Plan to preserve, develop Fort Monroe wins board's OK

By Kate Wiltrout
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 1, 2008

FORT MONROE

A 65-page document envisioning a future for Fort Monroe after the Army's departure won unanimous approval Monday from the board tasked with overseeing its transfer to civilian control.

Members of the Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority voted 15-0 to endorse a plan for the 570-acre waterfront base when the Army leaves in 2011. The plan now heads to the desk of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, and eventually, to the Pentagon.

"We have essentially now accomplished our most important task, which was the core of our mission," said Preston Bryant, Virginia's secretary of natural resources and chairman of the authority.

The plan is based on five principles, including protection of the fort's historic assets, public access, creation of a large-scale park, economic sustainability, and allowing new development only within strict limits.

The historic fort, home to the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, was selected for closure three years ago. Local and state officials have debated since then how to use the property, much of which is to revert to state control.

Some local residents want the spot to become part of the National Park Service. The service concluded last month in a preliminary study that the fort's historic assets deserve protection, but stopped short of advocating its inclusion in the park system.

There is plenty of work to do before the Army leaves.

Bill Armbruster, the authority's executive director, highlighted tasks that will dominate the next two years - drafting design guidelines and preservation regulations, and developing a plan to showcase the site's history through exhibits.

The authority will expand to include a fourth employee, a project manager, whose salary will be covered by a $1.4 million grant from the Pentagon's Office of Economic Adjustment that was announced Monday.

The board also approved the authority's $1.89 million annual operating budget. About half the authority's budget is allocated by the state and half comes from the Pentagon.

Col. Anthony Reyes, the base commander, told the authority that the Army Cadet Command won't relocate to Fort Knox until 2011, a year later than anticipated. The base's biggest tenant, the Training and Doctrine Command, will move to Fort Eustis in September of that year, days before the base formally leaves Army control on Sept. 15, 2011.