Year in Review: An Overview of Stories from York County in 2014

This year, York County citizens were affected by farming regulations and zoning changes, while the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office became equipped with an armored vehicle and body cameras. Find these stories and more highlights from the year in WYDaily’s annual review.

January

• Supervisor Donald Wiggins was elected as chairman of the York county Board of Supervisors. 
• The Supreme Court of Virginia sided with the county and ruled two York County oyster farmers — Anthony Bavuso and Greg Garrett — were required to obtain special-use permits in order to use their properties to harvest oysters. 
• The county received more than $1.3 million in stormwater grants that it used to construct retention ponds at the corner of Old York Hampton Highway and Cook Road and near Wormley Creek to alleviate standing rainwater in residential areas.

February

• Petco moved out of the Williamsburg Marketcenter in Upper York County and into Settlers Market in James City County.
• The Board of Supervisors approved a 100-room hotel that would join the Marquis Shopping Center and 650 residential units in Upper York County. The Marquis also announced Sam’s Club would be joining the other five retail stores.
• The Yorktown Naval Weapons Station announced it sought to build a rifle range near the Grove Interchange.
• The intersection of Dare Road and Lakeside Drive was converted into a four-way stop after citizens raised safety concerns to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
• York County received the highest bond rating possible, which saved the county thousands of dollars.

March

• The General Assembly passed a bill that prevents localities from requiring special-use permits on agricultural and underwater farming operations. Supervisor Tom Shepperd told WYDaily the bill specifically targeted York County.
• A Mediterranean-themed restaurant called Med Meals 4 You opened in Grafton’s Heritage Square Shopping Center, offering gluten-free, tree nut-free and lost-salt dining options.
• The Board of Supervisors approved a road project that would make the intersection of Penniman and Government Roads a T-intersection instead of a Y-intersection with William Carter Road.

April

• Del. Brenda Pogge, who represents parts of James City County and York County, opened a new legislative office on Jamestown Road.
• Hundreds of pirates flooded Riverwalk Landing for a pirate-themed weekend.
• The supervisors decided to allow places of worship to have electronic signs with changing messages after delaying the decision for several months.
• Thomas Gallagher, who created the county’s 911 center, retired after almost 20 years. 
• York County launched its free emergency notification system, which sends residents emergency alerts directly to their phone or email.

May

• In Tabb, 102 units were approved for assisted living at the corner of Victory Boulevard and Hampton Highway.
• Del. Brenda Pogge was one of more than 100 citizens rallying in front of York Hall against farming rights potentially being taken away due to zoning changes in the county. 
• Claire Murray Lifestyles in Riverwalk Landing closed after failing to pay rent for several months. The Yorktown Book Shop on Riverwalk later took its place.
• The supervisors passed a $132.5 million budget for the fiscal year running from July 1 to June 30, 2015, denying the York County School Division $2 million it requested despite YCSD employees and parents voicing the need for the funds to be met. 

June

• The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office received an armored vehicle, or MRAP, from a military program that seeks to repurpose surplus military equipment. 
• The Sheriff’s Office announced it was looking to build a shooting range in York County for its deputies. 
• York Point was rezoned to a residential designation at the request of several citizens who were concerned about farming and oyster operations being allowed in their neighborhood.

July

•  Three cyclists from California biked more than 4,000 miles to raise awareness and money for the Kevin Armstrong MD Memorial Sports Foundation and ended their trek in Yorktown.
• The county received funding to raise eight homes above the 100-year flood hazard elevation standard.
• More than 700 positions were cut from Langley Air Force Base as the U.S. Air Force created a new program to reduce redundancies and increase efficiency.

August

• YPSO Sheriff J.D. “Danny” Diggs took to social media to defend the office’s armored vehicle after the shooting of an unarmed black man in Ferguson, Mo., caused tensions and debates around the country and in York County. 
• Much of the Yorktown monument was destroyed with a piece of it saved and given to York County. The century-old marker was used to mark the site where the British army surrendered to the continental forces at the Seige of Yorktown.
• Dandy resident Greg Garrett withdrew his special-use permit application to use his land for an oyster operation after several years of battling with the county on the issue of whether an oyster farming operation is allowed on his waterfront property.

September

• Residents from Riverwalk Townes claimed their neighborhood was left unfinished and asked the county to step in and determine why their homes were left with missing streetlights, unmarked roads and unfinished drainage systems.
• The Hornsby House Inn in Yorktown was approved to host large-scale weddings. 
• Following in York Point residents’ footsteps, Dandy residents filed a petition to rezone the area to the new residential designation in an effort to prevent future farming in Dandy.
• Priority Nissan announced it was opening a dealership in Upper York County. The dealership is currently operating out of trailers as it renovates the building formerly occupied by Casey Auto Group.

October

• James “Mac” McReynolds, York County’s longest-standing administrator, died of an apparent heart attack. Mark Carter was named Interim County Administrator shortly after McReynolds’ death. 
• York Supervisors enacted performance standards that prevented farming for about 6,000 properties. The performance standards were created as a way to curb the General Assembly’s new law that prohibits localities from imposing special-use permits on agriculturally zoned properties.
• The Heritage Humane Society closed for more than two weeks after several animals became infected with diseases.
• Emergency management officials announced they were working towards enacting Next Generation 911, a new feature that allows citizens in James City and York counties to send photos and videos to dispatchers during an emergency.

November

• Supervisors approved a 222-unit residential development called Whittaker’s Mill in Upper York County near Water Country USA.
• Melissa Doak with the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety was named National EMS Educator of the Year.
• The Virginia Beer Company announced its plans to open a microbrewery on Second Street.
• The Board of Supervisors said no to rezoning Dandy to a residential designation, saying the farming regulations set in place in October were sufficient to prevent future farming in the area.

December

• YPSO purchased 25 body cameras for its deputies.

• 

  The York County Board of Zoning Appeals voted to keep the county’s first tiny home — a 565-square-foot customized home on wheels that sits in Bruton Mobile Home Park — after county staff issued a citation saying the home did not fit the standards required in the county code.

• The Friendly’s on Richmond Road closed its doors after more than 30 years in business.
• A new Taco Bell was approved at the intersection of Mooretown Road and East Rochambeau Drive.