On Jan. 17, the future Lake Anna Resort took one step closer to its development from the approval of the proposed Planned Unit Development by the Louisa Board of Supervisors (BOS).

   According to the video recording of the BOS meeting, the BOS had a 6-1 vote on the Lake Anna Planned Unit Development (PUD), giving Mike Garcia and Mike Grossman, leaders of LA Resort LLC, the go ahead on a hotel-condo, restaurant and the overall plans. This consisted of 130 room condo-hotel, 80 feet high buildings, and other retail-commercial amenities. 

   “Every once in a while you will find the perfect use for the perfect location, and I think that is exactly what happened in this particular situation,” Grossman said to the Information Charolettsvile.

   PhotThe 15 acres of land for the resort is located on 208 and right across the street from Asian Cafe, Vitos, and Lake Anna Tap House. This specific location is the exact gateway from Northern Virginia to Lake Anna and Louisa.  

   The purpose of the meeting was to rezone the land use. The land was previously approved for Commerical-2 (C2) use, meaning hotel/resorts. Whereas the PUD is for residential housing similar  to Shenadoah Crossings in Louisa. 

   “In regards to the Mitchell Creek residents, the PUD would be a less intrusive development than the hotel-resort style,” said Grossman in the video recorded BOS meeting. 

   Grossman explained in his proposal with the PUD that it would allow his team more creative freedom. With the C2, they would have brought in a hotel specialist for the development but that is not their motive. 

   During the public comment of the meeting a group of sixteen citizens gave their opinions on the development. Two out of the sixteen citizens supported the PUD while the other fourteen opposed. Those who chose to speak oppose the PUD concerned higher traffic leading to unsafe roads, the natural beauty of the lake being taken away, and the number people in an event of an evacuation of the North Anna Power Plant.  

   “I think the Lake Anna Resort is going to be a great addition to the lake because it will continue to grow the vacation area,” senior Madison Corral said. “Families visiting would love it but for the people that live here, like myself, it is going to be overwhelming with the amount of traffic in the summer.”