To avoid confusion with a James City County voting precinct, the Berkeley Precinct has a new name. This week, the Planning Commission will meet to consider implementing ordinance changes in the downtown area that were approved in the Comprehensive Plan.
Berkeley Precinct Has a New Name
Council voted unanimously Thursday to change the name of the Berkeley voting precinct to Matoaka voting precinct.
The change is intended to eliminate confusion with James City County’s voting precinct of the same name.
City Honored for Transparency
The city of Williamsburg was honored with a Sunny Award this week for its efforts to promote transparency in government.
The Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency, honors the most transparent government websites in the nation. Williamsburg was one of 250 award recipients.
Sunshine Review editors analyzed more than 1,000 qualifying government websites and graded each on a 10-point transparency checklist. They looked for information on items such as budgets, meetings, lobbying, financial audits, contracts, academic performance, public records and taxes. Winners all received a grade of “A.”
Florida led the awards race, with 25 localities earning Sunny Awards. Virginia came in second place, with 19 government sites recognized. Awards were also given to York County and Williamsburg-James City County Schools.
The Sunny Awards announcement falls during the annual of “Sunshine Week,” March 10-16, a period nationally recognized by hundreds of media and civic organizations, that celebrates the efforts of activists and the strides taken towards open government.
Planning Commission to Host Public Hearing Wednesday
The Planning Commission will host a public hearing Wednesday on a package of eight zoning ordinance amendments.
The amendments were all recommended in the 2013 Comprehensive Plan for the Downtown Area. The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Stryker Building.
The proposed changes include:
- Revise the residential density for the B-1 Downtown Business District and the LB-1 Limited Business Downtown District by establishing a base density of 14 dwelling units per net acre and allowing increased density with a special use permit approved by City Council.
- Revise the residential density for the RDT Downtown Residential District by establishing a base density of 8 dwelling units per net acre and allowing increased density with a special use permit approved by City Council.
- Create a new definition for “Senior housing” and add provisions to the LB-1 Downtown Residential District allowing senior housing with a reduced parking requirement with a special use permit approved by City Council.
- Expand the Downtown Parking District south along the west side of South Henry Street from Ireland Street to South Boundary Street, and to include the Blayton Building at 613 Scotland Street. The Downtown Parking District does not require off-street parking for commercial and office uses.
- Rezone 14 acres on South Henry Street between Ireland Street and South Boundary Street from LB-3 Limited Business Residential District to LB-1 Limited Business Downtown District. The LB-1 District allows retail and restaurant uses in addition to residential and office uses. The base residential density is 14 dwelling units per net acre, and increased density is allowed with a special use permit approved by City Council.
- Rezone the duplex dwelling at 319 South Boundary Street from LB-3 Limited Business Residential District to RM-2 Multifamily Dwelling District.
- Rezone the Blayton Building at 613 Scotland Street from RDT Downtown Residential District and B-1 Downtown Business District to LB-1 Limited Business Downtown District and RS-2 Single-Family Dwelling District.
- Rezone 218 and 220 North Boundary Street (just north of the Imperial Building) from LB-1 Limited Business Downtown District to B-1 Downtown Business District.
The full agenda is available here.
