JAMES CITY COUNTY — The James City County (JCC) Board of Supervisors (BOS) announced that the applicant of the proposed Monticello Avenue Shops asked to defer its presentation until next month.
The public hearing that was advertised for the Sept. 10 BOS meeting regarding the proposed Monticello Avenue Shops will remain open until the Oct. 8 meeting, according to Chair Ruth Larson.
“If you wish to speak to the matter this evening, you are welcome to but you will not be able to speak again at the deferral date,” explained Larson.
There was no citizen comment made during the Sept. meeting.
The proposal for three 4,000-square-foot buildings that would make up the Monticello Avenue Shops on 2.75 acres of land that sit between Monticello Avenue and Ironbound Road, just off Route 199, will be presented to the JCC BOS on Oct. 8.
Originally reported Aug. 8 — 2.75 acres of land that sit between Monticello Avenue and Ironbound Road, just off Route 199, is once again being considered for a new shopping center.
In January 2020, Tricor International, a residential and commercial developer withdrew its special use permit and rezoning application for the same parcel.
The new plan was presented to the James City County (JCC) Planning Commission at the Wednesday, Aug. 7 meeting.
According to a staff report, Verdad Real Estate Development has applied for rezoning and a Special Use Permit to allow up to 12,000 square feet of commercial development in three separate buildings, each 4,000 square feet in area for the proposed “Monticello Avenue Shops.” The plan includes 83 proposed shared parking spaces.
Timothy Trant II of Kaufman & Canoles spoke for the applicant and explained the developer used previous proposals “to conceive a low intensity commercial use — a true neighborhood commercial use that really limited impacts on the adjacent neighborhoods and adjacent roadways.”
Trant explained that the plan is consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan and resolves the uncertainty around the property’s future.
One current parcel owner said, “I am hoping you will consider that my family has had this land for a long time, paid taxes on it for over 70 years, and you will make a lot more tax revenue with a business being there. Help us to sell this. We have had five buyers who have backed out because of complications. We feel this is a winner. It is time.”
Traffic, environmental and noise concerns were raised by several members of the Planning Commission as well as citizens who live in the community.
“I can see trying to bring in new clients but I ask you take a look around town. My son and I did drive around and there are a lot of empty, vacant (commercial) spots. My concern is why develop new space when we have vacant space we should be promoting and offering to other providers,” stated one concerned neighbor.
Vehicle entrance to the new Monticello Avenue Shops would be shared with the existing Monticello Marketplace Shoppes. No vehicle entrance to the property is being considered along Ironbound Road. which is to remain as a buffer for homes on that street.
A traffic impact analysis done by Gorove Slade Associates recommends the construction of a 100-foot eastbound right-turn taper on Monticello Avenue. The study was reviewed and approved by VDOT and the JCC Director of Planning.
“We owe them a chance to sell their property, ” stated Vice-Chair Jack Haldeman, “I argued during the comprehensive plan revision that the county should buy it at a fair commercial price and just let it lay fallow and not let it contribute more towards this madness. I couldn’t close that sale so here we are. We owe it to these people, we the taxpayers and the people that live here, to these three property holders (and maybe eventually four) to give them a chance to sell the property that has been severely damaged by the very poor land use policies that the county has practiced.”
Before the vote, Chair Tim O’Connor said, “I think this is a smart use of this property given all the limitations we have heard over the years. At the end of the day, I don’t see that it is terribly cumbersome on the traffic patterns that exist today.”
