After three years of writing letters and speaking at county meetings, the Taylor family has a newfound hope for the future of their 217-acre rolling farmland in James City County.
Despite concerns about increased residential development and the environmental impact, the James City County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday night to change the Taylor farm’s land use designation to allow the family to develop the property for industrial, light industrial and office uses, according to Board of Supervisors documents.
The new designation, “economic opportunity,” would also allow up to 10 percent of the property, located near Anderson’s Corner in Toano, to be used for residential purposes, according to agenda documents.
“I think the change to an economic opportunity designation is positive,” Chairman Kevin Onizuk said. “I don’t see this as a pending threat of additional residential development, as it would have to come back before the Board of Supervisors before anything like that could be approved to be moved forward.”
Although the vote passed, some supervisors did not agree with the change in land use designation.
“I have never really been convinced there is a rationale for the [economic opportunity] zone,” Supervisor John McGlennon said, adding that James City County has three parcels designated “economic opportunity” and none are developed. “I think we have our strongest position in understanding how the land will be used in the future to retain it in its current land designation and wait until there is a more meaningful sense of what it is that would be used for. My immediate expectation would be shopping mall.”
The Board of Supervisors approval comes one month after the Planning Commission voted April 5 to recommend a change in the land use designation.
Family members from multiple generations have written letters, attended and spoken at county board and commission meetings, and worked with planning staff to find a suitable alternative for their property’s future.
The Taylor property, at 8491 Richmond Rd., has been used for agriculture since the family purchased the land in 1951, according to family members’ letters sent to the Planning Department and Planning Commission.
The family filed the land use application in April 2014, seeking alternatives for the future of their land. Farmers who previously worked the fields are either aging or have passed away, family member Randy Taylor said at the April 5 Planning Commission meeting.
Operating a mid-size farm, such as the Taylor’s, is no longer financially sustainable, he added.
“We have no desire to see this property developed, but again one day down the road, whether it’s my generation or my children, farming is not going to be viable and there’s no telling what the future holds,” Taylor said April 5.
The supervisors’ approval will also move the Taylor farm into the Public Service Area, which is designated for residential, commercial and industrial development that has access to public utilities and other public services.
The existing PSA included only about 45.5 acres at the Richmond Road side of the property, but will now include the entire 217-acre parcel.
One public utility provided to the property received extra attention from county staff — water.
County planning staff previously recommended the application be denied because developing the Taylor property could mean increased water usage in the county, according to agenda documents.
Some Planning Commission members, including Chairman Richard Krapf, were hesitant to allow the land into the PSA because it would give development on the Taylor land “first dibs” on any water withdrawal if they chose to develop before existing properties.
McGlennon said he didn’t believe it is the right time to move the boundary of the PSA because of the implications the development could mean for the water draw on the aquifer.
“I see this slightly differently, as more of a correction to bring this property into a more sensible configuration,” Onizuk said. “It puts the property more in line with the [economic opportunity] designation.”
Supervisors Ruth Larson and McGlennon voted against the land use change, while Michael Hipple, Sue Sadler and Onizuk supported the change.
“We’ve got a great opportunity with this piece of property, and it’s how James City County helps the owners to shape this piece of property and make it a workable piece of property that will enhance our community,” Hipple said.
Fearing may be reached at [email protected].
