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Supervisors approve sale of Coles Point site to Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for public boat landing
Summary
After a public hearing, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to sell roughly 2.6 acres at 5665 Coles Point Road to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources; the state plans to develop the site as a public boat landing and assume future maintenance and liability.
The Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution at its March 24 meeting to sell county-owned property at Coles Point to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) for development as a public boat landing.
The property described by county staff is about 2.6 acres at 5665 Coles Point Road, identified in the hearing as parcels including 206-81, 206-801A, 206-801C and 2682. Donna Cogswell read the parcel information during the public hearing and the county attorney said staff drafted a resolution to complete the transaction.
During the single registered public comment, resident Rich Wilkins said the county purchased the site about two years earlier for approximately $1 million and that the negotiated sale price is about $980,000; Wilkins said he supported the sale because the state will assume maintenance and liability. Wilkins: “We won't be liable for anything that happens there. I would assume the state will be. Is that correct?” The county attorney confirmed that, under the agreement, the Department of Wildlife Resources will develop and maintain the site and the state would assume responsibility going forward.
Why it matters: The sale converts county-owned waterfront parcels into a public-access boating site developed and maintained by the state Department of Wildlife Resources; the board characterized the transfer as an outcome of a multi-year process and a local benefit derived from prior litigation settlement work on the parcel.
Board action and vote
The board held the required public hearing and then considered a resolution to convey the property to the state. The motion to approve and adopt the resolution passed unanimously: Mister McCormick—Aye; Miss Henson—Aye; Miss Ingram—Aye; Mister Tribute—Aye; Chair—Aye.
Next steps
County staff and the county attorney will complete the closing steps with the Department of Wildlife Resources and the state will begin development planning for the boat landing. The county recorded the property parcels on the public hearing record and staff indicated that DWR expects to invest in site improvements to create a public boat-launch and parking area.
