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Spotsylvania residents press supervisors over stormwater pond access and $750,000 maintenance bill
Summary
A large group of Virginia Heritage residents told the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors they lack required as‑built plans for a stormwater pond and face a county notice that could impose fines and a $750,000 maintenance bill; the board agreed to request plans from developer Lennar and pursue a face‑to‑face meeting with residents and staff.
Raymond Burns, speaking for the Virginia Heritage homeowners association, told the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 13 that residents were given conflicting information by county staff about whether an access road to a stormwater-management pond was required, and that FOIA requests returned no certified as‑built plans.
“We want county to pay for this $750,000 miscarriage of justice, and we don't care how you do it,” Burns said, asking the board to convene the county administrator, county attorney, staff and interested supervisors to establish “ground truth.”
Neighbors backed Burns. Jim Donaldson cited County Code section 3.1(k), which he said requires certified as‑built plans delineating stormwater facilities and access easements and directs that performance bonds not be released until those plans are approved. Several residents said bonds were released and work accepted years ago, and that the county has since shifted maintenance responsibility onto homeowners.
Board members acknowledged the residents' concerns and discussed next steps. Supervisor Marshall asked county attorneys and staff to try to obtain the developer’s as‑built plans if the county does not have them on file. County staff confirmed they were preparing a letter to Lennar, the developer repeatedly named by residents, requesting those plans.
Supervisor Chris Yacobowski said he would follow up with county and VDOT notices and encouraged residents to expect further contact. Yakubowski and other supervisors pledged a face‑to‑face meeting within two weeks to review the matter and funnel resident concerns through a smaller set of contacts.
The board did not adopt a binding remedy at the meeting. Instead, members authorized staff to seek the developer's plans, to prepare a letter to Lennar, and to schedule a meeting that will include the county administrator and county attorney. Residents said they feared daily fines or liens if access is not provided; board members said they would pursue the records and report back.
The board also noted that broader changes to stormwater and development review standards are under way as part of the county’s comprehensive-plan and ordinance reviews, which supervisors said will raise construction and inspection expectations going forward.
The issue remains under active review; supervisors committed to follow up with the residents and with county staff to establish what records exist and to seek a path to resolution.
