By John Wayne - November 2022
The proposed plan for 15+ Lake Front Acres on 208 across from Lake Anna Plaza calls for a 130-room hotel, restaurant and a 250,000 Sq Ft Condo building. On October 13, 2022, the Planning Commission held a public hearing which surprisingly drew less than ten citizens who stood to oppose the requested zoning change. The required re-zoning from C2 to Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the proposed development passed the Planning Commission and will now be placed in front of the Board of Supervisors for their consideration and action. It appears that the Public Hearing with the BOS will be scheduled for November 21, 2022, at 6:00 pm.
To recap, the proposed Lake Anna Resort development is planned to have a hotel with no more than 130 rooms, a restaurant, and a condominium with up to 96 residential units consisting of 2 to 5 bedrooms each. 
There is also a plan for up to 83 covered and 46 uncovered boat slips all on the southern shore of the properties approximately 850 feet of water frontage. The shoreline development plan includes approximately 62,000 sq/feet of over-the-water covered area for boathouses and other amenities.
The property’s water requirements will be met by on-site wells while the wastewater will be handled by a wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) currently in place and serving the Lake Anna Plaza complex. Louisa County and the Applicant have entered a Memorandum of Understanding for Louisa County to purchase and upgrade the existing private WWTF currently operated by Lake Anna Environmental Services. Under the plan, this upgraded facility will continue to provide wastewater treatment for the Lake Anna Plaza customers, the added Lake Anna Resort’s wastewater treatment needs and perhaps that of future commercial development within Route 208 corridor. The terms for this agreement include a one-million-dollar upfront payment from the Resort and payments for use of the WWTF going forward. Estimates for the cost to improve and upgrade the WWTF are approaching the $10M range.
During the Community Meeting held in September and the Planning Commission Public Hearing in October, members of the Community asked many questions and expressed a number of concerns about the plan, most having to do with the issues that will come with a development of this size and scope. Issues raised by those in attendance included the County overextending itself with the purchase and upgrade of the LAES WWTF, the environmental impacts of a development this size, changing of the "rural" nature of the lake with a "Virginia Beach-style" condo setup, the light and noise pollution that will come from the proposed developments large buildings perched on the edge of the lake, increased boat traffic, safety issues for boating on Mitchell Creek and the traffic that the development will bring to Route 208, among others. LACA Land Use Committee Chair John Wayne made a statement representing the concerns and position of LACA including those surrounding the upgrade of the WWTF and the nutrient levels coming in to the Lake, opposing the Conditional Use Permit that is also being requested by the developer to raise the height of the Condo building up to 80 feet tall, and limiting short term rentals of any Condo’s that are approved to be built in the development, among other items addressed.
It was pointed out that the current commercial (C2) zoning does not permit individually owned residential dwellings such as the proposed condominiums, which appears to be the largest bone of contention for the surrounding community. Citizens voiced frustration to county representatives at both meetings regarding how the County continues to approve plans for growth in areas where many feel the road infrastructure is already operating beyond capacity in the peak season. Other concerns mentioned were the County’s ability to respond to a fire in an 80-foot-tall building with current fire apparatus, whether families with children of school age will occupy the condominiums posing a strain on the current school system, and others.
Since the Planning Commission meeting where the re-zoning request was approved, there is a growing swell of opposition that promises to make their opinions known to the Board of Supervisors prior to and during the BOS Public Hearing expected on November 21st.
You can find additional information on this development in the Programs/Land Use pages of the LACA website https://www.lakeannavirginia.org/Lake-Anna-Resort#Lake%20Anna%20Resort. As always LACA encourages our members to be informed regarding development on the Lake and to make your opinions known to your elected officials.
John.wayne@lakeannavirginia.org
