Caroline County's future is unfolding as construction begins on the new Pendleton subdivision.
The 3,500-home neighborhood is going up on nearly 1,200 acres in Ladysmith on U.S. 1 and State Route 639 between two other subdivisions, Lake Caroline and Lake Land'Or.
It will include a mix of home styles, commercial and office space, a golf course and a possible hotel and conference center.
Work has started on the golf course, according to Doug Jones, president of Tricord Inc., which is developing the project in conjunction with the landowner, former U.S. Rep. Owen Pickett, who once represented the Tidewater area.
Pickett launched the project with a different developer four years ago, receiving a rezoning for the 1,170 acres in December 2000.
Tricord, a Spotsylvania-based company, began discussing the project with him late last year and formally began work on Pendleton early this year.
The subdivision is one of three large projects under development in the rural county. Homes are under construction in the 2,850-home Ladysmith Village, which is being built off U.S. 1 north of the Pendleton project. The developer of Haymount, a 4,000-home town-style development approved in the early 1990s, said recently he expects work on the Rappahannock Academy project to start soon, with model homes ready in as soon as 14 months.
Jones envisions the subdivision, formerly dubbed Madison Village, as a "wonderful community in a great location."
Caroline Board of Supervisors Chairman Wayne Acors is optimistic that Pendleton will boost the county's economy.
"I do believe this development, as well as Ladysmith Village, will give us the spark to attract the kind of businesses we want to attract," he said.
Mike Finchum, Carolina County's planning director, said 2,190 of the planned residential units will be age-restricted. The remaining 1,318 units will be a mix of single-family detached homes, villas, carriage houses and condominiums.
The price tag for Pendleton homes will range between $215,000 and $400,000.
That pleases Supervisor Calvin Taylor.
"I don't think it will bring citizens who will be a burden to the county," he said. "The houses are nice houses. They are probably middle and upper-income houses, and will probably bring citizens who will enhance the county."
Under the proffers negotiated for the rezoning, the project will include 50 acres dedicated to office and commercial space, plus another 10 acres set aside for a hotel and conference center.
An additional 25 acres will remain in reserve for some public purpose, possibly a school, Finchum said.
The county also is slated to receive cash payments of $2,250 per home, though Finchum estimates that eventually may rise to as much as $2,550 by the time the construction of houses begins.
Jones said Tricord is operating under the existing proffer agreement and declined to say whether the company might seek any changes to the scope of the project or the proffer package.
As part of the current agreement, supervisors also insisted that the golf course be completed before the county issued residential occupancy permits for more than 10 percent of the planned homes.
Jones said Tricord plans to finish the course before beginning any homes.
"The residents of Caroline County have expressed a need for a long time for a golf course, and they're going to have a first-class facility right there in Ladysmith," he said.
Finchum said the Ladysmith projects will bring more amenities to residents there. A new library is being built at Ladysmith Village and the Rappahannock Area YMCA might open a branch in Caroline.
"We think that collectively there are going to be a lot of opportunities available in the county that haven't been here in the past," he said.
To reach GEORGE WHITEHURST: 540/374-5438 gwhitehurst@freelancestar.com