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By GEORGE WHITEHURST
The Spotsylvania County Planning Commission will weigh in tonight on a proposal that could save more historic Civil War battlefield land from development.
The commission also will consider a rezoning request for more commercial development at the new Cosner's Corner retail center near Massaponax.
Toll Land X Limited Partnership wants the county to reclassify 248 acres of land near the Chancellorsville battlefield to allow construction of 196 homes. The company can build 163 homes on the land by right.
In return for the 33 additional units, Toll is pledging to sell, at "substantially below-market" price, 75 acres to the Civil War Preservation Trust in order to create a 1,000-foot setback from State Route 3.
The buffer would blend almost seamlessly an identical setback already negotiated on other battlefield land between the Preservation Trust and Spotsylvania-based Tricord Cos.
Toll also is pledging to pay more than $22,200 to the county for each of the additional units, to cover public services needed by the new residents and has agreed to create only one entrance from Route 3 into its development.
The land once was part of an 800-acre tract often known as the Ashley Farm.
Local businessman John Mullins bought the farm in the mid-1990s, and has since sold part of it to Pennsylvanian-based Toll Brothers and the rest to Tricord.
Tricord sold 140 acres to the Preservation Trust, which placed the land under a permanent preservation easement.
In return, supervisors rezoned 87 acres of the farm to permit Tricord to construct a 300-home age-restricted community.
County planners have recommended approval of the rezoning, with a few modifications to Toll Brother's proffer statement--including steps to minimize nighttime light pollution.
The planners took a less favorable view of the Silver Cos.' request for a rezoning of more than 35 acres near the intersection of U.S. 1 and the U.S. 17 Bypass.
Rezoning the land in question would allow construction of a Home Depot, a Miller convenience store, a Staples and a Union Bank & Trust.
It's part of the company's Cosner's Corner project--a mix of shops and eateries near the Massaponax interchange of Interstate 95.
County staff have recommended that the commission table the request because the development eventually will clog nearby intersections.
Jud Honaker, president of Silver's commercial division, said the company is ready to work with the county on transportation issues around the Massaponax interchange.
"We're going to step up and help with the road improvements in that entire area," he said. "We're studying all that and trying to get something worked out."
The Planning Commission will meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Holbert building.
To reach GEORGE WHITEHURST:
Email: gwhitehurst@freelancestar.com
