YORKTOWN — Construction on the new dockmaster building in Yorktown commenced last week and has already caused a stir on social media.
In January, the York County Board of Supervisors held a community forum to look at plans for a new dockmaster building. The facility upgrades include ADA-compliant bathrooms, family changing areas, as well as an office space for county employees. During the Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 6, the board signed off on a contract of $1.8 million to begin construction.
After construction began last week, residents began to notice that multiple trees along the waterfront had been removed. Multiple posts were made about the issue on social media, inciting speculation and rumors to begin swirling.
Comments on social media ranged from lamenting the loss of shade and scenery to questioning the lack of advanced notice from the county government.
York County released a statement on Friday morning, explaining why the trees were taken down.
“As part of the work, several decorative trees had to be removed, along with others that were at risk of impeding underground infrastructure. To maintain a symmetrical appearance, the remaining trees located between the Freight Shed and the old bathroom facilities were also removed. In addition, the trees were impeding the view of the Riverwalk Landing pier, which was a public safety concern. Once the construction work is completed in late spring/early summer 2025, options for landscaping and trees will be considered,” Gail Whittaker, public information officer for York County, said in a release.
That has still not sat well with some.
“County residents have been given a variety of reasons for why the county removed a line of trees adjacent to the Dockmaster’s office at the Yorktown waterfront. But the only one that seems to bear any plausibility is that the tree roots interfered with a geothermal system installed in the ground. I applaud the county’s goal of saving energy — but not at the expense of green space,” said Barbara Luck, a concerned York County citizen.
The planning process for the 874-square-foot new building has been contentious from the start. Many were against a new dockmaster building completely and York County residents continually asked for revisions to plans presented by the Board of Supervisors. When six plans were laid out for the public to view and offer feedback on in January, revisions to the plans were still asked for. It wasn’t until the meeting on Aug. 6 that a contract had been awarded.
Construction on the $1.8 million building and surrounding area will continue until late spring/early summer 2025.
