The City of Williamsburg Planning Commission has released renovation plans for proposed William & Mary student dorms at the Days Inn on Richmond Road.
The Feb. 15 Planning Commission meeting agenda packet includes memos dated Jan. 26 with site plans for the hotel-to-dormitory renovation and details about what modifications will be made to the hotel.
At the meeting, the Planning Commission will vote on a rezoning ordinance that would allow student dormitories to be built on the Days Inn property. The property is currently zoned LB-2, a limited business neighborhood.
The $3.05-million sale of the Days Inn property to William & Mary is contingent on the City of Williamsburg rezoning the hotel to allow the real estate foundation to use the space as housing for students.
While the exterior will remain mostly unchanged, the project proposes installing a new metal picket fence with a rolling gate on the Richmond Road side of the property, making a single access point at the current lobby entrance, removing the hotel swimming pool and replacing two outdoor staircases, the project plan says.
The proposed dormitory will house up to 180 students, the plan states.
The documentation provided with the Planning Commission agenda outlines details of the project.
If the project is approved, the Days Inn will be included in the inventory of on-campus housing spaces available through the college’s annual room selection process, the plan says.
Students interested in the room selection process will pay a non-refundable $200 deposit, then be given times to select their rooms, with upperclassmen having the first pick. Rooms at the renovated Days Inn will be available to rising seniors, juniors and sophomores.
“Rising seniors may find the single rooms [at the Days Inn] attractive and select them,” the plan states. “Otherwise, the College expects there will be a mix of rising juniors and sophomores in the double occupancy rooms.”
The Days Inn dorms will also be staffed by five resident assistants (RA’s) and one head resident, who will also be college students. The RA’s and head resident will be onsite and available from 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Per the William & Mary Student Handbook, residents of the dorm will be required to adhere to City noise ordinances and state and federal laws on alcohol and drugs.
“Because of the location of Days Inn they will also be provided information about being a good neighbor,” the plan states, adding that being a good neighbor includes introducing yourself, keeping your outdoor areas clean, assisting those who live nearby, maintaining reasonable noise levels, avoiding large parties, handling issues politely and being friendly.
Although the Days Inn is not on the William & Mary campus, William & Mary Police will have jurisdiction over the property. A WMPD officer will be assigned to the Days Inn dormitory to “keep the students safe, prevent problems, and hold anyone accountable that engages in inappropriate or illegal behavior at the site,” the plan says.
William & Mary will also be responsible for trash and recycling collection, the project plan states.
WYDaily archives were used in this article.
