Review of Proposed Church at Williamsburg Pottery Deferred by James City Planning Commission

Applicant requests more time to respond to concerns of county planning staff

Nov 10, 2025

A review by the James City County Planning Commission of a proposed church at Williamsburg Pottery has been delayed at the request of the applicant. The issue is expected to be taken up again at their next meeting and ultimately decided by the county’s Board of Supervisors. (George Arbogust, Williamsburg Independent)

At a recent meeting, the James City Planning Commission agreed to postpone a public hearing and probable vote regarding a proposed church at the site of Williamsburg Pottery on Richmond Road. Consideration of the church’s application was also delayed at the Commission’s previous meeting.

“The applicant needs a little bit more time to work with staff and a newly acquired attorney,” a representative of the county told the Planning Commission. The request by Coastal Community Church needs county approval on several issues to proceed with using existing retail space at Williamsburg Pottery as a location for their church.

Prior to the Commission’s meeting, the county’s planning staff issued a summary of the proposal in which it advised against approving the project as currently planned. The Commission will eventually vote on whether to recommend the project to the Board of Supervisors, who will make the final decision.

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Proposed Church at Williamsburg Pottery Gets Thumbs Down from James City Staff

George Arbogust

Nov 3

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While acknowledging the project’s potential to revitalize an underused commercial area, county staff ultimately concluded that “unmitigated impacts” prevent them from recommending approval. The staff report noted that their concerns centered around key logistical issues related to parking, traffic flow, and enforceability of other proffered conditions.

The church’s plan calls for two Sunday services with up to 1,000 attendees in the main auditorium. Staff warned that overlapping arrivals and departures could cause congestion at the site’s entrances and backups onto Richmond Road. With only 208 parking spaces proposed for church use, staff determined capacity would be insufficient for the projected attendance.

Planners also cited other unresolved matters, including a pending subdivision of the property and an unformalized parking easement with an adjacent parcel, which could limit guaranteed access to the site. Additionally, staff said enforcement of proposed limits on special event attendance would be difficult under county procedures.

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