(Courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, VA,48-WIL.V,4-1)
JAMES CITY COUNTY — A growing opposition to a proposed expansion in Kingsmill prompted James City County (JCC) to host a community meeting on Monday, Dec. 9.
The Kingsmill Francis Thacker Homes community meeting, held by JCC Roberts District Supervisor John McGlennon and other JCC government officials, was an opportunity to update residents on the Escalante Golf proposal to build additional homes near the open space at historic Kingsmill Plantation.
Escalante Golf, the owners and developers of Kingsmill Resort, have submitted a conceptual plan for 32 new homes to be built adjacent to Francis Thacker Road in a space currently used as the Kingsmill Recreational Soccer Park, explained Paul Holt, JCC Community Development Director.
Morgan Risinger, Senior Planner for JCC said a conceptual plan for the development was submitted to JCC in August, adding, “conceptual plan applications are an optional process and are intended to provide preliminary comments, feedback and an outline of next steps. They do not grant final approval for construction to begin.”
“The real answer is — they can’t start construction with what they have given us,” Holt stated, “All they have given us is a current idea and a current sketch layout. This does not give them the ability to move forward. The details and the application for that have not been submitted.”
Holt added since this is a by-right development, “The county does have a limited role in this — in terms of being a staff-only review. But, we will answer everything we can and if not we will take note of your concerns and follow up with the developer the best we can.”
The proposed plan has received pushback from Kingsmill residents through an online petition with more than 725 signatures.
In addition to losing green space, residents are concerned about the negative impact the project will have on the 300-year-old remnants of the former Kingsmill Plantation, a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1972.
According to the National Park Service, Kingsmill Plantation played a significant role in the growth and development of the Jamestown colony. The plantation house was a grand 4,800 square foot two-story manor that overlooked the James River and included two brick dependencies, a coach house, dairy, stable, barn, and two wells. The manor was destroyed by fire in 1846. Today, one the brick dependencies and original garden steps remains.
Kingsmill Plantation was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 1972, and the Virginia Landmarks Register on March 31, 1972.
William Kelso, an archaeologist who discovered the site in the 1970’s and author of “Kingsmill Plantations 1619-1800: Archaeology of Country Life in Colonial Virginia,” has pointed to the area of the soccer field as a location of additional archaeological significance.
During the community meeting, Kelso stated, “The current building proposal from Escalante … in my opinion, and the opinion of the state historic preservation agency since the 1970s, leave absolutely no doubt that the proposed construction at this site will do irreparable damage to the archaeological buried remains of a 1630s rural settlement and especially to the unique 1720s setting of the remaining Kingsmill buildings and foundations.”
Several citizens inquired about having an independent archaeology study done, even stating the group would raise funds if needed.
JCC officials said they welcomed all questions regarding the proposal, however, Escalante Golf holds rights approved by the county for Busch Properties in the mid-1980s, and officials are bound by the by-right laws and codes of the state of Virginia.
“I understand that you are restricted by various laws and codes that are in existence, but it is time to change them. It is time to update them and it is time to respect our history,” stated one concerned resident.
Organizers opposed to the project said more than 160 people attended the meeting in person, with approximately 90 more joining the live stream.
McGlennon closed the meeting by stating, “This is not the end of this discussion.”
Escalante Golf and Kingsmill Resort representatives were invited to the meeting but did not attend.
