NEWS: Former City Planning Director Questions Wisdom of Proposed Budget

Also, Williamsburg considers moving $5M from affordable housing & ‘Research Village’ initiatives

The City-owned Blayton Building is the home for elderly residents. The City has said it wants to redevelop the property for mixed uses, including low-income housing. For now, funds were transferred to other parts of the budget instead of advancing the project. (Image: George Arbogust, Williamsburg Independent)

At their meeting earlier this week, Williamsburg City Council members received a budget presentation from City Manager Andrew Trivette. A description of the budget released in advance of the meeting described how the City administration “wisely” made some of their recommendations. Yet, before the City Manager’s presentation, a former City Planning Director, Carolyn Murphy, stood up to voice concern over several aspects of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, including a downtown children’s park and the new library.

“I want to express my opposition to the proposed park on Peacock Hill,” Murphy said. “The proposed property is located in the CW historic district, which does not allo…