Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Inc. joins the American Battlefield Trust, and others, as a plaintiff in appeal of Wilderness Crossing Development decision
The Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT) has joined the American Battlefield Trust and Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, as well as adjacent residents in Orange and Spotsylvania Counties, as a plaintiff in a legal appeal of last month’s vote by the Orange County Board of Supervisors approval of the Wilderness Crossing Development.
CVBT believes the development plan fails to analyze serious impacts to the historic landscape and public utilities, or to address major environmental repercussions. Moreover, repeated procedural errors and failure to comply with Virginia Code and the county’s own Comprehensive Plan compel us, as neighboring landowners, to challenge this decision. The challenge was filed on Wednesday, May 24, in Orange County Circuit Court.
“A project of this magnitude is unprecedented for this significantly historical area,” said CVBT Board President Tom Van Winkle. “Orange County apparently failed to follow proper procedures and also failed to reply to several queries from the National Park Service and other public entities. CVBT will continue to advocate to do the right thing for the area and our nation’s history.”
This development proposal dwarfs anything previously contemplated in Orange County, potentially positioning millions of square feet of data centers and distribution warehouses at the gateway to a historic landscape of truly national significance. Moving this project forward without demonstrating meaningful analysis of one-of-a-kind resources that will undoubtedly be impacted and while severely lacking in transparency is unacceptable. CVBT is proud to stand alongside longtime partners and concerned citizens to protect the Wilderness.