Two developers for large projects on Lake Anna recently asked the Louisa County Board of Supervisors to approve significant changes to their master plans.
At their January 12 meeting the Louisa County Board of Supervisors voted 6-1 to defer a request to alter the master plan of Lake Anna Resort LLC. The developer Mike Grossman asked for the total number of condominium units to increase from 96 to 118. (Grossman asked for and received an increase from 72 to 96 units back in January 2023.) Grossman told the group that a market study had determined the 12, five-bedroom “penthouse” suites on the top floor of one of the buildings on site (the other will be a 130-room hotel) would not be supported by current market analysis. His request was to increase the number of condo units to 124 (152 is the max allowed in the approved 15.227 acres Planned Urban Development.).
“The purpose of this request is to achieve a unit mix that will provide the highest degree of likely success for market absorption while still capturing the necessary sellable unit floor area needed to support the development’s economic feasibility,” Grossman noted in the official document.
As proposed, the complex would include 41 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units, 42 three-bedroom units and 11 four-bedroom units, covering more than 191,000 square feet. Each unit would feature a balcony overlooking the lake.
Grossman’s request to shift from five-bedroom to one-bedroom units won’t impact the project’s overall site plan or alter the footprint of the building. He also said that the changes would have minimal impact on county services and traffic, generating only an additional 200 vehicle trips per day.
Grossman did note the additional condos would require 248 parking spaces—based on two spaces per unit—12 more than what’s currently included for the project’s residential component. To meet that threshold, Grossman proposed lowering the number of parking spots allotted for the restaurant from 53 to 41. The latter figure is the minimum required for a 10,200-square foot restaurant in Louisa County’s land development regulations.
Grossman’s presentation also proffered funds to local charities for each room approved. The two charities were Lake Anna Residents for 24/7 EMS at Lake Anna and the Fluvanna/Louisa Housing Foundation. He noted he was willing to donate $500/room immediately. The amount was $1,000/room for each charity. Grossman also proffered $500/room to the Louisa County EMS fund.
When it was his turn to speak, Supervisor, Toni Williams of Jackson District, expressed his strong disapproval of the request and the offer. He stated he was adamantly against both. Chairman Duane Adams wondered if a motion to defer the request might be better idea so the developer could return with a different offer. Adams also noted he wanted to avoid negotiating at the meeting. The Board voted 6-1 to defer the decision on the request. Supervisor Williams was the sole vote against deferment.
The Supervisors also heard from Joe Walsh of Reef Management/Cutalong. Cutalong is a golf community located in the back of Contrary Creek and along Rt. 208 and Kentucky Springs Road. Walsh and Reef asked the Supervisors to approve changes to their master site plan, too.
First, Walsh noted Reef wanted to take the roads out of the public system and privatize them. This would also permit them to create a gated community – in synch with their desire to create a resort community (to be known as Tributor) with walking/biking trails, fishing pond, golf course, clubhouse and many rental “stay and play” units.
Additionally, Walsh detailed the ask to decrease the number of executive home lots and increase the number of condo units. Specifically, the master plan adjustment would decrease the executive home lot number from 308 to 33 and increase the condo unit numbers from 187 to 412. Townhome units would increase from 45 to 101. The overall matrix math shows no overall increase in the total number of units – 891.
The developer has also received approval from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to discharge treated effluent into Black Creek – a tributary of Contrary Creek. To do this, Cutalong had to agree to restore wetlands (they volunteered to do this on site) and mitigate some stream bed on the property. The Lake Anna Civic Association worked with Cutalong to refine these aspects of the development.
Walsh’s request to approve the requested changes to the master plan was unanimously approved by the Supervisors.
