Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 10, 1993 TAG: 9308100124
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short
Wilder ordered an investigation last month of the agency's real estate dealings in the Fauquier County hunt country, where land reportedly was sold at attractive prices to wealthy landowners without public notice.
Wilder, who received findings of the investigation Friday, said the foundation's board of trustees needs to set formal policies on how the agency conducts business. The private sale of land by the agency without public notice "is not a good practice," he said.
Three purchasers of the land had lent the agency $2.25 million at 8 percent interest for the acquisition of a large piece of property for conservation in the Bull Run Mountains in upper Fauquier, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported last month.
"The public becomes more cynical when they read or see things like this," Wilder said.
The General Assembly created the outdoors foundation in 1966 to conserve open spaces in scenic areas of the commonwealth. The agency, which operates on $60,000 per year in state money and private contributions, has placed open-space easements on about 84,000 acres across Virginia to restrict development, timber cutting and subdivision. The agency also has bought land for preservation and sold it with easements attached.
The board of trustees, appointed by the governor, is the governing body for the outdoors foundation, but trustees have said they were unaware of the private land sales to agency lenders.
by CNB