Fort Eustis is a hub of military activity wedged between James City County, York County, the James River and Newport News.
Although residents around the fort frequently hear base activities, they are often unaware of what exactly is going on.
Now, a recently-released land use study drafted by a consultant has revealed ways the fort and surrounding communities can better communicate and prosper.
The final draft of the Fort Eustis Joint Land Use Study is available to the public, and will remain open for public review and comment through Monday, Feb. 19.
The land use study aims to ensure developments near the fort will not interfere with its operation and military readiness. It also aims to preserve the safety of area residents, improve communication between the military and the public, and ensure the base can alter or expand its mission in the future.
Among other things, the draft report recommends more formalized communication between military staff and the surrounding jurisdictions about topics such as nearby private development and land use.
The study also suggests raising community awareness about the base and its activities.
The JLUS was drafted from input provided by Fort Eustis military personnel, officials, residents and stakeholders from James City and York counties and Newport News.
“Without implementation, a JLUS is just a document on a shelf,” the report reads. “The implementation is the key to a successful process and the only way to promote compatibility and defend against encroachment.”
The report also makes recommendations to the surrounding jurisdictions in broad terms, leaving the local governments leeway in their implementation.
Recommendations made to James City and York counties include:
-Initiate discussions to determine areas where residents are concerned about light and glare from the base.
-Increase public awareness of the fort’s borders.
-Train local officials to answer residents’ questions about the fort and the sounds stemming from training activities.
-Educate the community on rules pertaining to the use of drones in the fort’s vicinity.
-Release schedules of training and military exercises to the public to prepare residents for noise.
-Address water management and waterway usage conflicts between the military and the localities at the base’s Third Port at the mouth of Skiffes Creek.
-Create a Military Influence Overlay District, which includes land that neighbors the fort and may be impacted by the fort’s activities, and land in which developments may adversely affect the operations of the fort.
-Provide online links to Fort Eustis, and make the contact info for the fort widely available.
-Hold quarterly meetings between the fort’s representatives and the local governments on things such as construction projects, the environment, land use changes, zoning changes.
-Have a Fort Eustis representative sit on the local Planning Commission as a non-voting member, to encourage the exchange of information.
-Outline procedures for future communication between military officials and municipalities.
The full study can be found and comments can be submitted here.
