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Opponents of developing the Mullins farm asked members of an independent federal preservation agency for help at a public hearing last night at Massaponax High School.
Six members of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation listened to public comments for more than three hours. The council's hearing, which drew about 100 people, came in response to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' recent decision to end consultations on a permit connected with John Mullins' plan to develop nearly 800 acres he owns on Spotsylvania County's Chancellorsville battlefield.
As the hearing neared an end, a corps official said he did not believe the agency would reopen the talks between preservation groups, the corps and Mullins.
For the first hour and a half last night, the Advisory Council heard from the corps and some of the local and national preservation groups that had been involved in the negotiations.
"I see the corps deliberately taking a myopic view," said Jim Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Preservation Trust, urging intervention. "I don't know if the president [of the United States] can tell the corps to do something. I don't know if God can."
The council members asked some of the speakers about attempts to buy the land from Mullins. The panel met with Mullins and some of the preservation groups yesterday afternoon in a meeting that was not announced to the press.
Mullins has said repeatedly that preservation groups have not made him an offer for the farm; the groups have said repeatedly that he never told them his asking price.
Earlier this year, when he did ask $40 million for the farm--which the county has assessed at $5.6 million--preservationists called the figure "almost laughable."
Bernadette Castro, the Advisory Council's vice chair, expressed optimism a sale could still happen.
"It is beautiful country, and it is magnificent land," she said. "I really do feel a deal can be struck."
The council has until July 18 to make a formal recommendation on how it believes the corps should proceed, but council member Bob Young encouraged the corps to reopen talks with preservationists.
"What we're trying to do is address an issue of vital importance to this community," he said.
Bruce Williams, representing the corps, said the corps would probably not be willing to reopen consultations.
Young responded, "I get the impression you're just throwing up your hands and walking away."
"That's not true," Williams responded.
Mullins' land is zoned to allow development of offices and stores on 55 acres and 225 homes on the rest.
Mullins, who owns Covenant Funeral Service, has pledged to donate some of the land to the county as a tourist stop.
The project requires a corps permit for six road crossings of streams. Mullins has declined comment on the permit application, saying it is a matter between him and the corps.
The public has until July 9 to make comments to the council. Comments can be made via the advisory council's Web site at achp.gov.