After nearly two decades of being in the works, the Villages of Gloucester, long ago referred to as “The Barrens,” cleared a major regulatory hurdle Tuesday night.
The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a rezoning request for the planned unit development during its meeting in the colonial courthouse, adjusting some of the proffers that had been included when the project was originally approved in 2007.
The 907-acre development, which will be located south of Gloucester Court House between Burleigh and Hickory Fork roads and Route 17, will include 1,142 residences. This includes no more than 800 single-family detached homes and no more than 342 single-family attached homes, including townhomes and condominiums.
According to Danny Stuck, the applicant’s attorney, many of the proffers that were included in the 2007 approval will remain intact, while others, such as the golf course requirement, were removed due to the change of times and residential development over the past decade.
Stuck said the Villages will provide substantial benefits to the county, bringing well over 1,000 new homes spread over a broad area. He said the economic downtown that began in 2008 caused the project to sit idle for 11 years, especially since some very expensive improvements to the land, such as the golf course, were required to be built up-front under the existing proffers at the time. “You’ve got to wait 10-20 years to get lot sales to recoup that revenue,” Stuck said.
Former supervisor John Meyer Jr., who owns a consulting business, spoke on behalf of the project saying, according to his estimates, after 10 years of construction, just over $1 billion would be invested in the county with this project.
Breckenridge Ingles, president of the Villages of Gloucester, Ltd., said, “This has been a 17-year journey for me.” He said the project, which started in 2001, came before the Gloucester Board of Supervisors for the first time in 2003 and was denied. In 2007, it came before the board a second time and was approved.
“A lot has changed since 2007,” Ingles said. “We’ve suffered through a recession as bad as we ever had and the housing industry really suffered.” He also said in 2007, there were 16,000 golf courses across the U.S. Since then, around 1,000 have closed, as the sport has declined in popularity, he said.
“I’m asking for a change for this project to come to life,” Ingles said.
Proffer amendments
According to Stuck, cash proffers have been added by the applicant, which exceed $2.9 million. This was done in the interests of mitigating traffic increases identified by the Virginia Department of Transportation in a review of a previous study done in 2007.
Proffers for lump-sum cash, additional landscape buffers, and land dedications to Habitat for Humanity and the fire department have had language mandating their existence removed.
Additionally, proffers for a golf course, indoor pool and extra tennis courts have also been modified from mandatory, though can all be undertaken based on the input of a homeowners’ association.
Proffers for an outdoor pool and two tennis courts remain intact. Proffers mandating a walking path as part of a public space at the Fox Mill Reserve have been removed.
Proffers mandating that county ownership of a certain public space within the project have been changed to allow for the county to choose whether it wants to own and maintain the property.
A four-acre water tower site was also proffered; however, if after five years the county decides against the need for such a structure, the land reverts to the developer who can then sell it.
Public hearing
During the public hearing portion of the meeting, former supervisor Carter Borden spoke in favor of the project, saying, “Please do everything you can to move this project forward. I think it’s in the best interest of the county.”
York district resident Robert Lender said he and his family purchased a home in Gloucester in 2003 because they loved the area. He has been following the Villages project for a number of years, and said he doesn’t see any drawbacks to the project of the amended proffers. “I strongly urge the board to approve the amendments,” Lender said.
Hayes resident Wayne Crews said the developer should be able to do what it wants to do with the project and added that it will take a development like the Villages to help in the effort of building an upriver crossing over the York River. “Maybe this will help move that along,” he said.
Ware district resident Nathan Brown said with every dollar the project will provide in economic development, somebody will have their hand out needing more money. Brown said he can hear the school system now saying, “We need millions to build a new school … hire new teachers.”
York district supervisor Phillip Bazzani said he was in favor of the project. He said big box retailers such as Sam’s Club and Costco have said they are not coming to Gloucester because there are not enough rooftops. He said the 1,100-plus additional homes this development would bring would not only add to those rooftops, but also would bring in $3.6 million in additional tax revenue year after year.
Abingdon district supervisor Robert “JJ” Orth said by no means was he not in favor of the project, but asked for additional time for himself and his fellow board members to review the amendments prior to making a decision.
At-large supervisor Ashley Chriscoe said he has had the opportunity to listen to the project being presented several times to the Gloucester Planning Commission, which recommended its approval in March. He said any concerns he once had had been adequately addressed.
Finally, Ware district supervisor Andy James encouraged the board to vote on the project Tuesday night. “Let’s give the group working on the Villages the opportunity to get moving on this project,” James said.
Tax exemption
In other news, the board unanimously approved a real estate tax exemption for surviving spouses of certain people killed in the line of duty. The exemption would be retroactive, for tax years beginning on and after Jan. 1, 2017.