NEWS: Final Bumps in Road for James City Government Center
Traffic concerns remain as development looms for former Eastern State Hospital surplus land
The new $238.7M James City County government center and library will clear a final hurdle this week if the project receives a Special Use Permit (SUP) from the Board of Supervisors. The request from City staff would allow construction of the 177,000 square foot building, which exceeds the current zoning limit of 30,000 square feet; the new library is expected to total around 25,000 square feet.
On May 13, 2025, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a budget for Fiscal Year 2026 which included funding for both new facilities. They will decide the issue of the SUP at their meeting on June 10, 2025 at 5PM in the County Government Board Room, 101 Mounts Bay Road, Williamsburg VA 23185.
Planning Commission recommendation
On May 7, 2025, a few days before the Board approved the FY26 budget, the County’s Planning Commission considered several issues concerning the new government center. The Commission voted 5-2 that the project was in line with the County’s Comprehensive Plan. In a subsequent vote, the Commission voted 4-3 to recommend approval of the SUP needed to begin the project. Several Commissioners expressed multiple concerns about approving the government center before understanding the impact of future development nearby. One particular concern raised by Commissioners was the impact that the new government center would have on traffic in the surrounding area. The new complex will sit near the James City County Recreation Center between Longhill Road and Depue Road.
Impact on traffic
The planning department’s summary report included details regarding a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) conducted on behalf of the County, which examined AM and PM traffic volume at seven intersections in the vicinity of the proposed complex. According to the planning staffs’ summary, the new complex will generate 315 trips during peak morning hours and 377 trips during peak evening hours, and 3,921 daily trips overall.
The traffic study recommends several road improvements in order to mitigate the impact of the new government complex:
Reconstructing the Longhill Road and DePue Drive intersection as a two-lane roundabout
Reconstructing the DePue Drive and Ashbury Lane intersection as a one-lane roundabout
Constructing a right-turn lane and taper at the proposed site entrance that aligns with Grand Strand Drive
Eastern State Hospital surplus land proximity
The proposed location of the new government center is across from the former site of Eastern State Hospital, where over 400 acres have been deemed surplus property and set aside for development, according to a report by Ben Swenson for the Daily Press. Swenson notes that two separate developers have already proposed over 1,100 homes of various types as well as 140,000 square feet of commercial space. Swenson also reported that the James City County Planning Commission recently recommended denial of one of the proposals. The County confirmed that the TIA does not include any estimates of the traffic that could be generated by development of the surplus Eastern State property.
Williamsburg weighs in
The City of Williamsburg also offered feedback to the County about the potential impact on traffic. “Due to the highly permeable boundaries between the two jurisdictions, a major development, such as the proposed government complex and library may significantly affect traffic volumes along Longhill Road, Ironbound Road, and DePue Drive,” states a letter dated May 5, 2025 sent to the Planning Commission by the City’s Director of Planning, Tevya Griffin. The letter specifically raises the potential impact on a Williamsburg neighborhood called Skipwith Farms, which the City claims “already contends with cut-through traffic from Richmond Road [and] could be particularly vulnerable to increased congestion, as drivers may seek alternate routes through the subdivision.”
The City also raised concerns with pedestrian and cyclist safety around the new complex, noting the presence of students from James Blair Middle School and the College of William and Mary, as well as people using Kiwanis Park.
AI was used to research and compile information for this post.