BY CASSIE DUERSON
The long-awaited Lake Anna Planned Unit Development vote was taken at the July 7 Louisa County Board of Supervisors meeting. Developers for the project had requested an increased number of condominium units from 96 to 114. The vote was 5-2 to approve with Supervisors Duane Adams and Toni Williams opposed.
The original plan for 96 units at the LA Resort, LLC was approved on July 11, 2024 by the LCBS. When the idea of increasing the number of units was brought up during a January meeting, the BOS deferred taking any action with Supervisor Williams claiming the developers’ proffers were “insulting”.
Tory Williams, agent for Lake Anna PUD developers Mike Grossman and Mike Garcia noted he and his clients had listened to citizen and Supervisor concerns and that the request presented at the July 7 meeting reflected that.
Grossman presented his most recent request for adding units to his project with proffers that offered cash donations to the Foundation for Lake Anna Emergency Services, the Fluvanna-Louisa Housing Foundation and the Louisa County EMS General.
All told the proffers would total just over $186K with $57K earmarked for the Louisa County Fire & EMS General Fund, $9K for the Foundation for 24/7 EMS at LKA (New Bridge Fire & EMS Station), $20K to Louisa County Fire & EMS for AED (defibrillators) placement in first responder vehicles and $100K for the Fluvanna/Louisa Housing Foundation to use for workforce/affordable housing initiatives.
The PUD would also utilize the Lake Anna Water Treatment Plant by sending wastewater across Rt. 208. The developer offered $1 million to cover plant upgrades and to accommodate for increased capacity from the resort.
The resort will encompass both a 114-condominium six story building and a 130-room hotel, plus a restaurant/bar, pool, retail space and boat docks, but no public boat ramp, all located on 15.277 acres of land on Rt. 208 and Mitchell Creek, across from the Lake Anna Plaza.
Some residents raised concerns about the traffic and congestion this would create along Rt. 208, as it is already a busy location. But according to studies by the developer overall traffic would only increase by 119 trips each day as unit purchasers are expected to be mostly retirement age adults, second home buyers or vacation home buyers.
“We sincerely thank the Board of Supervisors for its thoughtful review and approval of the proffer amendment. This decision reflects a shared commitment to responsible growth, alignment with the County’s long-range planning objectives, and continued collaboration between the public and private sectors. We look forward to advancing the project in a manner that delivers meaningful benefits to the community,” Grossman told Life & Times.
“Our current timeline has Phase 1 construction commencement for the residential condominium and water treatment facility scheduled for the second half of 2026, with delivery expected in early 2028.”
This new resort would bring a variety of jobs to the community and financially benefit the county as it supports the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The project is in the Lake Anna Growth Area.
“From what I can tell, Cuckoo District was not overly concerned with this development. I have not had an outcry from constituents. What I have heard is mostly concern about the impact the project would have on Rt. 208 traffic, a section of county road that has been mostly neglected by VDOT for the past 30 years. If anything, this project should serve as a wake-up call to transportation planners that our main growth area road at the lake is in need of an upgrade before more development is approved,” said Cuckoo District Supervisor Christopher C. McCotter who voted for the amendment.
“I will also note that my vote was not based on proffers, as I personally feel they should not be sought, accepted or considered when making such decisions. They only cloud the water. While I thank Mr. Grossman and his partners for the generous offers, I regret that he has had to negotiate his project in such a manner.
“In the end, this is a project that proposes an increase of five more bedrooms. And that, to me, was not a reason to oppose. I will however oppose further similar development of this section of Rt. 208 until VDOT and the County has a plan to upgrade the road,” McCotter told L&T.
District Supervisor Duane Adams voted against the project. He declined to comment on the vote.
Supervisor Williams told Life & Times, “I felt like [developers] came back for financial benefit for themselves, and I didn’t change my mind.”
