|
|
The proposed Town of Chancellorsville's fate will not be decided until Spotsylvania County's newest supervisor takes office.
A public hearing before the Board of Supervisors had been scheduled for Dec. 10, but that has been postponed indefinitely.
Courtland District Supervisor Jerry Marcus asked for the delay so his successor, Bob Hagan, can take part in the decision.
"It ought to be heard by an elected official," Marcus said yesterday. "It has serious implications, one way or the other, for Spotsylvania County."
After Mark Cole resigned from the board in January to join the House of Delegates, a judge appointed Marcus to serve until a special election could be held. Hagan won that election last week and will finish out the final year of Cole's term.
State laws are fuzzy on when the victor of a special election held on Election Day takes office, but it will be Jan. 1 at the latest.
The proposal to create a new town at Chancellorsville has stirred controversy since it was unveiled last December. Dogwood Development Group of Reston wants to build 1,995 homes and up to 2.2 million square feet of stores and offices on nearly 800 acres of rolling farmland off State Route 3 known as Ashley Farms or the Mullins farm.
Existing zoning allows 225 homes and shops and offices on 55 acres.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the project last week on a vote of 5-2 after three hours of public comment. Project opponents said it appeared some commissioners made their decision before the public spoke.
Marcus, who maintains a neutral stance on the project, said voters should be able to hold supervisors accountable for their votes on Chancellorsville. "I'm not accountable, and I realize that," he said.
Hagan appreciated Marcus' action. "Jerry is an asset to the community," he said. "It is the kind of principled response I would expect from him. I am sure the Courtland District voters appreciate it."
Board Chairman Benjamin Pitts said he would honor Marcus' request and not set a new hearing date until Hagan joins the board.
"I see no need to rush the issue," Pitts said. "We want to make sure the public process works."
Dogwood President Ray Smith could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Civil War preservation groups oppose the development because it includes the site of the Battle of Chancellorsville's first-day fighting and would abut 1,600 acres of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.
Jim Campi, spokesman for the Civil War Preservation Trust, a member of the Coalition to Save Chancellorsville Battlefield, welcomed the schedule change.
"Bob Hagan has been before the voters more recently than anyone else," Campi said.
Hagan made his opposition to the project clear during his campaign, and he said it probably helped him win.
"There aren't many people left in the area who don't know I think the project is oversized and in the wrong place," he said.
Marcus said he plans to meet with Hagan soon to ensure a smooth transition. He has been the county's chief negotiator on the development and persuaded Dogwood to make significant changes to its original proposal, including reducing the number of homes by 350.
Marcus held two public-information sessions on the project and explained the details of the proposal. That led some project opponents to label Marcus a supporter of and spokesman for the developer.
"I'm not a spokesman for anybody," Marcus said. "I was just doing my job. Apparently, they don't know Jerry Marcus very well."
In fact, Marcus said the project was not ready to be considered by the Planning Commission, and is not ready for the Board of Supervisors. He said he wants to see an independent financial analysis of the project and still has questions about some of its proffers.
He was disturbed that the commission voted over the objections of Courtland District Commissioner Hugh Montgomery, who had questions of his own. "I don't feel that was the best way to handle it," Marcus said.
Pitts said yesterday he plans to make sure that county staff members answer Montgomery's questions.