Chancellorsville a battle site once again

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Date published: 8/18/2002

NEARLY 140 YEARS after the guns fell silent at Chancellorsville, the hallowed battleground is again the scene of human conflict. This time around the quarrel involves only ballots, not bullets. Yet for county residents the stakes are nearly as high, for the development battle brewing at Chancellorsville is about the quality of life in Spotsylvania County.

While most residents are busy purchasing school supplies and enjoying the final days of summer, their public officials are hard at work considering a rezoning application for the Mullins farm. Reston-based Dogwood Development Group has filed a rezoning application to turn this pristine farmland adjacent to the battlefield into a so-called historic town of 6,000 new residents and acres of commercial sprawl along gridlocked State Route 3.

The Mullins farm was the scene of bitter fighting on May 1, 1863. Nearly 20,000 men in blue and gray were involved in the clash that surged back and forth across the property. A 21-year-old soldier from Pennsylvania would later recall the turmoil on the farm: "[T]he roar of the artillery, the unearthly screech of the shells overhead, and the explosions that followedwhen the shells began to smash things right in our midst--it became decidedly unpleasant."

Despite the historical significance of the Mullins farm, the upcoming rezoning vote is about more than just the fate of Chancellorsville battlefield. For most county residents, the real issue is the effect this development will have on the quality of life in Spotsylvania County. On the surface, it seems like a positive plan, with plenty of fancy proffers that impress local officials. However, once you scratch the veneer off the Dogwood plan, it is clear that the proposal is a big loser for county residents.

Let's look at the numbers: As proposed, Dogwood's dream is to build 2,350 houses and 2.4 million square feet of commercial and office space on 790 acres of farmland. For comparison purposes, a typical Home Depot takes up 175,000 square feet and a Wal-Mart shopping center with adjacent stores averages 275,000 square feet. To better visualize the impact this will have on the area, imagine neon-lit Central Park lighting the night sky with thousands of tiny town homes crammed onto once beautiful farmland.

Date published: 8/18/2002