The James City County Board of Supervisors recently denied a rezoning, master plan amendment and special use permit for a proposed self-storage facility at The Promenade at John Tyler, next to the Williamsburg Crossing shopping center. The application sought to build a two-story, climate-controlled facility with a 51,000-square-foot footprint on two vacant commercial parcels at 5299 and 5303 John Tyler Highway. The board voted 3-2 to deny the request after nearby residents spoke about traffic dangers on the community’s narrow private streets. Both the county’s planning staff and the Planning Commission had recommended approval.

The facility would have required amending the master plan to add a warehouse designation and securing a special use permit because self-storage falls under the warehouse use category. At the board’s Oct. 13 meeting, a resident said videos documented moving trucks and emergency vehicles struggling to navigate tight turns and on-street parking on Queens Path. She told the board that a driver went the wrong way down one-way Queens Path while a box truck blocked the roadway, nearly striking her mother and two-year-old daughter in a crosswalk.

The developer offered a $50,000 contribution to county open space, and at the hearing its attorney said the developer would be willing to take over exclusive maintenance of affected street sections. Supervisors who voted to deny the request cited the facility’s size relative to the parcel, its fit next to a neighborhood with narrow streets, the mixed-use concept approved in 2014 and the county’s 2020 determination that warehouse storage does not most fully fulfill the intent of mixed-use development.

A detailed account and links to the meeting discussion are below, including comments from nearby residents and the Board of Supervisors …

The Promenade Proffer Amendment For Self Storage Staff Report For The October 13, 2026, Board Of Supervisors Public Hearing

206KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Allison Jackura, Planner III, presented the staff report and said the application combined three cases to enable construction of the facility on the last undeveloped portion of The Promenade. The property is zoned mixed use and designated mixed use on the comprehensive plan, staff said. The master plan originally approved in 2014 allowed 204 dwelling units and more than 47,000 square feet of commercial space, but the commercial area has remained vacant, staff said. The proposal required adding the warehouse designation because self-storage falls under a different use category, staff said. The facility would be designed to resemble an office building with controlled access at the side and rear for loading, staff said. Staff recommended 16 conditions to mitigate impacts including limits on outdoor storage, signage, lighting and fencing, and either on-site stormwater treatment or improvements to a downstream best management practice at 120 Kings Way, staff said. Staff found the proposal aligned with the comprehensive plan’s infill goals and would not negatively impact roads or public services, staff said. (0:50:52)

Planning Commissioner Jack Haldeman presented the Planning Commission recommendation and said the commission voted 5-0 to approve the application with staff conditions at its June 3 meeting. Five speakers opposed the project at that hearing, Haldeman said. Commissioners who voted for approval cited infill development consistent with county goals, better traffic outcomes than some by-right uses and the building’s potential to buffer noise from Route 199, Haldeman said. The applicant committed to using one of three special stormwater criteria to protect a March 2025 stream restoration project that cost the county $320,000, Haldeman said. The commission’s recommendation included a condition that a rental truck be parked in the rear and screened from Route 199 and residences, and a requirement that the stormwater plan use one of the special criteria, which staff did not include in its proposed conditions, Haldeman said. (1:01:54)

Timothy Trant, a partner at Kaufman & Canoles representing the applicant, said the sponsors are Derek Robertson and John Leebler, natives who reside in the community, and Leebler’s aunt lives at The Promenade. Modern self-storage is climate-controlled and interior, designed to resemble office buildings rather than industrial facilities with rollup doors, Trant said. The building would buffer light and noise from Route 199, and the custom design was commissioned to complement the existing community architecture, Trant said. The applicant offered to restrict easement rights to only the portions of streets necessary for access and abandon more extensive rights that penetrate the neighborhood, Trant said. The applicant also proposed a $5,000 annual payment to the condominium association to help cover street maintenance costs, which Trant said exceeds the applicant’s proportionate share of impacts. The applicant considered reclaiming parking in the Williamsburg Crossing Shopping Center to create green space but found it impractical given different ownership and lender requirements, so proposed the $50,000 county contribution instead, Trant said. (1:04:16)

The developer’s thumb drive of required disclosures for purchasers did not include the June 21, 2019 declaration of easements recorded at the courthouse, a resident said, and the omission was significant because the easement gave affiliated commercial property permanent access while homeowners bore financial responsibility for maintaining the burdened private roads. The developer did not transfer association control to homeowners until June 2020, and the association did not discover the easement until early 2023 after requesting additional title documents, according to the resident. Virginia condominium law requires disclosure of unusual and material circumstances including significant easement terms, and a perpetual commercial easement over three homeowner-maintained streets affects financial obligations, traffic, noise and property values, the resident added. (1:17:19)

Large vehicles already struggle on the narrow streets, which have on-street parking, limited clearance, one-way roads, pedestrians, children and school buses, a resident said. Videos show professional drivers struggling to navigate the streets, and a Mayflower truck damaged landscaping and curbs during a five-point turn. On May 8, a box truck blocking the roadway caused another driver to go the wrong way on Queens Path, nearly striking the resident’s mother and two-year-old daughter in a crosswalk. On March 6, a fire truck responding to an emergency could not make its turn and had to reverse down Queens Path with two spotters guiding it, according to the resident. Self-storage facilities create few jobs and operate with little or no staff, and proffers cannot widen Queens Path or undo an accident after it happens, the resident added. (1:22:50)

The property is 50 feet from Route 199 but only several feet from Kingsland Court, yet the facility would generate 2,700 cars per week through residential streets 15 feet from homes, a resident said. The $5,000 asphalt payment will not keep pace with inflation, and the community should not bear the financial burden, the resident added. The building would be 40 feet tall at its highest point, and the community is currently 100 percent residential, according to the resident. (1:27:25)

A speaker who was involved with University Square Associates 40 years ago on the first phase of Williamsburg Crossing said the entire 90-acre property was designated commercial under the comprehensive plan as the future downtown of James City County with a programmed above-grade interchange. The Promenade was the most successful residential development in Tidewater, recognized for the fastest sellout, the speaker said. The architecture is the finest appearing self-storage facility the speaker has seen, and it would set a high bar for future facilities and provide revenue for the county budget. (1:31:11)

A first-time homeowner said she expected smaller commercial buildings like the Brewers and small outpatient Riverside facility when she purchased, not a huge structure that would cause a loss when she resells. She could not imagine a facility like this near other condominiums in nicer James City County areas. (1:35:08)

The only access to the units is through Kingsway, which has a two-lane left turn off John Tyler Highway that diverts within 100 feet to right or left lanes into Williamsburg Crossing, a resident said. Drivers in the wrong lane jump over without signaling, creating daily hazards. The Riverside Medical Center generates 300 to 400 cars per day, and the complex now adds disoriented elderly patients, school buses and the hourly WATA bus, according to the resident. The facility should be an office building instead, and rental trucks could be driven by customers who hold only a regular driver’s license and may not know how to drive a truck, in the resident’s view. The intersection curb blocks are washed out and fill with water when it rains heavily, the resident added. (1:36:54)

Residents made $60 million of investment, based on 200 units at an average value of $300,000, expecting mixed-use commercial retail but not a 40-foot-tall warehouse, a resident said. The developer profited and built the residential portion, then decided to change the deal after the fact, putting the burden on residents who already invested, the resident added. (1:42:16)

A realtor who lives in the community said self-storage units are not an asset to homeowners, and the trend is toward downsizing rather than holding on to things. Young people do not want storage either, so the facility does not serve the community, the realtor added. The building will be visible from John Tyler Highway despite the 50-foot buffer, in the realtor’s view. (1:45:02)

Expecting residential peace, serenity and neighborhood character, a resident said she and her husband purchased at 1103 Monarch Court in 2020. Swapping community-scale space for a massive two-story warehouse violates the neighborhood vision, and the structure would be in front yards directly across the street, she said. Construction would bring eight to 12 months of noise, vibration, heavy equipment, steel framing and backup alarms disrupting sleep and daily life, she added. The facility would create impervious surface, fugitive dust, diesel exhaust and airborne particulate matter drifting into nearby homes, causing health issues, according to the resident. Self-storage facilities invite transient U-Hauls, trailers and moving trucks that create safety risks for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and children on private roads, she said. (1:47:31)

A senior resident said the streets are too narrow to safely accommodate large commercial trucks, creating hazards for residents, pedestrians, children, cyclists and emergency vehicles. Increased noise from truck traffic, loading and unloading and daily operations would disrupt the quiet character residents chose when they moved to the community, the resident added. (1:53:25)

The president of the Promenade board of directors said the Board of Supervisors in 2014 established a balanced framework protecting residential character while allowing commercial growth, but the applicant is trying to dismantle that vision. The conceptual plan indicates a two-story building, but staff estimated height between 34 and 41 feet, which is a four-story building as massive as a football field, according to the president. The master plan indicates a ceiling of approximately 47,000 square feet of commercial space, but the applicant proposes 51,000 square feet. Traffic analysis shows over 100 weekday trips and well over 200 weekend trips onto private roads, ignoring moving trucks, U-Hauls and trailers, the president said. Construction would subject the neighborhood to diesel emissions, grinding noise and dust clouds for an estimated 12 months, pounding private roads with heavy vehicles and creating a safety crisis, the president added. The $5,000 payment was flatly rejected by the board, and estimates for reclamation of Kingsland Court alone reach $200,000. The $50,000 green space contribution is designed to distract from the permanent structural incompatibility of a four-story warehouse not aligned with the master plan, in the president’s view. (1:56:01)

Supervisor Tracy Wainwright asked Trant about alternative access to the structure, and Trant said customers can enter at Kingsway or the right-in right-out access approaching the Route 199 intersection, then travel along shopping center drive aisles to reach Kingsland Court. Kingsway and Queens Path are public streets to a point in the vicinity, then easement access exists over all of Queens Path, Kingsland and Monarch Court, Trant said. Leebler offered to amend the proffers to take over exclusive maintenance of impacted sections of Queens Path, all of Monarch Court and portions of Kingsland Court that serve as access to the facility, Trant said. (2:01:44)

Supervisor Barbara Null asked whether Kingsland Court connects all the way to the shopping center, and Trant confirmed the property benefits from a cross-access easement across the shopping center that connects the private street to shopping center drive aisles and parking areas. Trant added that construction impacts would be cut in half compared to by-right development of two separate parcels, and construction of a building like the proposed facility is done more quickly than conventional commercial development, Trant said. (2:04:40)

Vice Chair Ruth Larson said she appreciated Leebler’s maintenance concession but residents face the genuine concern that not everyone will know where to go, creating the possibility of large trucks turning on narrow streets. Larson said she received numerous emails from residents and pointed out what is allowed by right, but some residents said that felt like a threat. Residents understand other development could occur there, and a veterinary clinic sits next to the parcel and a Brewers is in the shopping center, which has turned around after a downtime, Larson said. A master plan change and special use permit open the process for people impacted by zoning changes to speak, and residents have done so eloquently, Larson said. A two-story large storage unit is not what residents expected or want in their neighborhood, and they feel it is too large for the parcel, Larson said. Larson moved for denial of the application. (2:06:10)

Supervisor Jim Icenhour said the community was approved in 2014 as mixed-use with businesses on the ground floor and apartments above along Route 199. The developer returned asking to move upper-story residential units to a 10-plex and leave the rest straight commercial, and the board approved it, Icenhour said. The mixed-use district was created to encourage integrated active development combining residential, commercial, office and community uses, and in 2020 the county amended the ordinance after determining that warehouse storage does not fulfill the intent of mixed-use, Icenhour said. After 12 years none of the by-right uses have been built because there is probably not a market for that type of use on that property, Icenhour said. Within a five-mile radius at least six to nine storage facilities exist, and they make money for owners but are not productive for tax purposes or the highest and best use of land, Icenhour said. The special use permit requirement means extra due diligence is needed to examine expectations of people who invested in the community, and if the applicant had proposed more houses instead of a commercial facility, Icenhour said he would support it because mixed-use has been abused to get higher-density housing on the promise of commercial development that does not materialize, Icenhour said. Icenhour said he would support denial. Board Chair John McGlennon said the proposal is an attractive-looking storage facility but not the right structure to abut a neighborhood with narrow streets and exposure to the area. (2:14:54)

The board voted on the motion to deny the ordinance and resolution. Wainwright and Null voted no. Larson, Icenhour and McGlennon voted yes. The motion carried 3-2. (2:21:21)

Buy us coffee? 😴

The James City County Board of Supervisors approved multiple grant awards and denied a self-storage facility proposal at its Oct. 13 meeting. The board voted on five land use applications ranging from a storage development to short-term rental requests, and a supervisor asked for follow-up on transit stops. Votes split along different lines depending on the application, with some proposals withdrawn before a vote could occur.

The board approved accepting grants for bicycle and transit infrastructure improvements. Staff recommended approval of two Virginia Department of Transportation Carbon Reduction Program awards: $450,000 for design of a Virginia Capital Trail extension along Eagle Way and $1,200,000 over three fiscal years, including $400,000 in fiscal year 2027, for Williamsburg Area Transit Authority bus shelters at approximately 141 stops in the county. The board also awarded a $336,000 contract to Henderson Inc. for Phase I construction of transit stop improvements at 15 locations throughout the county. All five consent calendar items passed unanimously.

An application for The Bluffs at Kiskiack was withdrawn before the board’s public hearing. The application combined a rezoning, a master plan and a special use permit, and its materials included a proposed master plan, proposed design guidelines, a community impact statement, a traffic impact analysis and a fiscal impact analysis. Staff said it could not recommend approval because the proposed rezoning was not consistent with the adopted 2045 Comprehensive Plan land use recommendations specific to the Croaker Interchange Mixed Use Area, and recommended that, if the board chose to approve, it do so subject to the attached conditions and proffers. The chair, John J. McGlennon, said the case had been withdrawn and the board did not hold a public hearing on it. (0:49:53)

The board denied an application for a self-storage facility at The Promenade mixed-use development on John Tyler Highway by a vote of 3 to 2. The proposal sought to amend proffers and a master plan to allow a two-story storage building with a 51,000-square-foot footprint on two vacant parcels zoned mixed use. Staff recommended approval, noting the facility would align with mixed-use comprehensive plan designations and would not be expected to negatively affect level of service for roads. The developer proposed restricting easement rights over residential streets, contributing $5,000 annually to the condominium association for road maintenance, and providing $50,000 to the county for open space preservation. Residents of The Promenade opposed the application, citing concerns about traffic safety on narrow private streets, construction impacts, property values, and the appropriateness of a storage facility in a residential community. Supervisors expressed concerns that the proposal did not meet the original mixed-use vision for the development and that storage facilities are not the highest use of land for tax purposes. Supervisors Tracy Wainwright and Barbara E. Null voted against denial, and supervisors noted the site could be reached from two access points and that alternative commercial development would generate more traffic. (0:50:24)

A group home amendment was approved. The board approved an amendment to a special use permit for a residential facility at 2010 Old Route 60 West, extending the required commencement period by 12 months from approval of the amendment and reducing maximum occupancy from 24 to 16. The staff report said the applicant is working with the Virginia Department of Health to install a new sewage treatment system and on interior building renovations, and stated that the additional year would give it enough time to complete both. The planning commission recommended approval 7 to 0, and no public comment was received. The board voted to approve the amendment. (2:31:46)

The board approved removal of a trail at Windmill Meadows subdivision. Supervisors voted 5 to 0 to amend proffers for the subdivision to allow removal of an approximately 2,200-foot soft-surface pedestrian trail that had not been maintained. The trail was required when the subdivision was approved in 2005 to meet recreation facility standards for density above one unit per acre. Staff said the homeowners association requested removal after a 2023 survey showed a majority of owners supported elimination of the trail, which had become covered with debris. The trail area is common area within the association. A 10-foot-wide multiuse path along Centerville Road provides alternative pedestrian access. The planning commission recommended approval 7 to 0. (2:36:40)

A short-term rental application on Railroad Street was denied. The board voted to deny a special use permit for a tourist home at 199 Railroad Street. The applicant sought to rent a three-bedroom unit in a two-family dwelling. Staff could not recommend approval because the property is designated low-density residential, is located internal to a subdivision, and fronts a local road rather than a major road, failing to meet comprehensive plan standards for short-term rentals. The planning commission recommended denial 7 to 0. The applicant presented parking, occupancy, noise and safety rules and cited more than four years of short-term rental experience in the county. Supervisors expressed concern that the applicant had continued to operate without a special use permit after being notified one was required, and that approving the application would create a precedent inconsistent with the comprehensive plan standards applied to other applications. (2:51:37)

An applicant withdrew a short-term rental request for 146 Watford Lane before the board took action. Staff confirmed the withdrawal and the board moved to the next case. (3:15:31)

The board approved rental of rooms at 900 Adams Road by a vote of 4 to 1. The application sought a special use permit to allow short-term rental of a two-bedroom accessory apartment while the owner resides in the primary dwelling. Staff could not recommend approval because the property is designated low-density residential and fronts a local road, but the planning commission recommended approval 7 to 0, noting a business across the street added commercial character to the area. The applicant said the accessory unit was built for visiting in-laws from Bulgaria and would be rented when the in-laws are not there or to friends. Supervisor Ruth Larson voted against approval. (3:15:55)

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Buy us coffee? 😴

Construction of the African American Heritage Trail will likely begin in February or March after Williamsburg City Council approved contracts for a trailhead and a comfort station at a meeting earlier this month. According to information provided by the city, the two-mile trail will connect 13 sites of historical and cultural significance to the African American community, recognizing the enduring presence, experiences and contributions of African Americans. Council voted 5-0 to approve a contract with Henry S. Branscome for $1,277,627 to build the trailhead and paved trail and a contract with Construction Growth Partners for $268,534.76 to renovate the comfort station. While the funding had already been allocated for the project, the contracts required formal council approval because both exceeded the city’s $100,000 procurement threshold.

The trailhead contract covers pavers, an art display area, a seating wall, a new asphalt shared-use path with stairs, guardrail, lighting and landscaping, garden walls along the path, an ADA-compliant ramp to the First Baptist Church parking lot and handicap ramp upgrades at the intersection of Scotland Street and Prince George Street, Jack Reed, director of public works and utilities, said. City Manager Michele Mixner DeWitt noted that the project is funded by congressionally directed federal funding, city tourism funds, capital improvement program sales tax money as well as a grant from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Construction will take 150 days to substantial completion and 180 days to final completion after notice to proceed, Reed said.

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Keep reading for more details on key points in the discussion about Williamsburg’s African American Heritage Trail …

Reed presented the trailhead and trail project and described the scope of work. The project extends from Lafayette Street to Scotland Street and includes multiple accessibility improvements, according to Reed. Reed said Henry S. Branscome submitted the lowest responsive and responsible bid. (2:26:20)

Bid details showed the trailhead contract was $1,277,627, staff said. The construction timeline allows 150 calendar days to substantial completion and 180 calendar days to final completion after notice to proceed, Reed said. Staff recommended council authorize the city manager to execute the construction contract with Henry S. Branscome. (2:27:50)

Funding sources drew questions from Mayor Douglas G. Pons, and DeWitt explained the project uses multiple revenue streams. The city received congressionally directed funding from the federal government, a grant from the city tourism fund and capital improvement program funds from sales tax money. DeWitt said the Virginia Museum of History and Culture also provided an $80,000 grant. She confirmed the funds were available in the capital improvement program and were approved with the fiscal year 27 budget. (2:28:52)

Public art planning drew questions from Council Member Barbara L. Ramsey, who asked Reed about the art display area shown in project renderings. Reed said the contract includes building a flat space for three-dimensional artwork to sit upon but does not include the artwork itself. The white circle on the ground where the brick is marks the area for artwork, and the white walls included in the contract provide seating for a contemplative area. Reed said the iron arch shown in renderings is a concept that has not been engineered yet and may look different in final form. The Virginia Museum of History and Culture grant specifically funds vertical signage, and one sign has been installed at what staff now calls the secondary trailhead. (2:30:50)

Timeline questions followed, and a council member asked Reed when construction would start after contract approval. Reed said construction would likely start in February or March because of the time of year. Council members praised the project and the secondary trailhead already completed. Ramsey moved to authorize the city manager to execute the construction contract with Henry S. Branscome for $1,277,627, and council voted 5-0 to approve. (2:33:31)

The comfort station renovation will convert an existing unused city pump station at the trailhead into a public comfort station, Reed said. Work includes removing existing pump equipment, filling the existing wet well, installing a new frame and doorway and adding restroom amenities. The project also includes mechanical HVAC systems, lighting, electrical systems, plumbing and repairs to the roof and interior and exterior walls. (2:35:56)

Nassau Street sidewalk work will be completed by public works staff to reduce costs and expedite construction, Reed said. The work includes installation of a new brick sidewalk from Francis Street to Prince George Street, relocation of existing fencing, new light poles and fixtures and preservation of existing trees along the roadway. Public works will also repair the existing concrete sidewalk from Prince George Street to Scotland Street and replace or upgrade existing ADA ramps. The Nassau Street element was originally included in the bid but was shifted to public works to handle all aspects of the overall project not covered in previous invitation for bids. (2:36:27)

The comfort station contract drew the lowest responsive and responsible bid from Construction Growth Partners for $268,534.76, Reed said. Staff recommended council authorize the city manager to execute the contract with Construction Growth Partners to build the comfort station. (2:37:19)

Safety and management of the comfort station drew questions from Pons. The station sits across from the police department, and DeWitt stated that the facility will have remote locks like other outdoor city restrooms and will be locked during evening hours. (2:38:18)

Sidewalk and lighting improvements on Nassau Street drew comment from Ramsey, who noted increased use of the street because of the archaeological building. Ramsey asked about installation of new light poles and fixtures shown in the scope of work. Reed said public works would oversee the work but would subcontract the lighting installation. (2:39:14)

Council voted 5-0 to approve the comfort station contract. A council member moved to authorize the city manager to execute the construction contract with Construction Growth Partners for $268,534.76. (2:39:48)

Independent News Briefs for October 22, 2026

Military

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown signs historic NAGPRA agreement Naval Weapons Station Yorktown became the only installation within Navy Region Mid-Atlantic to establish a comprehensive Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act agreement, according to information provided by a U.S. Navy release. Captain Daniel A. Patrick signed the landmark accord Oct. 14 alongside leaders from the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, Nansemond Indian Nation, Pamunkey Indian Tribe, Rappahannock Tribe, and Upper Mattaponi Tribe. The agreement establishes procedures for respectfully managing Native American human remains and cultural items discovered on installation lands, prioritizing preservation in place and integrating tribal traditional knowledge into Navy operations.

Business

Women’s Business Council to host networking Bingo Night Oct. 27 The Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Council will host its annual Bingo Night Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Voodoo Brewing Company, the council says. The casual event is meant to help women from diverse occupations connect, with bingo, hors d’oeuvres and chances to win prizes from local women-owned businesses.

Public Safety

Republic Services had two truck fires from batteries in York County Republic Services recently experienced two truck fires in York County caused by lithium-ion batteries in discarded electronics, the county reports. The notice says the fires put staff and community safety at risk, and urges residents never to put rechargeable batteries in household trash or curbside recycling. Residents can take used batteries to an approved battery recycling or hazardous waste collection location. The next VPPSA Household Chemical Collection/Electronics Recycling event will be Saturday, Nov. 14.

Community & Services

Consultants spotlight Williamsburg House of Mercy’s strategic planning work Consulting firm The Spark Mill has highlighted the strategic planning work of Williamsburg House of Mercy, a local charity that has served poor and precariously housed residents of Greater Williamsburg for more than 45 years. In a case study written by Piper Lynch, the firm described how it helped the organization build its first fully collaborative strategic plan, a priority for Executive Director Liz Buckley. The process, called Gather, Soak and Radiate, drew input from staff, board members and community partners.

According to the case study, those discussions steered the charity toward deepening partnerships with organizations that already have human services expertise rather than adding in-house specialists. The plan later served as an anchor after the charity lost a federal funding source and reduced staff, delaying its public rollout until July 2025. Buckley said the plan helped everyone stay grounded during turbulence. Staff now reference its four priorities, and new hires receive a roadmap drawn from it.

Tourism & Events

Holocaust survivor George Rishfeld to speak at William & Mary ISC Holocaust survivor George Rishfeld will share his story of survival Sunday, Nov. 1, at William & Mary’s Integrated Science Center, Chabad in Williamsburg says. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required, and admission is free for William & Mary students and children.

Scrumptious Flavor Fest Williamsburg to offer 10 days of food Scrumptious Flavor Fest Williamsburg, a 10-day food and craft beverage festival, will run Oct. 30 through Nov. 8, according to festival organizers. Highlights will include Chowderfest on Oct. 30 at Sullivan Square in New Town and the Chef’s Challenge on Nov. 7 at the Williamsburg Farmer’s Market. According to Scrumptious Flavor Fest Williamsburg, CultureFix is partnering with Visit Williamsburg, the Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association, the City of Williamsburg, James City County, the Williamsburg Farmer’s Market and local restaurants. Scrumptious will serve as an umbrella for the week’s activities, giving locals and visitors one website for information.

Williamsburg Players to open The Play That Goes Wrong Oct. 30 Williamsburg Players will open The Play That Goes Wrong on Oct. 30, with performances running through Nov. 15, the theater company says. Directed by Lisa Velardi, the Olivier Award-winning farce follows a university drama society’s disastrous opening night of a 1920s murder mystery, with an unconscious leading lady and a corpse that can’t play dead.

Virginia Cat Festival to offer karaoke, films and concert Nov. 7-8 Cat-themed activities will fill the Virginia Cat Festival, which will run 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8, the festival says. Musical comedy duo Griefcat will perform Saturday at 3:30 p.m., and film screenings will include Flow on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and CatVideoFest on Sunday at 1 p.m. A free play area and cat karaoke, where singers will replace every lyric with meow, will run both days. The festival also lists a marketplace with more than 70 vendors, workshops, adoptions and a costume contest. Weekend and single-day badges cost regular prices through Nov. 6, then rise, organizers say. Children 6 to 12 need a child badge, and those 5 and under enter free.

Parks and Recreation

Virginia Capital Trail Foundation reports legislators rode trail extension route State legislators from the Virginia General Assembly’s Outdoor Recreation Caucus, including Delegates Jessica Anderson and Shelly Simonds, rode the proposed Virginia Capital Trail Extension through Williamsburg on Oct. 7, the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation reports. They joined local officials and community partners and toured the funded section along Strawberry Plains Road. The foundation says the ride showed how the extension will connect communities, schools and destinations, and describes the project as about 7.5 miles of new trail from Jamestown High School to South England Street, costing an estimated $25 million to $33 million.

Buy us coffee? 😴

Every Williamsburg Area Transit Authority stop in James City County will be improved, and the county expects each one to get a shelter, Paul D. Holt III, the county’s director of community development, told the Board of Supervisors at its Oct. 13 meeting. The first step is a $336,000 construction contract the board approved as part of its consent agenda. Many stops sit along main thoroughfares with speed limits of 45 to 55 mph, and even with concrete pads, passengers are left exposed on roadway shoulders, Holt wrote in a memo to the board.

The contract covers construction at the first 15 stops. County funding allows improvements including ADA-compliant concrete pads, benches, trash cans, new signage and sidewalk connections. The stops, in locations including Richmond Road, Merrimac Trail, Longhill Road, Centerville Road, Pocahontas Trail, Queens Path and Eagle Way, have been designed and permitted. Holt wrote that Henderson Inc. has done satisfactory work for the county and was found to be a responsive and responsible bidder. The county is paying for the work from its approved Capital Improvement Program budget.

Vice-Chair Ruth Larson said she was thrilled to see continued progress and asked how stops were chosen, citing concern for a Jamestown Road stop where workers finishing long shifts need a place to sit and for Centerville Road stops where riders stand in ankle-high grass. Holt said the first phase prioritized stops with the highest ridership and grouped stops by location to make construction easier. Whether a stop sits fully in the public right of way or needs an easement also affects the timeline, he said. The next set of stops is in design and includes more on Jamestown Road, Centerville Road and Richmond Road.

Shelters are supported by a separate grant. The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization awarded the county $1.2 million in Virginia Department of Transportation Carbon Reduction Program funds, split evenly across fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029, to help buy shelters for about 141 stops. Holt wrote that shelters protect riders from poor weather and roadway hazards. Combined with the county-funded improvements, they will give riders space away from the road and give drivers a visible cue that passengers are there. The board also accepted and appropriated the first $400,000 for fiscal year 2027 as part of the consent agenda.

Capital Trail extension along Eagle Way gets $450,000 design grant

The Virginia Capital Trail/Trail757 extension along Eagle Way will get $450,000 to help pay for design after the James City County Board of Supervisors accepted a grant on its consent agenda. The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization awarded the money from the Virginia Department of Transportation Carbon Reduction Program. The resolution appropriates the funds into the Capital Projects Fund and authorizes the County Administrator to sign agreements.

In another memo dated Oct. 13 memo, Holt wrote that the shared-use path would connect the Capital Trail near Jamestown High School to on-street bike lanes on Monticello Avenue, giving people walking, biking and using mobility devices a continuous, safe and separate facility. The segment would be part of Trail757, a regional plan that recommends extending the Virginia Capital Trail into Williamsburg and the broader Hampton Roads region. Construction funding has not been identified, and staff will use the design plans for future funding applications.

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Buy us coffee? 😴

Community members, including Grove residents, recently spoke for and against a proposed 650-megawatt battery energy storage facility on the former BASF property on Pocahontas Trail at a James City County Planning Commission hearing. During the Oct. 7. meeting, opponents of the project raised alarms about fire risk, toxic gas releases and construction disruption to a historically underserved neighborhood. Advocates touted economic benefits for the area as well as efficient land use. The commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval of two special use permits for the project, brought by Pelican Energy Storage, LLC. The recommendation now goes to the Board of Supervisors.

Chair Kira Allmann and Commissioner Crystal Haskins cast the dissenting votes. The planning commission’s split vote reflected a divide over whether the M-2-zoned brownfield site was a reasonable location for industrial use, which staff described as low-impact, and whether Grove residents had been given adequate say over what happens in their own community. Allmann said she voted no to send the board a message that community objections had not been resolved. Haskins cited the historic significance of the Grove community and said she heard multiple voices from within it expressing concern, which gave her great hesitation. The facility, if ultimately approved, would be located nearly a mile from the nearest residence and is planned to go online in mid-2030, the applicant said.

Allison Jackura, Planner III, opened the public hearing with a staff presentation describing the proposed facility as a low-impact industrial use consistent with the property’s M-2 zoning and general industry future land use designation. The site, formerly operated by Dow Chemical Company and then BASF as an acrylic fibers manufacturing plant until the early 1990s, carries environmental contamination that limits potential uses, Jackura said. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions including compliance with National Fire Protection Association 855 standards, noise limits, landscape buffers, a spill response plan, an emergency management plan coordinated with Fort Eustis and county fire personnel, and a decommissioning plan. (0:19:34)

Commission members then questioned Jackura about the emergency management plan and the environmental history of the site. A commissioner asked how Fort Eustis fit into the emergency planning process, and Jackura said the base had been notified, raised no objection to the proposed use and asked to be included in any emergency management planning so it would be aware. Asked whether the environmental contamination restricted the site to industrial uses, Jackura said a 2015 proposal to change the land use designation had been opposed in part because of Fort Eustis proximity, and said she could not say whether contamination would prohibit other uses. A speaker not identified in the transcript read that the zoning ordinance describes the M-2 district’s intent as providing areas for medium to heavy non-residential development and primary industrial activities that may be incompatible with residential environments. Staff also noted two emailed public comments received after the packet was published, both expressing support on economic and land-use grounds. (0:25:25)

Keith Latham of Tenaska, representing Pelican Energy Storage, LLC, then presented on behalf of the applicant, describing the project as a reuse of a long-inactive brownfield site located more than a mile off Pocahontas Trail along the James River. Latham said battery failure events across the industry decreased by more than 99 percent from 2018 to 2025, citing Electric Power Research Institute data, and attributed much of the improvement to the adoption of National Fire Protection Association 855 standards, Underwriters Laboratory testing protocols and the shift to lithium iron phosphate chemistry, which he said is more thermally stable than prior battery types. He said the facility would be built outdoors, would use no water, produce no air emissions and generate about 150 construction jobs over a roughly 30-month build period, with several full-time positions once operational. Latham said the applicant planned to start construction in early 2027 and go online in mid-2030, and committed to developing an emergency response plan in coordination with the James City County Fire Department. (0:34:26)

Commission members then questioned Latham about the electricity contracting and grid benefits. A commissioner asked who would own the electricity stored in the batteries, and Latham said the most likely scenario was a Dominion Energy contract but that the specifics would depend on the agreement at the time of signing, and that no contract had yet been signed. Asked whether James City County would be the priority recipient of discharged power, Latham said electricity flows where it flows and that because of the facility’s location, the energy would most likely remain in the James City County and Tidewater region. (0:50:05)

Public comments against the project raised concerns about fire hazard, toxic gas releases and construction disruption to the Grove community. Residents cited the risk of thermal runaway, in which a single failing battery cell can trigger a chain reaction that spreads to adjacent cells, releasing gases including hydrogen fluoride and carbon monoxide, and described fires at other battery storage facilities nationwide that burned for days and required mass evacuations. One resident, describing herself as a retired registered nurse of 40 years, said the absence of a completed emergency management plan left unanswered questions about how quickly a response could be mounted. Another resident said the commission should not be persuaded by what she characterized as a small number of temporary and permanent jobs relative to the county’s annual budget, and asked the commission to vote down the measure and preserve the land for future public access to the James River. A resident who described herself as a Grove resident of more than 21 years said she requested an independent fire risk assessment, an independent local emergency response review and a property value study separate from the developer’s data. (0:56:00)

Public comments in favor of the project came from union representatives and residents who cited job creation, local energy sources and the site’s limited alternative uses. A representative of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 666 said the 30-month construction timeline was long enough for apprentices to advance significantly in their training and that these were career-building positions with benefits and retirement. Another speaker said he believed the site’s brownfield history and the limited alternative uses made the battery facility a better fit than residential development. (0:56:00)

After public comment closed, the commission questioned Fire Chief Ryan Ashe and Fire Marshal Joe Davis about emergency preparedness. Ashe said that in preliminary meetings with the applicant, nothing had risen to the level of a major red flag, and that the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s local hazardous materials representative, who was familiar with similar facilities elsewhere in the state, also expressed no major concern. Current guidance for a thermal event in a single battery container is to allow that container to burn while using engineering controls, spacing and barriers to prevent fire from spreading to adjacent units and it was noted that the applicant’s offer to use the most current edition of National Fire Protection Association 855 goes beyond the minimum code requirements in force today. (1:21:36)

Commissioner Frank Polster said he had researched the site’s environmental monitoring requirements, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s long-term monitoring requirements that he said stay with the deed, and raised concerns about climate change, sea level rise and storm surge affecting areas near Grays Run and Skiffs Creek that border the property. Polster said he was reassured that the applicant was consulting with county staff on stormwater management criteria from sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Virginia stormwater handbook, which address increased runoff, and that long-term DEQ monitoring covers both the BASF-retained parcels and the parcel the applicant would purchase. For those reasons, he said he intended to support the application. (1:43:58)

Commissioner Crystal Haskins then provided historical context for the Grove community, describing it as a settlement with roots in the post-Civil War era that grew substantially during both world wars as families displaced by federal military land acquisitions relocated to the area. Haskins said Grove is an active community with ongoing county investment, including a planned lower county park and a new convenience center, both cited in the top five priorities of the planning commission and the adopted 2021 through 2025 capital improvements program. She said she had not heard enough about how the facility would enhance the special character of Grove, and that hearing multiple voices from within the community expressing concern gave her great hesitation, leading her to vote no. (1:47:45)

Commissioner Jack Haldeman said he planned to support the application but acknowledged that Grove has historically been on the short end of the stick in James City County, with no public river access south of the Jamestown Marina and no parks in the southern third of the county until very recently. Haldeman cited about 20 reasons for his support, including the proposal’s alignment with the comprehensive plan, the site’s location directly atop a major transmission line, little traffic and little demand on water use or sewers once operational, and the stormwater and spill response conditions. He also noted that the access road sits at about 17 feet of elevation and most batteries are above 20 feet, well above the 100-year base flood elevation of 7 feet and the roughly 8-foot storm surge recorded during Hurricane Isabel in 2003, and said the site was effectively immune from flood and surge risk. (1:51:37)

Chair Kira Allmann said she did not dispute that the M-2 zoning made the battery facility a reasonable use of the site, but voted no because she wanted the Board of Supervisors to hear a clear message that community objections from Grove had not been resolved. Allmann said the Grove community had repeatedly not had a say in what happens in their own backyard, and that it was not their fault the ground was contaminated, that there were objections from nearby military installations, or that the land was zoned M-2. She said the planning commission’s role is to advise the board, and the board must weigh economic factors alongside the community’s voice in making its policy decision. (2:01:32)

The commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval, with Haldeman, Polster, Vice Chair Stephen Rodgers, Jay Everson and Vincent Passero voting yes and Haskins and Allmann voting no. The motion found that the general location, character and extent of the public utility facility shown in case number SUP-26-0019 is substantially in accord with the adopted comprehensive plan. The recommendation advances to the Board of Supervisors for a final decision. (2:03:50)

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Buy us coffee? 😴

Read more

AI-assisted transcription is emerging as a promising tool for courts seeking to improve transcript availability, enhance accessibili…

Read more

VDOT’s Brian Gentry recently gave the York County Board of Supervisors an update covering maintenance work orders, delayed bridge repairs, SMART SCALE widening proj…

Read more

Williamsburg is collecting sharply more in meals and lodging taxes this fiscal year than last, but the picture changes once the higher tax rates are factored into the analysis. According to a financial presentation to City Council on Oct. 8 by the City’s Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Dameron, lodging tax collections are up 36.4% from last year, to more than $1.1 million, and meals tax collections are up 31.7%, to about $2.2 million. Those totals include new tax rates of 7% on lodging and 6.5% on meals. But when adjusted for the higher rates, lodging collections are down 2.6% so far this fiscal year, though meals collections are up 1.3%.

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Read more

Stormwater management projects that have been completed and a list of potential work was covered by a presentation to the Williamsburg City Council during a recent …

Read more

Read more

Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC) posted higher marks than the state averages in most areas on the latest report …

Read more

School district presented grants totaling over $100,000 for environmental education, teacher development and student services at the Oct. 6 board meeting.

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Buy us coffee? 😴

At the school board’s Oct. 6 meeting earlier this week, Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools staff presented information about new grants and community con…

Read more

Read more

Driving offenses dominated Williamsburg police arrests in September, led by 17 suspended-license cases and 10 DWIs. Of 29 active incidents, theft was the most common with seven reports.

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Buy us coffee? 😴

Driving on a suspended or revoked license was the most common charge in Williamsburg Police Department arrests in September, appearing in 17 report…

Read more

Read more

Back Creek dredging would get federal and state funding. York County supervisors are expected to approve the $7.11 million project Tuesday.

We’re committed to keeping local news accessible for everyone. EMAIL us for a free all-access subscription, for any reason, no questions asked.

Buy us coffee? 😴

Read more