Decision on Cardinal Ridge project near Eastern State deferred
Proposed development of The Bluffs at Kiskiack near Croaker also delayed
The James City County Board of Supervisors met earlier this month and ultimately voted to defer action on the Cardinal Ridge rezoning application to September 8, 2026, at the applicant’s request. The board also deferred The Bluffs at Kiskiack mixed-use development application to October 13, 2026, following public opposition and applicant request for more community engagement time.
Cardinal Ridge land use designation and rezoning deferred
The board unanimously deferred both the land use designation change and rezoning for Cardinal Ridge to September 8, 2026, at the applicant’s request. The land use designation case would change a portion of 4601 Ironbound Road and the property at 1001 Galt Lane from Federal, State, or County Land to Mixed Use - Eastern State designation. The associated rezoning would change approximately 365.6 acres from Public Lands to Mixed Use, allowing up to 1,006 residential dwellings and 162,000 square feet of commercial use.
Staff recommended approval, finding the application generally consistent with the 2045 Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance, despite not meeting the Mixed Use Construction Phasing Policy. The proposal includes 20 percent affordable housing units targeted at households earning up to 80 percent Area Median Income and a $1.25 million contribution for stream channel restoration. The public hearing remained open until September, with the board reminding potential speakers they could only speak once during the continued hearing process. Watch the Cardinal Ridge deferral votes from 3:52:06.
Bluffs at Kiskiack application deferred amidst staff and community opposition
The board voted to defer the Bluffs at Kiskiack application to October 13, 2026, at the applicant’s request following extensive public comment. The board reviewed plans for a 276.1-acre mixed-use development that would allow 704 residential units, including a continuing care retirement community, plus commercial space, a hotel, retail village, and the Presidents Walk Museum featuring restored presidential busts. The proposal included 30 percent affordable housing and upfront traffic improvements including a four-lane divided entrance with roundabout.
Staff did not recommend approval, citing inconsistency with Comprehensive Plan recommendations specific to the Croaker Interchange Mixed Use Area, which designates the southeast quadrant for light manufacturing and office as principal uses, not residential. Several neighboring residents from surrounding areas testified against the project, raising concerns about traffic impacts, rural character preservation, infrastructure capacity, and cumulative development effects. The applicant will seek more community engagement before conducting application revisions. Watch the Bluffs at Kiskiack deferral vote from 4:03:56.
Board addressed multiple agenda items throughout the evening session, including:
VACo Achievement Award for Advanced Care Paramedic Program The Virginia Association of Counties presented James City County Fire Department with an achievement award recognizing the Advanced Care Paramedic Program. Dr. Amir Luca, medical director for the county since 2019, explained the program began after a 2021 motor vehicle accident that claimed a young woman’s life, prompting creation of a goal to eliminate preventable hemorrhage deaths in the county. The program now includes 25 advanced care paramedics trained in pre-hospital blood transfusion, ultrasound-guided resuscitation, and other hospital-level interventions. Nearly 100 patients have received life-saving blood transfusions in the field since inception, helicopter transport use has decreased by over 90 percent, and cardiac arrest patients now have nearly double the neurologically intact survival rate compared to five years ago. Watch the achievement award presentation from 18:14.
School learning cottage special use permits approved The board approved special use permits for 12 existing learning cottages at eight schools within the county. Staff explained 11 of the 12 special use permit approvals had expired and required renewal. The cottages at elementary schools are expected to remain in use through the 2027-2028 school year with expiration date of July 1, 2028, while the Jamestown High School cottage would extend through 2031-2032. Watch the learning cottage permit approval from 36:25.
Short-term rental on Fenton Mill Road approved The board unanimously approved a special use permit for a short-term rental at 4305 Fenton Mill Road. The property meets all four comprehensive plan criteria for short-term rentals: fronts on a major road, located within a neighborhood commercial area, not within a subdivision, and the owner lives on the property in a separate dwelling. The property owners have submitted a conceptual plan for future glamping and boat/RV storage requiring separate permits, but those uses are not part of this application. Watch the short-term rental approval from 1:00:17.
Smart Scale transportation funding applications approved The board approved five resolutions of support for Smart Scale transportation funding applications. Community Development Director Paul Holt explained the program provides funding for larger transportation projects, having previously secured funding for Longhill Road widening, Skiffs Creek Connector, and Airport Road/Mooretown Road/Richmond Road intersection improvements. The five pre-applications include: Extending the shared use path along Pocahontas Trail from McGruder Avenue to James River Elementary School Route 199 at Brookwood Drive improvements with a thru-cut alternative Route 199 at Route 5 with displaced left turns Route 199 ramp modifications at Lightfoot Route 60 improvements at Centerville Road and Lightfoot Road intersections Watch the Smart Scale application approval from 1:02:26.
Tobacco and vape shop near school denied The board voted to deny a special use permit for a tobacco and vape shop at 5251 John Tyler Highway in Williamsburg Crossing Shopping Center. The application sought to occupy vacant Unit 24, within close proximity to Greenwood Christian Academy. Staff recommended approval based on current ordinance requirements, but noted the board had adopted a resolution in April to consider prohibiting such shops within 1,000 feet of schools or daycares. Multiple parents and school administrators testified against the application, citing proximity concerns and potential negative impacts on children. The school’s principal explained students traverse between campus buildings multiple times daily, passing directly in front of the proposed location, with a playground approximately 60 feet from the shop’s rear. Watch the tobacco shop denial from 1:12:18.
Westwood Park rezoning deferred to July meeting The board unanimously voted to defer the Westwood Park rezoning application to July 14, 2026, at the applicant’s request. The application seeks to rezone approximately 79.56 acres at 4601 Ironbound Road from Public Lands to Planned Unit Development Residential to allow up to 155 residential dwellings and 24,000 square feet of commercial uses. The landowner is the Commonwealth of Virginia Eastern State Hospital. The application has been previously postponed from scheduled meetings in October 2025, February 2026, April 2026, and May 2026. The public hearing remained open, with the board noting anyone speaking at the June meeting would not be able to speak again at the July continuation. No speaker cards were submitted for the June hearing. Watch the Westwood Park deferral from 3:49:19.
