700 homes planned at historic plantation site

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | Jan 18, 2006 | Lawrence Latane III

[Lorianne]

SALUDA -- The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors reaffirmed its support for the biggest housing development in the county's history last night and voted to rezone the historic Rosegill Plantation.

The 5-0 vote allows Northern Virginia developers to build 700 housing units on the 848-acre Rappahannock River estate that resonates with Colonial history and shelters the neighboring town of Urbanna in a cloak of picturesque farmland.

The Rosegill manor house was home to two Colonial Virginia governors and parts of the house date to 1650, making it one of the oldest in the state.

Residents on both sides of the issue argued that the fate of the rural county hinged on the board's Rosegill decision. The plantation had been zoned in a restrictive classification that allowed only six building lots.

After listening to development supporters and opponents speak for hours last night, the supervisors sided with supporters who said the developers' plan to preserve 61 percent of the tract as open space will raise the bar for future proposals.

"We want what's best for Middlesex County," supervisor Wayne Jessie said shortly before the vote.

Developers Diane Cox Basheer and Kenneth O. Thompson previously proffered to keep 61 percent, or 517 acres, of the farm in open space, much of it protected with conservation easements.

The two developers are practitioners of what is known as new urbanism, in which homes are clustered in neighborhood-like settings to conserve open space and promote a sense of place.

That the houses would sell in the $280,000 to $725,000 range was not lost on proponents, who said the project would increase the county's tax base and help retail businesses.

[umgud]

Plantation site? Maybe Hillary can come to the party. Maybe even represent this plantation.

[Daaave]

I am not certain if this is Rosegill ($4,975,000.00). But the property listing details says it was "Once Home To A Virginia Governor."

Here's a little history, for people that like this sort of stuff.

"Agatha Eltonhead was christened 10 February 1623 at Saint Mary's in Prescot, England. Her first husband was Luke Stubbins.

Then she married Ralph Wormeley and became hostess of Rosegill in Middlesex County, Virginia, and mother of two sons, including the second Ralph Wormeley, who like his father was prominent in Virginia colonial politics.

Upon marriage to her third husband Sir Henry Chicheley, Agatha became Lady Agatha. Her Oxford-educated third husband came from the same family as an Archbishop of Canterbury. Sir Henry served twice as acting governor of Virginia and was in political hot water after the Bacon Rebellion, which seems to have been about the falling price of tobacco on the London Market."

virginiaestates.com/

geocities.com/

[Fruit of the Spirit]

"Plantation site?"

There were numerous plantations in Virginia during those early years. Tobacco was used in place of money and was the product that launched America.

[stainlessbanner]

"We want what's best for Middlesex County our bank accounts"

[Moose4]

Sounds like the tendrils of the beast that is suburban Washington DC are claiming another victim.

}:-)4