Amherst County stands to get 31 acres of state-owned riverfront property for a park or other recreational use under a bill proposed by Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge County.
“The county wants to develop it for riverfront use as a park,” and for access to the James River, said Cline, who has been talking with county and state officials about the transfer for several years.
Cline, who represents most of Amherst County, said the site contains an old sewage facility, and the state has no further plans to use the land.
The site adjoins U.S. 29 Business where its bridge crosses the river into Amherst County. It is located on the downstream side of the bridge.
The land also adjoins the Central Virginia Training Center in Madison Heights.
Cline’s measure, HB 240, would authorize the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to convey the land to Amherst County.
The bill requires the property “be maintained and open to public recreational use,” or else returned to the state.
Frank Campbell, chairman of the Amherst County Board of Supervisors, said a proposal to develop the land as a county park has been discussed for as long as 20 years ago and “this board decided to go ahead.”
Campbell said the county is eligible for government grants to pay for the park's development.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation would make the transfer “upon terms and conditions that the Department deems proper,” the legislation says.
The bill will be considered in the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources.
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