Town Crier Articles

More Proposed Development in and around New Town

Posted on April 1, 2022 8:00 AM by Jim Ducibella

Categories: Life in New Town, NTRA Business

There may be a new neighborhood – or two – in New Town’s future, pending James City County (JCC) approval of two new areas.

Manor on the Green

In late January, The Whitmore Company, a commercial real estate, development, and investment firm responsible for various Tidewater area developments, including Williamsburg’s High Street complex, submitted a conceptual proposal for “Manor on the Green.” It would be a residential development of three buildings containing 106 one- and two-bedroom units, with its own pool and fitness center. (An initial conceptual layout has been included in the application) This conceptual plan is currently under County review.

The project, which would encompass two- three- and four-story buildings, would be located on the wooded land north of Sullivan Square in the heart of New Town. As proposed, parking would be provided for 112 vehicles, screened from the Center Street right of way. The land has already been zoned as “Mixed Use,” and does not require any additional legislative changes or public hearings.

Based on the comments provided by the JCC specialists, Whitmore would then work on its site plan. At that point, adjacent property owners, including the New Town Residential Association, would be officially notified that the project is proceeding.

New Town Associates (NTA) is the current owner of this parcel. According to James City County’s Senior Planner, NTA has been examining the best mix of density for the land to stay within the New Town Master Plan limits and the allowed ratio of commercial and residential space (Sections 2 and 4). These discussions have been ongoing since 2020. The proposed 106 residence figure would be within this ratio.

Whitmore Company would be the developer and owner of Manor on the Green. While the loss of any green space would be disappointing, the land was always expected to be developed. The NTRA Board of Directors hopes to obtain more information directly from this developer soon.

Eastern State Hospital Land Use Redesignation

Meanwhile, a new opportunity exists for residents to let the JCC Board of Supervisors (BOS) know their feelings about the two previously submitted land use proposals: LU-20-0002 proposed by Atlantic Builders of Virginia (ABVA) and LU-20-0003 to develop a combined total of 540-plus acres of Eastern State Hospital land. These proposals present a mix of residential and commercial units bringing up to 1100 new homes to the area (See related Town Crier articles from July 2021).

The JCC public hearing notice for April 12 states that the Board will consider “the previously postponed application to change the Comprehensive Plan land use from Federal, State or County land to Mixed Use-Eastern State and include new Mixed Use-Eastern State designation description text to address this application.” (The full agenda packet for the Supervisors meeting will be available online on April 5th.)

Jim Icenhour, the Supervisor for New Town’s district, has indicated that no new information or revised application has been provided by either applicant since July 2021, making it likely that the Board will further delay any action on the land-use situation. This means that the verbal ABVA commitments regarding using the name of “New Town” and removing any potential cut-through in Charlotte Park have not been incorporated into their proposal.

In the meantime, the State of Virginia's Department of General Services (realty office) has submitted a conceptual plan for the Eastern State land that has been reviewed by all JCC offices. This plan defines the boundaries of the two parcels and areas that must remain protected. The State remains highly motivated to sell the property. The data in the plan should help prospective buyers with their bids as well as assist with defining subdivisions.

The development of either Eastern State parcel will be a years-long process, as shown in the graphic below. There are only three opportunities -- land use, zoning, and site-plan processes -- for New Town residents and the public to express its opinion and, perhaps, influence the final decision on Eastern State. Mr. Icenhour recommended that the community continue to express its views each time the subject is raised through the JCC approval process.

In a pair of question-and-answer sessions with New Town residents last July, Supervisor Icenhour challenged the audience to strongly consider what the community wants, and to make sure that these proposals are in our best interest. Do we want to limit growth so that the area doesn’t resemble the sprawl that characterizes Northern Virginia? Do we want to share amenities? Do we want the potential development to include “New Town” in its name?

Please call (757) 253-6762 or write to our Board of Supervisors https://jamescitycountyva.gov/212/Board-of-Supervisors to let them know how you feel about the Eastern State proposals. You can also attend the hearing on April 12 at 5PM at 101 Mounts Bay Road or follow the hearing on the JCC website.

Comments

No Comments