For years residents have been hearing about plans to create a hotel/resort complex on property across from Lake Anna Plaza fronting Rt. 208 and Mitchell Creek. A number of developers have tried but none so far have succeeded. It appears another is about to make a go of it according to Louisa County officials.
Mike Grossman and Mike Garcia of LA Resort LLC. are leading an effort to develop the 15.27-acre tract and Lake Anna Life & Times was able to ask Grossman about many aspects of the new plan for the project that calls for a rezoning and a Planned Urban Development classification.
“The subject assemblage is currently zoned Commercial C-2. This request is to rezone the entirety of the assemblage to Planned Unit Development (“PUD”). If approved, the development will fully embrace the growth area overlay standards for site and architectural design, landscaping, buffering, screening, and open space. In addition, the development’s character will include many characteristics outlined in Sec. 86-310 of the Louisa County, VA Code of Ordinances,” Grossman told L&T.
His plans create a mix of hospitality and retail/restaurant space including 1) an upper mid-scale to upscale hot with commensurate amenities to include uncovered boat slips to be shared with restaurant patrons, 2) a restaurant/bar, retail 3) other commercial uses, 4) a luxury residential condominium building with varying floorplans featuring an expansive lobby/lounge area, fitness facility, mail and package management facility, pet wash and grooming facility and community gathering area. Exterior amenities to these condominiums include all-season covered boat slips (a total of 130 covered and uncovered slips), an expansive pool with pavilion/grill area, beach, pad-dle sports area, firepits, playground, dog walk area, gathering places and a pedestrian-orientated path and trail network.
So why is the time right now for this version of the Lake Anna resort according to Grossman?
“The Lake Anna area would benefit from a leisure travel and business extended stay hotel and additional quality restaurant establishments. In addition, significant market demand exists for luxury residential single-level living condominiums offering an experience tailored towards affluent retirees, active adults and vacation/second home buyers. These market segments are growing within the region and desire an upscale ‘fit and finish’ with commensurate amenities, a maintenance-free lifestyle and direct access to the lake. The proposed Lake Anna Planned Unit Development seeks to address these underserved market segments within the Lake Anna area.”
According to the northern Virginia resident and developer “[the site] is located at Louisa County’s primary northern Virginia access gateway on New Bridge Road (Route 208), just west of the Route 208 bridge. The proposed planned unit development is within the Lake Anna Growth Area and, more specifically, the Route 208 corridor. As stated in the 2040 Louisa County Comprehensive Plan, ‘Mixed-Use development is desired along the Route 208 corridor providing an area for high quality commercial and residential development with a density higher than in other parts of this growth area.’”
Grossman believes his vision for the development supports these goals as outlined in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
The project is dependent on access to an existing wastewater treatment plant across Rt. 208 at Lake Anna Plaza/Island owned by a private company that has been cited by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in the past.
Louisa County and the developers have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for Louisa County to purchase and upgrade an existing private wastewater treatment plant. This upgraded facility will provide public wastewater treatment for the current customer’s wastewater treatment needs, the development’s wastewater treatment needs and have additional capacity to attract future commercial targeted industry development within the Route 208 designated growth area corridor.
“This plan has received support throughout the community primarily because the up-graded facility will be a lower environmental risk to the surrounding area,” Grossman told Life & Times.
Supervisor Duane Adams did confirm his knowledge of the proposed project and told Life & Times: “Plans have been submitted to the County for the Lake Anna Resort. I’m pleased to see what appears to be a viable path forward for this property. This development has the potential to provide needed jobs to our community while expanding our tax base. As the proposal moves through the zoning process, I’ll be certain to keep the public informed.”
Once the County reviews the site plan there will be a Community Meeting held (August 31 4-6 pm). Then the plan will go to the Planning Commission and more several public meetings will be held intended to record community sentiment toward the project before the Louisa County Board of Supervisors could vote on it.
“The project’s overall objective is to build a relevant, quality, upscale and safe planned unit development community that will benefit all residents of Louisa County by providing needed hospitality alternatives, a luxury single-level living option, positive fiscal and economic impact and employment opportunities in an environmentally and culturally sensitive way,” Grossman noted.
He also told Life &Times that, although they considered it, the plan does not include a public boat ramp.
“At this time, the project as envisioned, does not include a boat ramp. We considered it; however, we believe that would introduce an unfavorable element into Mitchell Creek.”
As far as the potential for negative community feedback on the need to increase wastewater discharge at the existing plant, Grossman said: “All feedback we have received from people living and businesses operating in the immediate area has been supportive of the possibility of the County purchasing, upgrading, and increasing the capacity of the existing private wastewater treatment facility associated with Lake Anna Islands/Plaza.
“This upgraded facility will provide public wastewater treatment for the current customer’s wastewater treatment needs, the development’s wastewater treatment needs and have additional capacity to attract future commercial targeted industry development within the Route 208 designated growth area corridor. The upgraded facility will be a lower environmental risk to the surrounding area.”
Other notable aspects of the site plan are the 130 covered and uncovered boat slips and a full turn lane into the project off Rt. 208. Rumors of timeshares are incorrect.
Grossman, a Marine Corps veteran, has lived in Prince William County, Virginia since 1978 and is married with three children. Has been in commercial construction since 1993 and commercial development since 2017.
Garcia has lived in Prince William County all of his life and is married with two children. He has been a commercial and residential developer and building since 1981. He is Chairman of Prince William County’s Commercial Development Committee. Has also been a director of numerous bank boards and a member of their loan committees.
