In a deal described as a bargain sale and finalized December 30, 2009, Virginia State Parks became the proud owner of 1,200 acres in Albemarle County as a site for a future state park.
The acreage, known as Biscuit Run, had been the largest residential development ever approved in Albemarle County. The investors paid $46.2 million for the land in 2005. The Commonwealth paid $9.8 million from a combination of remaining acquisition money from the 2002 State Park and Natural Area Bond and Federal transporation enhancement funds. The owners will also be eligible for Virginia Land Preservation Tax Credits and federal charitable deductions.
Governor Tim Kaine announced the purchase in a press release. Governor Kaine has an ambitious plan of protecting 400,000 acres of Virginia land during his administration and has worked hard to acquire or protect open land through conservation easements. An article in the Charlottesville Daily Progress also reported the sale.
While the final attendance figures are not yet in for 2009, it is estimated that Virginia's state parks enjoyed 7.4 million visitors with an economic impact for the localities and state of $180 million.
The Charlottesville area has long been under consideration for a state park and has been identified as an area needing a State Park in the Virginia Outdoors Plan. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the state to acquire such a valuable property which offers spectacular mountain views, abundant flora and fauna and is in the viewshed of Mr. Jefferson’s Monticello estate and farms,” said Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Jr.
The property is south of Interstate 64 and between Old Lynchburg Road (Rt. 631) and Scottsville Road (Rt. 20).
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What's next? The Biscuit Run property joins other "land banked" park acreage including land in Powhatan (on the James River), Gloucester (on the York River), Shenandoah (Seven Bends), Henry (Mayo River) and Stafford (Widewater) counties. Money has been provided to develop High Bridge Trail State Park, a rails to trails project on land donated by Norfolk Southern Railway Co., and Powhatan State Park, land that once belonged to the Department of Corrections. Much of High Bridge Trail State Park is now open for trail use but operational funding is minimal. No operational funding has been provided for Powhatan State Park. No development or operational funding has been allocated for any of the other land.
State law requires that a master plan be prepared to guide the development of each state park. This process includes public meetings. Of course, money for development and operations will also need to be provided. While development may be confined to the future, the Biscuit Run property is now preserved in this critical growth area of the state, assuring open space and recreational opportunities for many years to come.
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