City Planning Comm. OK's High Street Changes

By Amber Lester Thursday, August 19, 2010

High Street is one step closer to an expansion to include two new apartment buildings.

The Williamsburg Planning Commission unanimously approved a site plan to construct the 230-unit Kings Manor Apartments at its Wednesday meeting. The project will include two 60-foot-tall buildings facing Kings Manor Drive; because of a slope in the land, the buildings will have four stories on one side and five stories to the rear.

The proposed apartments, which still need City Council approval, will replace a previously approved plan to construct a 330-unit condominium project in that location. Roseland Property Developer Dan Aston told the commission that condos and townhouses simply won’t sell in the present housing market. Instead, his company has devoted $35 million to the project to construct one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

Aston said the other apartment buildings in High Street – Sterling Manor Apartments – have attracted young professionals he has deemed “renters by choice.” He expects Kings Manor Apartments, which will be similarly priced, will attract the same clientele.

As approved by the commission, the apartments will consist of 132 one-bedroom units and 98 two-bedroom units, bringing the total number of units in High Street to 437. The approved 2005 site plan for High Street allows 574 dwelling units, so the developer still has an opportunity to construct 137 additional units. Planning Director Reed Nester said he expected the 137 units could be devoted to townhouses in the future.

The complex will also feature a 262-space parking lot, replacing a previously discussed underground parking garage, along with a clubhouse and a swimming pool overlooking the existing stormwater retention pond. Extensive landscaping is also planned, including the planting of 77 trees in the parking lot and 26 more along Kings Manor Drive.

Two citizens spoke against the plan, objecting primarily to the size of the buildings. Planning Director Reed Nestor explained the original approved project would have been larger, however, and said the 60-foot-tall buildings are the maximum height allowed by the city.