'Win-win-win' on farm

Follow us on

Deal brokered to preserve portion of Civil War battlefield

By GEORGE WHITEHURST

Date published: 9/15/2004

By GEORGE WHITEHURST

Developer will preserve 140 acres at Chancellorsville

Negotiators have agreed on a plan to end the decade-long fight between developers and historic preservationists over farmland that abuts the Chancellorsville battlefield.

Tricord Inc. of Spotsylvania County is serving as peacemaker by purchasing and preserving 140 acres of the Mullins farm along State Route 3.

Under the deal unveiled at last night's Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors meeting, Tricord has a contract to buy 227 acres of the farm east of Lick Run.

The land includes 55 acres zoned for commercial development. Tricord has agreed to not to develop any of that land.

Instead, it will sell the property--plus 85 acres of residentially zoned land--to the Civil War Preservation Trust for $3 million. Tricord will put age-restricted housing on the remaining 87 acres of residentially zoned property.

The deal will create a 1,000-foot-wide historic buffer stretching from Corter Avenue to Lick Run on the north side of Route 3. Fierce fighting occurred on the land during the first day of the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Hagan expressed satisfaction when discussing the deal.

"It has been a real roller-coaster ride, as with anything that's worthwhile," he said. "This truly was an array of people coming together to preserve this battlefield."

Hagan won unanimous board passage of a motion making the county government the co-applicant on the rezoning application Tricord must submit in order to develop the portion of Mullins farm it will retain.

Civil War Preservation Trust spokesman Jim Campi praised Tricord's "community-minded" actions.

"I think that speaks to the generosity and community spirit of Tricord," he said. "We are very pleased at how this deal has turned out."

Mike Stevens, president of the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, lauded all of the players in the deal--preservationists, county officials and, especially, Tricord's Mike Jones.

"It's a great day for the community, where we've saved open space and hallowed ground," Stevens said. "It's a great day for the country, where we've saved a piece of our nation's history and heritage."

Jones said he and other Tricord officials feel a duty to help preserve the county's heritage and quality of life.

"We're just glad to be part of something that's a win-win-win for the community and the preservationists," he said.

Date published: 9/15/2004