Supes Give Green Light to Forest Heights Renewal Project

Thursday, December 16, 2010

James City County Supervisors agreed to move forward on the Forest Heights renewal plan after hearing staff had resolved concerns of one homeowner.

The Forest Heights neighborhood is a mainly low- and moderate-income neighborhood along Forest Heights Road, Neighbors Drive and Richmond Road between Prime Outlets and Wellesley Boulevard. The project will cost about $2.5 million, $1.1 million of which the county will pay for, and will include widening and paving gravel roads, improving drainage problems, fixing or replacing homes and adding a park, a sidewalk and a walking path.

To accomplish the plan, the county will rehabilitate seven homes, relocate two homes and demolish and replace four homes, staff told supervisors Tuesday evening. Of the four homes being demolished, county staff will help the homeowners get replacement homes in the same neighborhood and pay their moving expenses.

The county will need to buy 11 lots in the neighborhood for the project, one purchase of which has already been completed. The county is currently working on agreements for the other lots.

Supervisor Mary Jones said she supported the idea of the project, but had concerns over the price the county paid for the one lot purchased, which was more than the assessed value, she said. She also was concerned about the 10 still in negotiation, and asked staff if they were confident the homeowners wouldn’t change their minds.

Staff said so far all indications from homeowners have been positive and that they were prepared to deal with any issues that are raised. One resident had complained earlier that she did not want her house demolished; staff told supervisors that the plan had been altered for the owner who didn’t want to participate, and she is satisfied with the change.

Jones also wanted to make sure residents knew that “this will take several years, and won’t be a quiet process.”

Staff, as well as supervisor Jim Icenhour, commented that in early December an informational meeting was held for the neighborhood and that residents understood the process and the timeline.

Now that supervisors have approved the funds and other related items, property acquisition can be completed and planning for rezoning and resubdividing can start, as can as design and engineering plans. Icenhour said the county had 3 years to get the project done, but he expects it will be closer to two.