Former board member to build on 53 lots off Catlett Mountain Road

By Robert King -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — Warren County supervisors approved a subdivision variance Tuesday that allows a former board member to build more lots off Catlett Mountain Road.

The supervisors approved the variance request after a public hearing Tuesday. The variance allows former North River Supervisor Ron L. Llewellyn to build 11 lots that don't have access to a state-maintained road.

Llewellyn aims to build on 53 lots on roughly 200 acres he owns off Catlett Mountain Road.

The project will be served by a central water system.

The development is near the old Avtex rayon plant, which was declared a Superfund site in 1986 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and is now being cleaned up.

The EPA doesn't know of any groundwater contamination in the area, but is continuing to study it, according to a 2007 letter from Bonnie G. Gross, the EPA project manager.

Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Glenn White asked if the water quality would be continually monitored.

County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley said the state monitors every central water system, and with the EPA also keeping tabs on the area, "I think in essence you almost get double protection," he said.

Providing water became a sticking point in Llewellyn's previous efforts to develop the property.

Llewellyn initially wanted to build 150 lots on the property, which would be developed by Fairfax-based Brookfield Homes.

In January 2007, the Warren County Planning Commission recommended a rezoning from agricultural to residential for the development.

In February of that year, the supervisors and Brookfield jointly requested water and sewer service from the town of Front Royal.

Negotiations stalled between the town and Brookfield because the parties disagreed where the water should come from.

The town wanted the water to be brought in from the south, but Llewellyn has said that could have cost Brookfield anywhere from $4 million to $6 million.

Town staff, however, estimated the cost to be $1.9 million including contingencies, according to a February 2007 town letter to Brookfield.

The developer wanted water to come from the north, but Front Royal wanted to reserve those lines for commercial development north of town limits.

The stalemate eventually forced the development plan to collapse.

Meanwhile, the proposed development became an issue in Llewellyn's 2007 re-election bid. Llewellyn was defeated in November by White, who slammed the incumbent for his role as a developer.

Llewellyn now plans to develop the 53 lots by-right, meaning county approval isn't required.

He offered to donate right of way for the future western bypass road, which would stretch from Rivermont Drive off U.S. 340 to Va. 55.

Llewellyn estimates construction won't begin on the development for another year or two.

The application process for the water system is lengthy, he said. The housing market also will affect the construction date.

"Unfortunately the market is so slow right now," Llewellyn said.

* Contact Robert King at rking@nvdaily.com