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What should happen with the industrial park property near Dillwyn? That’s been a question politicians and residents alike have asked for years, with no clear answer. Even a committee put together by Buckingham supervisors couldn’t reach a consensus. Now the planning commission is asking for that committee to be reconvened, to try and figure something out a second time, rather than change the zoning for that property. 

When supervisors voted to approve selling 7.413 acres of industrial park land to the Central Virginia Christian School, that was the first of a two-part agreement. The second part was to ask the planning commission to take a look at if the remaining two thirds of the property should be rezoned to Village Center or light industrial, changing what would be allowed to be built on site. 

Currently, that northern two-thirds of the property is zoned neighborhood commercial, which means only small scale things like retail shops, services and mixed-use developments can go up. A light industrial zoning, for example, would allow things like warehouses or garages to go up, bringing in trucks, loud noises and deliveries on a regular basis. A Village Center zoning would allow higher density options. But before its rezoned, nearby residents want to further look at what industrial options can be brought in, what possibilities there are for long-term, good paying jobs. That’s why they asked the planning commission to hold off on any recommended changes during their Monday, Dec. 16 public hearing. 

A history of the industrial park

Commission members agreed that a rezoning isn’t needed yet. 

“Not long ago, the board tried selling that land to a developer for housing projects, with the promise that there would be some businesses that would locate there,” commission member Pete Kapuscinski said. Unable to make Monday’s meeting, he wrote down his thoughts for the remaining board members. “That proposal was never approved by the residents and in fact it created a firestorm. As a result, the developer walked away from his project proposal and it cost the county taxpayers some $180,000 to settle with the developer. The land belongs to the county taxpayers.” 

Kapuscinski is referring to the often maligned Knight Valley deal. In the summer of 2022, Buckingham County sold the land in Dillwyn to the Atlantic Investment Corporation. It was supposed to be the site of 119 homes, including 67 townhouses, 24 detached row-style homes and 28 single family homes. The argument had been that the prices, which were expected to range from $250,000 for a townhouse to $500,000 for a single family home, would attract “first-time homeowners from all demographics, who desire a less congested alternative to city living”, according to the materials given to the county’s planning commission. However, Atlantic withdrew a request for a special use permit in September. The group later abandoned plans for a Buckingham County operation, selling the land back to the county.

What upset residents was the price Buckingham officials agreed to pay, in order to buy it back. First, the county agreed to forgive a debt. In 2022, Atlantic promised to pay Buckingham County $751,680 in total for 125.28 acres, which had been an industrial park. At the time, Atlantic paid $346,749.67. The remainder of the $751,680 was promised, but had not been paid yet. As part of this deal, supervisors agreed to forgive the $405,840 remaining on that debt. 

In addition to forgiving that $405,840, the county agreed to pay Atlantic $516,749.67 for the property. Part of that, 346,749.67, is what Atlantic paid back in the summer of 2022. An additional $170,000 was given to help cover a portion of Atlantic’s expenses incurred since last year to develop the land. 

So that means the county originally received only $346,749.67 for the land in the first sale, then paid $516,749.67 to get it back.

Also, neighboring residents who spoke at public hearings in 2022 were afraid and the fear was twofold. First, they were afraid these proposed townhouses and neighborhoods would bring in people from other cities, changing Buckingham’s rural dynamic. Second, they were afraid a subdivision like the one proposed would bring in more expensive stores, increasing the cost of goods and services. All of that is why the topic of the industrial park is a touchy one for many. 

Bring back the committee

But beyond fear, residents just want some answers. In the wake of the failed Knight Valley sale, supervisors had created an economic development committee, with the idea of finding alternative uses for the property. However, the group hasn’t met since Fall 2023 and never presented its final report to supervisors. 

“We were working, trying to come up with solutions,” said Dillwyn resident Alan Leatherwood. Speaking to planning commission members Monday, Leatherwood said that his group was unable to complete their task before the group was dissolved after the 2023 election by the new board of supervisors. “We’ve not met since September 2023. I think that is something that needs to be further explored.” 

He argued that changing the zoning won’t accomplish what’s needed. Several others echoed those comments, including Dillwyn resident Wes Saxon, who said there’s been plenty of talk, but few results. 

“A lot of talk went into this a couple of years ago,” Saxon said. “There are a whole lot of questions that have not been answered.” 

Officials from the Town of Dillwyn also spoke, with Mayor Karen Frable-Moss asking the commission to consider recommending to the county that before any changes occur, at least one acre of land be sold to nearby town residents. That way it would act as a buffer. 

What happens next for the industrial park? 

In the end, the commission voted to deny the request by supervisors to consider rezoning the property. Instead, they recommended that the county relaunch the economic development committee, to examine uses for the property.