River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck
James City County
Acreage:
192.2 acres
Date Recorded/Protected:
11/12/08
Property Facts
In November 2008, Uncle’s Neck, LLC, a partnership between Henry Stephens, Chris Phillips and Donald Hazelwood, donated a 190-acre conservation easement to the Williamsburg Land Conservancy as part of the development of their River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck project, which is located off Forge Road in James City County. The donation of the easement was the result of over three years of work, and showcases how preservation and progress can work together.
Way before the project became a reality, Donald Hazelwood sat down with the Conservancy’s executive director and some of the Conservancy’s Board members to discuss how the land could be developed, while at the same time protect the natural resources that were abundant on the almost 400-acre parcel. While the property could have been sub-divided into over 110 units, River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck will be a development of 35 lots, mostly waterfront property.
Key in the development of only 36 units was James City County’s waiver of the requirement for a central well system for the project. Allowing for individual wells (which does not create a greater draw on the aquifer) gave Uncle’s Neck LLC the financial ability to limit development and protect a major portion of the property.
Forge Road is designated as one of James City County’s Community Character Corridors, and the Uncle’s Neck LLC has taken that into consideration with their development. When you enter River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck, the first lot will be situated approximately one-quarter of a mile into the property, thus keeping the scenic view intact as you travel on Forge Road.
The 190-acre parcel is protected into perpetuity and comes complete with a wildlife management area and future plan. All agree this is a wonderful example of how a developer, local government and a land trust can work together to protect land and help maintain the character of our special community, and hope it will be a model for what will be done in the future.
- Protected Land
- Protected Properties
- Alston Easement
- Autumn West
- Black Creek Property
- Black Family Farm
- Boothe Property
- Brewers, LLC
- Briggs Farm
- Brown Easement
- Carr’s Hill
- Cedar Hill
- Chelsea Plantation
- Chenault/Central Crossing
- Church on the Main
- Claxton Creek Property
- Cornell Property
- Cowels / Norman Easement
- Crittenden
- Curtis Farm
- Diggs (Winter Harbor)
- Douglas Properties
- Edgewood Farm and
Custis Pond - Fitzgerald
- Ford’s Colony Driving Range
- Gayles Farm
- Greenlevel Farm
- Greensprings Trail
- Greenswamp Farm
- Hankins Property
- Hill Farm
- Hankins Property – Trust #2
- Hayfield Farm
- Hotwater Cole Tract
- Hudgins Easement
- Hughes Farm
- Johnson Farm
- Kime Property
- Level Green Farm
- Little Oakland Farm
- Locust Grove
- Longhill Swamp
- Mainland Farm
- Marl Springs Farm
- Mundy Property
- Netick Property
- North End Plantation
- Ober Brooks Easement
- Piping Tree Farm
- Poplar Springs Farm
- Powhatan Secondary
- Prince Farm
- Rappahannock Tribe
- Revercomb
- Riverwatch
- River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck
- Rock Springs
- Route 5 Buffer
- Route 132
- Rurak
- Scott Trust Parcel
- Shady Banks
- Shiloh Property
- The Retreat
- The Williamsburg Winery
- Toddsbury
- Unser Farm
- Van Clief (Winter Harbor)
- Vineyard/Conservancy
- Virginia Capital Trail
- Williamsburg Christian Academy
- Woodward
- Yew Grove
- York River Preserve
- Interactive Map