GDG- Another Remarkable Victory at Chancellorsville

Wed Nov 15 08:25:12 CST 2006

To:  Friends of Chancellorsville Battlefield

It is a pleasure to announce that the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday evening to support preservation of an additional 74 acres of the First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield (formerly the Mullins Farm).  The vote marks the end of a four-and-a-half year struggle by the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) and its partners in the Spotsylvania Battlefields Coalition to rescue this endangered battlefield from imminent development.

The vote was the result of a compromise plan between national developer Toll Brothers, Spotsylvania County, and CWPT that permits Toll Brothers to build 33 additional houses north of the battlefield in exchange for selling 74 acres of hallowed ground to the Trust.  Toll Brothers will convey the 74 acres to CWPT for $1 million, less than half the market value of the property (estimated at $2.3 million).

The compromise with Toll Brothers was similar to an agreement reached in 2004 between local developer Tricord, Inc., Spotsylvania County, and CWPT.  That agreement resulted in the preservation of 140 acres of the First Day Battlefield adjacent to and immediately east of the 74 acres preserved by the vote Tuesday evening.  The two properties will now be joined to create a 214-acre battlefield park.

The victory remarks a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of the First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield.  In 2002, the Dogwood Development Group announced a plan to build a 2,000-unit development on the property, along with 2.2 million square feet of commercial space.  At the time the Dogwood plan was announced, it was considered a "done deal."  However, because of the energy and enthusiasm of the Spotsylvania Battlefields Coalition, the Dogwood plan was overwhelmingly defeated and negotiations were able to begin to protect the core parts of the battleground.

Of course, the job isn't done yet.  Now that the entire First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield is preserved, CWPT, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, and other Coalition groups are moving forward with plans to install interpretive signage and nearly four miles of walking trails on the First Day Battlefield.  The Coalition is now working with Spotsylvania County to create a premiere heritage tourism at the former nursery site on the battlefield.

CWPT wishes to thank Toll Brothers for their willingness to enter into a partnership with the preservation community.  We also want to express our gratitude to the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors, who had the patience and foresight to bring this unique agreement to fruition.

Finally, CWPT would like to thank our partners in the Spotsylvania Battlefields Coalition, as well as the hundreds of other concerned citizens and well-wishers who volunteered their time and talents to make this preservation victory possible.  It has been a long journey-and a rewarding one.  Thank you.

Best,

Jim Campi

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For a map commissioned by CWPT showing the 74 acres preserved Tuesday as a result of the unanimous board vote (shaded in pink), visit:

==>  http://www.civilwar.org/news/FDAC_properties_map.pdf <http://www.civilwar.org/news/FDAC_properties_map.pdf> 

(Note:  the file may take a few moments to download)

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Spotsy board vote brings cheers

By DAN TELVOCK

11/15/2006

Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star (VA)

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/112006/11152006/237113 <http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/112006/11152006/237113> 

Preservationists rejoiced last night after the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a developer's rezoning request that will protect a 74-acre battlefield on Mullins Farm off State Route 3.

Toll Brothers requested a rezoning for 224 acres west of Lick Run, formerly the Ashley Farm, to allow 33 additional homes to the 89 homes allowed by right. The development is called Chancellorsville Crossing.

In exchange for the rezoning, Toll Brothers agreed to sell 74 acres of the world-renowned First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield to the Civil War Preservation Trust for $1 million--more than $1.3 million below market value. The land is west of 140 acres that CWPT purchased from Tricord last year for $3 million.

Supervisors reserved comment, with only Chairman Hap Connors saying it has been a long journey to get to this point. Without approval of the rezoning, the battlefield would be destroyed and the county wouldn't get any proffer money, he said.

The board room was at near capacity for the public hearing at which a majority of speakers favored preserving the battlefield. Five people expressed concern that the new development, which clusters 122 single-family homes, wouldn't conform to their current subdivision, where their homes have two-acre lots.

Prior to the vote, former Supervisor Bob Hagan, who now is director of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the board could preserve a critical part of history, provide a view shed, and make Route 3 safer by eliminating one more access point by approving the rezoning. 

He also warned supervisors that voters will be asking them during next year's election how they voted on this rezoning.

"I hope that each and every one of you will be able to answer yes," Hagan said.

Before the public hearing, there was some discussion about the proffers Toll Brothers is paying for the rezoning. County supervisors changed proffer guidelines this past June. Toll Brothers used the older guidelines, and Clark Leming, an attorney representing the developer, said those guidelines were in effect when the deal with CWPT was made.

Under the proffer rules Toll Brothers used, it will pay $722,000 to offset the cost to the public of the development. Under the current guidelines, the proffer money would increase by about $422,000.

The development is expected to add 330 vehicles per day onto Route 3. There are currently 30,000 vehicles a day using that stretch of the highway.

County staff recommended the board table the vote.

Supervisor Vince Onorato asked County Attorney Jacob Stroman what his opinion was in considering what proffer guidelines Toll Brothers should be using. Stroman said the developer should be using the current guidelines because a board has the right to change proffer rules 14 days before a public hearing.

The room remained quiet. Citizen activists and preservation group members appeared to fear that the board would table the vote based on the proffer issue, and risk saving the battlefield.

However, when the 7-0 vote was made, virtually the entire room stood and applauded the vote.

"This is a huge victory for preservation and it's a culmination of 4 years of work," said Jim Campi, policy and communications director for CWPT.

Leming said the deal with CWPT is a perfect example of how developers can work with communities to reach compromises.

"We are grateful that the Board of Supervisors supported preservation over large-lot development," he said. "We think this is a deal that is beneficial to the county, the preservation groups and the developer."

Campi said interpretative trails are planned for the property, linking it with the acreage purchased last year from Tricord. 

The Board of Supervisors also plans to have a visitors center on the land. Trees will be planted along 900 feet of frontage that will block the homes from the view shed, Campi said.

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Jim Campi, Policy and Communications Director
Civil War Preservation Trust
1331 H Street NW
Suite 1001
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 367-1861
http://www.civilwar.org <http://www.civilwar.org/> 