Developer suing Prince George supervisors

A Prince George developer is suing three members of the county's Board of Supervisors and a former member for $150 million in federal court, claiming that his zoning request to build a hotel was denied for all the wrong reasons.

Nathaniel E. Dozier Jr. claims that board member Jerry J. Skalsky violated his rights by orchestrating the denial of Dozier's case for personal reasons. He also claims the rest of the board was complicit by allowing Skalsky to participate in the hearing, a violation of Virginia's Conflict of Interests Act.

Skalsky owns property in the area of the development. His brother, Charles Skalsky, was a vocal opponent of the 30-acre rezoning request in the county's Rives District.

The other defendants are Supervisors Henry Parker and William A. Robertson Jr., along with former board member Joseph A. Leming.

"This entire experience has been overwhelming and has not only caused problems for my company, but has also held up federal, state and county revenue," Dozier said.

Reached by phone, Skalsky declined to comment.

C. Richard Cranwell, an attorney for all four defendants, also declined to comment except to say, "I don't believe you try your cases in print."

The application for the six-story hotel and conference center by Dozier and Associates Inc. was unanimously recommended for approval by the county's Planning Commission on July 26, 2007. It was denied by the Board of Supervisors on a 4-1 vote on Nov. 7 of the same year.

During the hearing -- as it became clear that the board was leaning against approval -- Dozier asked for a deferral and was denied. He then asked to withdraw and was again denied.

Drainage issues were the common source of concern among board members and citizens opposed to the project.

In his complaint, Dozier claims his project was denied in part because the county was in the process of approving a Rolls-Royce aircraft engine plant in the adjacent CrossPointe Centre development. The Rolls-Royce project would have competed with the hotel for water resources, Dozier says, and received favoritism from the board.

He also alleges that racial discrimination was involved in the Board's decision. The court is considering his motion to include a race claim in his lawsuits.

"It is my belief that the level of interrogation at the hearing was atypical, and arguably at times making it appear as a personal attack with racial overtones," his complaint states.

Cranwell is seeking dismissal of both cases before they go to trial.

A pretrial date is set for April 23 in the Richmond division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District.

Dozier is representing himself. He sued his former attorneys for $50 million for misrepresentation after they withdrew, but that lawsuit was dismissed last year.

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or .