Town Crier Articles

Relevant Changes from Original Application: ABVA’s 2023 application addressed many of the concerns raised by the NTRA in the early stages of Westwood Park’s consideration. (See Town Crier - April 2021, June 2021, April 2022, May 2022, May 2023, July 2023, April 2024, February 2025) The County’s examination resulted in further refinements and conditions, a few of which are highlighted below.

 

Access to the development will be via Discovery Park Boulevard with buffer zones between the new community and New Town’s Charlotte Park neighborhood. Originally the only trail system connection between Westwood Park and New Town was proposed as the existing trail “adjacent to Discovery Park Boulevard.” The final Proffers have been modified to open the opportunity for changes if “otherwise approved by the New Town Residential Association, Inc.”

 

Significant BMP retrofit/repair to the stormwater system within New Town are being required for this development. Where ABVA had originally proposed funding “stream restoration” within the property, the latest proffers include actual repairs to three stormwater facilities within our community (the Casey Boulevard, New Town Avenue and Truist ponds.)

 

“The Developer shall prepare plans for the (i) retrofit of the Courthouse Green Dry Pond, BMP ID PC144, and the New Town Block 8, Phase 1B Dry Pond, PC243, in accordance with the recommendations of the Powhatan Creek Watershed Study and (ii) repair of the outfall of the Suntrust Wet Pond, PC173.”

 

The issuance of various stages of building permits for Westwood Park is contingent on the submittal of plans, initiation and substantial completion of these BMP repairs. The Developer is also preparing an updated water and sewer master plan for the property.

 

ABVA’s traffic impact analysis was accepted without requiring any additional improvements, including maintaining the configuration of the intersection of Discovery Park Boulevard/Casey Boulevard. Per VDOT, adjusted signal timings at the existing Ironbound Road lights have already been completed to account for future development. Further optimized timings will be adjusted on a recurring basis.

 

The JCC Staff Report recommends Planning Commission approval of Westwood Park subject to its proposed conditions and proffers. [See Agenda item 6: https://jamescitycova.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1240/files/agenda/1649]

 

Members of the public are welcome to submit written comments or speak at this April 2nd meeting. The Planning Commission meeting agenda can be found here:  https://jamescitycova.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1240/files/agenda/1649

 

The meeting starts at 6:00PM at the County Government Center Board Room, 101 Mount Bays Road. Westwood Park Rezoning is the 6th public hearing agenda item. The meeting will also be livestreamed on JCC TV: Cox channel 88 or jamescitycountyva.gov/220.

 

Approval of the Westwood Park development will require rezoning of the Eastern State public land to Mixed Use or PUB-R (as proposed by the applicant) and a change to the James City County 2045 Comprehensive Plan, so consideration by the JCC Board of Supervisors is the next step after the Planning Commission’s decision. (May 13, 2025 has been identified as the tentative Board of Supervisors meeting.) The JCC Staff Report includes a discussion of the designation “Mixed Use – Eastern State” for such a Comprehensive Plan revision. Per the Board of Supervisors’ request for a fiscal impact analysis, the staff has also concluded that the Westwood Park development would result in a “net fiscal impact to the County through the year 2050 that is positive $5,894,860.”