THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 13, 1995 TAG: 9503130063
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: PROVIDENCE FORGE, VA. LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
New Kent County officials hope a long-range plan will help rein in development around the Colonial Downs racetrack site.
The horse track, which will become Virginia's first, faces a legal appeal from a failed applicant that could delay or prevent its construction. But county officials say they're optimistic it will be built and that there will be spinoff development.
Developers envision a mix of tourist, leisure, commercial and residential growth in the rural county of 11,000, but officials say they are working to ensure that New Kent's character will be preserved.
``We want to avoid strip development of roadways,'' said County Administrator R.J. Emerson Jr. ``We need to address signage and access control on the roadways. We may seek architectural review of structures.''
County officials have hired the engineering firm of Greenhorne & O'Mara to study and help establish a development plan for 15,000 acres between Providence Forge and Interstate 64.
The county, which is paying for the $69,000 analysis with help from Chesapeake Corp., will use the information to establish ordinance, zoning, permit and other guidelines.
County planners have never dealt with such large-scale plans as those anticipated by Chesapeake Corp., which owns and expects to develop about 5,000 acres around the track.
A Chesapeake Corp. subsidiary already is preparing a plan to include businesses and homes in a village-style environment surrounding Colonial Downs. At least one golf course is being built nearby and negotiations continue with Mini-USA to build a 10-acre park with scaled-down replicas of U.S. landmarks.
Emerson said the mix of projects underscores the need to study the effect on county roads, schools, fire and rescue and other services. He said the goal is to have the business developments provide for transportation and other services.
The county study will analyze the next 20 to 25 years. It will include several opportunities for public input, Emerson said.
The Virginia Racing Commission awarded an Ohio group the state's first parimutuel racetrack license last year for the New Kent site.
KEYWORDS: RACE TRACK HORSE RACING HORSE TRACK by CNB