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Henrico County officials have called a press conference for tomorrow morning at Wilton Farm in Varina, a sprawling 1,184-acre site, to make an announcement about the future of the property.
The announcement seems likely to be good news for those who want the site to remain as it is.
Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson has hinted several times during the past week, both on social media and during a candidate forum Monday in Highland Springs, about a forthcoming land preservation announcement that would involve more than 1,000 acres and would reverse plans for proposed housing on a Varina site.
Wilton Farm abuts the James River, adjacent to the Pocahontas Parkway. In 2005, developer HHHunt purchased the property for $19 million, then rezoned it to an urban mixed-use designation with plans to build more than 3,200 homes on the site, which it tentatively named Wilton on the James. The developer committed to keeping a portion of the site as green space.
Plans called for the construction of an interchange from the Pocahontas Parkway to access the site, and the Virginia Department of Transportation held public meetings in 2006 to discuss the issue with citizens.
But the development never got underway. A recession hit shortly after the land was rezoned, and HHHunt has not advanced its plans since.
The property was assessed for $10.62 million this year.
This is a breaking news update. Check back for more information as it becomes available.
