James City County’s Board of Supervisors struck down a proposal for expanding Ford’s Colony.
The Board voted 4-1 Tuesday to deny the proposed development, known as “The Parke at Ford’s Colony.”
The plan called for construction of 81 homes on a 45-acre parcel at 3400 and 3401 Westport, according to meeting documents. The site is currently undeveloped.
“This is probably one of the more difficult topics we’ve had in a while,” said Stonehouse Supervisor Sue Sadler. “You have pros and you have cons, and they’re kind of equally weighed out.”
The application was submitted by Eagle Construction of Virginia, LLC and the Ford’s Colony Homeowners Association.
To allow more residents to live on the property, the developers asked the board to rezone the land from agricultural to R-4 Residential Planned Community.
The R-4 planning district is designed to permit “large, cluster-type communities” that will preserve natural resources and scenery, and allow for recreational facilities by maintaining open space. R-4 neighborhoods must adhere to an overall master plan.
Sadler and the other supervisors said they were concerned about increased traffic in what is largely a rural portion of James City County. The total number of units in the Ford’s Colony Master Plan would have increased from 3,846 to 3,927, according to a report prepared by planning staff.
The staff report cited the Institute of Transportation Engineers, who projected that the development would have generated approximately 810 more automobile trips every day.
Access to the property would have been through the Westport neighborhood’s main entrance, which connects to Centreville Road, according to the staff report.
Residents of both Ford’s Colony and the adjacent Westport subdivisions expressed opposition to the proposal, which was not lost on the supervisors.
“This rezoning will significantly and negatively impact traffic, quality of life, environmental resources, the relatively rural nature of property in that area, and noise and importantly, property values,” said Cheryl Haywood, a 15-year Ford’s Colony resident whose email to planning staff was included in meeting documents.
Other concerns included a potential increase in school-aged children in the community, which could further strain an overcrowded school system. The staff report indicated the development was projected to increase enrollment in WJCC Schools by 34 students and would not cause any schools to exceed effective capacity.
“I don’t doubt one bit this would be an outstanding project, and a good project for Ford’s Colony and Eagle [Construction] as well,” Powhatan Supervisor Michael Hipple said. “What will it do for the citizens outside the gate that are there every day? That’s what I’m worried about.”
Chairman Kevin Onizuk cast the only vote in favor of the proposal.
The property is located in the county’s Primary Service Area, which marks land where the county encourages development. As a result, Onizuk said it would be “contradictory” to deny the proposed development.
The James City Planning Commission recommended the proposal after a 5-2 vote in November.
