Amherst County advances $3.8 million sewer project design for residential expansion in Virginia
(UI) — The Amherst County Service Authority (ACSA) is advancing plans for the Gateway Sanitary Sewer Project, a critical utility initiative aimed at supporting a new residential community along Virginia 163 in Madison Heights, near the Virginia 210 intersection, The News & Advance reported.
Following discussions with developer Terry Morcom, a longstanding county resident, the ACSA board voted on Jan. 2 to greenlight the design phase of the sewer project. Morcom's residential development, which emphasizes senior housing and amenities, is poised to feature approximately 650 units, including 276 market-rate apartments.
The extension of sewer services is a pivotal requirement for the development's progression, and in 2022, the Amherst County Board of Supervisors approved rezoning and special exception permits for the project.
Situated on just over 15 acres near the Lynchburg border, the development, currently served by public water, lacks sewer infrastructure. County documents estimate that the completed project will generate over $597,000 in annual tax revenue.
According to New Era Progress, ACSA's executive director Tim Castillo presented revised project objectives and budget figures during a Dec. 5 presentation, emphasizing the project's goal of addressing sewer challenges on River Road and providing services to an area marked for growth in the Madison Heights Master Plan.
Originally estimated at $7.7 million, Castillo detailed a revised option, featuring a sewer pumping station at Morcom's property, connecting to the Old Town Sewer Interceptor, and replacing all grinder pumps on River Road with new cores, with an estimated cost of $3.8 million.
Morcom updated the ACSA board on ongoing efforts to secure bids for a traffic study and engineering related to the senior living facility project. Expressing enthusiasm for moving the project forward, he emphasized the need for clear infrastructure progression.
Financial support from the county, including $1 million from federal relief funds for the COVID-19 pandemic response and a $2.5 million short-term loan, has been crucial for the project. Castillo mentioned plans for a memorandum of understanding for long-term funding.
Once construction bids are received, the ACSA anticipates project completion within six months to a year.
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