The James City County Board of Supervisors was missing its chairman Tuesday night, so all decisions put to a public hearing were deferred until January, but not before hearing from citizens who turned out to voice their opinions.
Stonehouse Supervisor and Chairman Jim Kennedy was absent from Tuesday’s meeting; he was out of state due to a death in the family. In his absence, the board decided to wait on making decisions until he was present to cast his vote.
The supervisors were slated to take up discussion of switching back to uniform election terms, which would have all four supervisors elected every four years. Currently the board is on staggered terms: the Jamestown and Powhatan supervisors are elected in one year and two years later the Roberts, Berkeley and Stonehouse supervisors are elected.
Under uniform terms, the 2019 election would be the first election all five supervisors were elected at one time.
Two citizens turned out to voice their opinions on uniform terms: Keith White and Carol Anderson.
White started off saying, “I’m not naïve and I know I’m speaking to some deaf ears, because I know the decision has already been made.”
White implied the Republicans would vote in favor with the Democrats voting against uniform terms by saying the board would vote 3-2 on the issue prior to the board make-up changing in January, or would vote 4-1 on the issue after January. When Powhatan Supervisor-elect Kevin Onizuk takes his seat on the board in January he will be the fourth Republican.
“The voters are beginning to feel like we’re pinballs, just bouncing between political philosophies … Let us decide, let we the people decide this issue,” White said. He asked the board to put the item before the county’s citizens to decide as a referendum vote rather than changing the terms every time the board’s political majority changes.
Anderson followed White, agreeing with the idea of putting the decision on uniform terms to the people to decide.
The board was also scheduled to discuss selling land at 225 Meadowcrest Trail to Ryan Homes. If sold, rezoned and granted a special use permit, the land would be developed into housing as part of the Wellington neighborhood.
The board’s deferral Tuesday marks the second deferral for this proposal. Initially, the board deferred the decision in September because Ryan Homes negotiated a $600,000 purchase price for the land; the board wanted a higher amount. Ryan Homes has not gone up on its offer.
Seven citizens turned out to speak about the potential sale, rezoning and permit.
One citizen, Wellington Homeowner’s Association President Heath Richardson, said the HOA supported the deferral because it wanted to meet with Ryan Homes to clarify plans for development. So far, Richardson said, Ryan Homes hasn’t responded.
Tim Cleary didn’t want to see the property developed as housing because it could come at a cost to county taxpayers. Developing houses could cost taxpayers up to $30,000 per year for necessary services; that number could increase depending on the number of school-age children the development brings. Adding children to the Williamsburg-James City County School System could come at a cost as well, he said.
A few citizens, including one Wellington resident, supported the land being used as a park or playground rather than housing. Three Wellington residents did not want to see affordable housing included as part of the development. As planned, the 28-home development would include six “workforce homes” ranging in price from $99,876 to $381,991.
The discussion and potential vote on uniform election terms and selling the land on Meadowcrest Trail were deferred until the board’s Jan. 14 meeting.