CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Nelson County Board of Supervisors unanimously ratified an $8.9 million purchase of 683 acres of land along Route 29 south of Lovingston for economic development among other potential purposes Tuesday night.

“The financial stewardship of the Board of Supervisors over the years enabled the County to react quickly to this opportunity,” County Administrator Candy McGarry wrote in a June 4 announcement of the pre-auction purchase of the property. “Purchase of the property fits within the already established debt capacity strategy, without additional General Fund revenues; therefore, there is no increased burden on the taxpayer.”

The county has the money in its coffer, so neither additional tax collection is needed toward the purchase, and there’s no affect on the county debt, thus no effect on the bond rating, according to McGarry.

“This particular parcel has not been obtainable for a long time, and the board has attempted to get it in years past,” East District Supervisor and Board Vice Chair Jesse Rutherford said before Tuesday night’s vote. “The one thing we do need as a community is economic development.”

He added the county’s average age is ticking up because of limited opportunities for younger families to find local jobs at livable wages.

“Twenty-five years we’ve talked about wanting this piece of property,” Central District Supervisor David Parr said. “I think it’s important to the future and I think 25 years from now residents of Nelson County are going to look back and see this was a smart move for the county.”

While North District Supervisor Cameron Lenahan was part of the unanimous “yes” vote, he was reluctant.

“I don’t think government should be involved in development, and that was my point from the very beginning,” Lenahan said. “We done put ourself in the position where it’s going to cost $892,000 to get out of this. Talking about fiscally irresponsible, I think that would definitely do it there if we just give away a million dollars just to give it away.”

He wants to see a five-year plan to dissolve the ownership if nothing substantial does not happen with the property.

“I know it’s a stretch, but before taxes ever get flown of going up again, this asset will be liquidated,” he said. “If this is to bring in jobs to Nelson County, good paying jobs and not bottom-of-the-barrel jobs for economic development, I’d be on board, but this has got to be a five-year plan.”

Parr did validate part of Lenehan’s objection saying he agreed the board did not need to be involved in development, but added he thought it was important for the Supervisors to take advantage of “this once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape the development that the developers do.”

“This is something we’ve talked about wanting to act on for my entire time on the board, and before on the school board,” Parr said.

“County officials recognize the public interest surrounding the purchase and are committed to transparency throughout the process,” McGarry wrote upon the purchase. “The acquisition allows the County to evaluate future opportunities for this strategically located property, rather than seeing it pass into private ownership without public input.”

The Administrator bullet-pointed several notes involved in this plan. The acquisition does not approve or commit the County to any specific development project and no rezoning actions are being proposed as part of this purchase.

Any future use of the property would require public discussion, community input, and appropriate governmental approvals. County ownership also provides greater local control over future outcomes that would not exist under private ownership.

The property can be evaluated for a variety of potential public purposes, including economic development, recreation, infrastructure, or a combination of uses. And purchase of the property fits within the already established debt capacity strategy, without additional General Fund revenues.

“Over the coming months,” McGarry wrote, “the County will conduct additional analysis regarding the property’s opportunities, constraints, infrastructure needs, environmental considerations, and potential public benefits. Citizens will have multiple opportunities to participate in those discussions.”

Neil Williamson with the Free Enterprise Forum told Cville Right Now one of the supervisors before the meeting described this land acquisition as “a job creation opportunity.”

“In further discussion I believe they will likely do a live, work, play because if they have significant job creation, they’ll need housing.” Williamson said. “So this could be a situation where you have a complex that would include maybe even hundreds of houses in addition to a significant commercial entity that is a job creation entity.

Williamson also noted that several people at public comment told the Supervisors not to make it a data center.

“Right now data centers aren’t permitted in Nelson County,” Williamson said. “But I understand there’s been some discussions that might fit on such a parcel. Though I don’t believe they have the infrastructure to support that at this time in terms of water in their current water situation.”

Williamson characterized the action of the board as going boldly forward to make the acquisition and control the future of those properties.

“As a property rights organization, we [Free Enterprise Forum] believe firmly that government, if they want to control the property, should buy it,” Williams said. “And that’s what they’ve done.”