the feeling that this is part of a master and sub association.
Go over your governing documents carefully and pay attention to the plats pages and any and all planned development
in and around your community.

Wanted to post some more details on what is happening....
1- Our declarant wrote the HOA agreement so that he retains control over the HOA until 100% of the homes are built; each home has a certificate of occupancy; and each home is sold. He has complete control and can do what ever he wants to do. My question: can he literally make a decision that destroys the neighborhood? The homes in this neighborhood are priced at $700,000 to $900,000 which is roughly 2 -3 times more than the average price in our county.
2- Without our declarant's consent, there is no way into or out of this new subdivision as the board of supervisors removed two of the access (entry) points and a third is to remain unimproved (it isn't paved all the way to the new subdivision).
3- I had to locate the final approval for the new subdivision; find the Traffic impact analysis (TIA) mentioned; request a copy of this document; read the document to discover that 70% of all resident traffic which is projected at 650 cars (70% of 925) going into and 650 (70% of 925) cars coming out of this subdivision every day... on the street in our subdivision.
4- I had to pull the approved zoning permits for the new subdivision and all pro offers to discover that 100% of ALL CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC MUST USE THE ROAD THROUGH OUR SUBDIVISION. That is 100%!!!!

Virginia requires an HOA be created if there is "Common" area in the subdivision. Virginia law allows the declarant to exercise complete control over the subdivision until the HOA is turned over to the residents. But there has to be some recourse for the residents? We are at the point of consulting an attorney but we really thought the board of supervisors would do something about this. We live here and don't want to be filing lawsuits to save our neighborhood.

The board of supervisors has strict, detailed, complicated rules (driven by state law and municipal ordinances) that the board must follow when it comes to approving xyz use of land. This includes a strict timeline for hearing public comment. Until you are up to speed on these rules and what the timeline is, you have neither standing nor ammunition. Instead, all city hall, the board and your elected representatives will hear is whining. Rightly so.

Find and consult a land use attorney. He or she will explain where you have a chance and where you do not. This includes whether the changes to how long the declarant stays in control are lawful. Legislatures nationwide have cracked down on the latter. It's possible Virginia statutes and/or case law have a lot to say about what the declarant did here to extend the declarant's period of control.

Agree.