The Cutalong golf course community and resort has submitted a new master plan for review by the Louisa County Board of Supervisors at its early January meeting. The new plan reassigns the main road for the planned community from the state’s responsibility to the resort’s. This reclassification of the road will permit Cutalong to create the gated community members have wanted, according to Cutalong Project Director Joe Walsh.
Additional changes to the master plan include more condominium and townhome dwellings along the shoreline in the back of Contrary Creek that could reach four stories high as well as the restoration of wetlands on the property to satisfy state nutrient credit requirements for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant. The latter accommodation was suggested by members of the Lake Anna Civic Association (LACA).
“The team and I appreciate the valuable input received from LACA on the Cutalong nutrient credit offset project’s scope and design, as well as timely approvals gleaned from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality,” Walsh told Life & Times. “With LACA’s input, our Cutalong and Stantec Environmental teams were able to achieve 100% of the required nutrient credits onsite at Cutalong, for the benefit of the Lake Anna watershed.”
The new masterplans notes a reduction in executive lots from 308 to 34 and a increase in condo/villa units from 187 to 312 as well as an increase in town home home units from 45 to 200.
The document notes these changes will likely generate less school-aged children due to the decrease in single-family detached homes as well as shirt the expected demographics of the buyers from primary residences to vacation and investment resort products, again lessening impact on the Louisa County school system. Should an owner of the townhome or condo choose to participate in the resort’s rental program, additional tax benefits would be generated for the County.
Regarding the nutrient credits and the wetlands restoration, Cutalong has designed and received approval from DEQ for the creation of the required nutrient offset credits, which will be generated 100% onsite at the project’s 1,000 acres and for the benefit of the Lake Anna watershed. The plan provides all required credits needed to construct and operate a second wastewater treatment facility (WWTF). That WWTF is currently in design and will be constructed at a future date, as required by development schedules.
In compliance with the DEQ Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (VPDES) issued in June 2024, Cutalong has agreed to create a 75-acre conservation easement, primarily south of Contrary Creek, with parcels also on the west end of the Cutalong golf course. This land, previously used for agriculture, has been converted into a perpetual forested state, creating valuable nutrient credits.
A voluntary stream restoration project has also begun at the Cutalong site and includes a $1.5 million effort to restore 3,000 linear feet of stream channels. This project will stabilize stream banks and beds, reducing erosion and preventing the release of nitrogen and phosphorus into the watershed. Construction began in November 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by summer 2025.
The two projects: restoration of 3,000 linear feet of stream channel and 75+/- acres of previous agricultural land placed into permanent conservation easement will be completed in 2025, years ahead of the VDEQ requirement.
Cutalong has also agreed to restore a half-acre of wetlands destroyed during mining activities in the late 1800s when the existing creek was dammed to provide a water source for mining activities. This restoration will reconnect the wetlands to the floodplain, providing additional nutrient uptake beyond the permit requirements.
In other updates, the Cutalong golf clubhouse is currently under construction and on schedule, with a planned opening in summer 2025. The Clubhouse will consist of a golf pro shop, restaurant (members and guests) and bar, outside patio and golf cart storage.
Phase One amenities will debut in late fall 2025 and include temporary docks, a fishing pond, four pickleball courts and three miles of hiking trails.
In addition to the phase one amenities, Cutalong’s practice facilities will receive some upgrades for 2025. A revamped short game area includes new chipping greens, a competitive putting green on the driving range and a lighted putting green right off the patio of the new golf clubhouse.
Cutalong is owned by Reef Capital Partners, an equity group based in Utah with resort properties around the country. Reef also owns the Boardwalk Hotel at Lake Anna and The Boardwalk complex.
