Construction on the Forest Heights renewal project in James City County is just getting underway but due to regulations from Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Dominion Virginia Power, the cost is $1 million more than the original cost estimate from a few years ago.
The Forest Heights neighborhood is a mainly low- and moderate- income neighborhood near the Premium Outlets on Richmond Road. The project was originally estimated to cost about $2.8 million in 2010, $1.1 million of which would come from the county and about $1.4 million from a state Community Development Block Grant. The redevelopment plan aimed to widen and pave gravel roads, improve drainage problems, fix or replace homes and add a sidewalk and park.
The Board of Supervisors approved the original plan in December 2010. In late October this year, staff approached the Board and explained that several areas of the project were over estimate, including managing storm water runoff, paving the streets, putting overhead power lines underground and routing the sewer. To cover the additional cost, staff said the county will use its Community Development Fund and supply an extra $220,000. According to Vaughn Poller, chairman of the Community Participation Team, construction activities started this month.
Because of a large amount of storm water runoff from Richmond Road and the new pavement, the retention pond that was planned for the area had to be re-engineered to accommodate it. Crews will start with removing dirt from the area to build the pond and then continue with the project to put Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) standard roads on Forest Heights Lane and Neighbors Drive,which VDOT will maintain.
It’s important for citizens to understand that creating a state-maintained road with an impervious surface rather than simply paving the existing road is better for its long–term effects, Poller said.
To widen the road for state maintenance and because the project includes two roads, VDOT asked Benefit Lane be put in as a connector road. It also required that sidewalks be put on both sides of the road up to Benefit Lane, and asked that the paving be thicker for the project. A left turn lane from westbound Richmond Road onto Forest Heights Drive will also be added.
James City County purchased some properties for the project and those will be used to create the storm water retention pond, open space for a park and affordable housing; Peninsula Habitat for Humanity will build five affordable homes, said Poller.
In a presentation to the Board at its Oct. 23 meeting, Poller said six structures will be demolished and one resident who had been living in a camper that didn’t have running water or electricity was relocated to an apartment funded by the block grant.
At the Oct. 23 meeting, the Board voted 3-1 to approve the additional funding though one member had concerns about cost overruns.
Supervisor Mary Jones voted against the allocation of extra funds. She said, “every time this project comes forward it seems to be costing more money” and she was concerned that the cost for the road itself is about $100,000 but the cost of the total project is almost $4 million.
Supervisor Jim Icenhour voiced a different opinion about the project. He said citizens deserve the upgrades to the community.
With the changes to the project, it is now anticipated to be completed by August or September of next year.
