Chancellorsville victory stands on its own merits

Date published: 5/21/2003

Comments have been made that the defeat of the Town of Chancellorsville was a pyrrhic victory. We stopped the development, this line of argument goes, but lost the greater war to save part of the battlefield for posterity.

What Mr. Mullins will ultimately do with the historic portion of his property is as yet unknown--at least to us. Perhaps when the heat of battle cools, he will be amenable to a reasonable offer.

Meanwhile, however, we will not have the traffic congestion, school crowding, safety and water problems associated with almost 2,000 residences.

The county theoretically is trying to keep growth down to 2 percent per year, although many of us would settle for 4 percent. Stopping Dogwood Development Group is simply one step in what will be a continuing battle to control growth and prevent sprawl.

There is a rumor that the 500-unit Whitehall development is on hold because of citizen concern about traffic, water, safety and school crowding. Maybe the developers will start realizing that there is a group of citizens who are monitoring closely their proposals.

Combined with a new approach by the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors to disallowing excessive growth, we are making progress. No one is more concerned than we about saving our historic heritage, but 40 acres of Chancellorsville battlefield has to be evaluated in the context of the future of Spotsylvania itself.

What shall it profit us to save 40 acres, but have so much traffic that nobody can get to see it?

Alfred and Mary Jane King

Spotsylvania

Date published: 5/21/2003