Supes Set to Discuss New Town Parking Issues

Supes Set to Discuss New Town Parking Issues

Thursday, February 24, 2011

At their meeting Tuesday evening, James City County Supervisors decided to schedule a work session to discuss the parking situation in New Town.

At the end of January, construction began to expand a building for a new gym in New Town, which effectively cut off an entire block of parking spaces around the construction zone and upset a neighboring business owner (read a previous story here). Two supervisors said they’re concerned with the way the situation has unfolded and with the parking situation in general in New Town, and they’ve requested a work session to discuss the issue.

Supervisor Jim Icenhour said Tuesday evening that he shared Supervisor Jim Kennedy’s reservations about the parking situation in the area, and said he was “upset with the decision to allow [parking space changes] to go on.”

New Town has its own design review board that approves plans such as the one for the gym expansion. The plan also went to the county’s Development Review Committee, at which time it was approved. The plan didn’t need supervisors’ review or approval.

Also concerning to Icenhour is that only half the stores on Main Street are occupied and customers already have trouble finding places to park. He's concerned that “they’ll come asking for public money to solve the parking problem.”

Kennedy said he heard the Main Street owner was considering adding metered spaces or other regulated spaces, which would mean the police would be expected to spend time enforcing the changes and this would cost the county money.

Kennedy has previously shared his concern that the county police department spends too much time in New Town and that he would like the area to get their own security force.

It’s likely that the county’s return on its investment in New Town is nowhere near the initial projections, Kennedy said Tuesday evening. He also didn’t like the idea of taking another “passive area” to create new parking spaces, as is the plan for near Opus 9 once the gym expansion is complete.

Staff will schedule a future work session on the topic.

Comments

0 #12 Guest 2011-02-24 23:02

Quoting Taxpayer:

The whole idea is get less cars in the parking lot then you do not have a parking problem. If the Sups would just make stay out of it like they should their would be no problem, once again if you don't like it don't go their. When enough of the business in newtown loose customes maybe the will move to a better location.

Quoting Taxpayer:

Peaceful green fields don't generate tax revenue to pay for all your hippie tree hugging liberal programs.

Quoting Taxpayer:

The Sups made a bad decision to let it be built in the first place. Now they want to stick their nose into a dispute between a renter and an owner. My my I guess they have nothing important to do. They should cut our taxes and they will make more money. The police are paid to spend time in public areas. If they put up parking meters then the county would get some revenue from parking tickets. We really need to elect some SUPs with a brain.

Poor "Taxpayer" I just can't let these brillant comments go unnoticed.
"The whole idea is get less cars in the parking lot then you do not have a parking problem"

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+1 #11 Guest 2011-02-24 20:48

Quoting roger8:

Get their own police force? HA HA HA Newtown can't even afford a pool for its residence.......a police force....wooo I'm laughing.....

residents, excuse the typo

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+4 #10 Guest 2011-02-24 20:28

There are very simple and STUPID structural parking issues with NewTown that the brilliant minds simple BLEW when they designed it and then the local review boards missed and then the county too. There are soooo many, but here is one. OK main street is a joke parking wise, but it should not have been the real 'primary' parking, and probably never was....its the spots behind the buildings....so far so good....BUT OOPS if you park, say behind the Nautical dog, there are no easy or direct ways to get to main street so noone parks there.......you have to walk around the mole hole, (passing at least one dumpster along the way THANKS), or around the corner by Victorias secret.......wh y was there no thought to how COUNTLESS others build strips like this,,,,using a small pedestrian alley to access the ample parking.....

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+1 #9 Guest 2011-02-24 20:25

NewTown could learn alot from folks like Hampton Town Center.....rega rding meters.....in case noone knows, there are meters....and the money goes to charity, a percent or full, not sure. All penalties are administered by a local 'police' force and the modest penalties for over meter time also go to charity. Great idea.

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+2 #8 Guest 2011-02-24 20:22

Get their own police force? HA HA HA Newtown can't even afford a pool for its residence...... .a police force....wooo I'm laughing.....

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-6 #7 Guest 2011-02-24 15:40

Peaceful green fields don't generate tax revenue to pay for all your hippie tree hugging liberal programs.

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-2 #6 Guest 2011-02-24 13:29

A local destruction crew just took down three of Eastern States old buildings. They don't seem to be using their equipment now. Perhaps now is the time to remove the worst mistake Williamsburg ever made called "New Town" and turn it back into a peaceful green field.

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-1 #5 Guest 2011-02-24 13:13

The whole idea is get less cars in the parking lot then you do not have a parking problem. If the Sups would just make stay out of it like they should their would be no problem, once again if you don't like it don't go their. When enough of the business in newtown loose customes maybe the will move to a better location.

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+7 #4 Guest 2011-02-24 12:47

Parking IS NOT the problem in our New Town! As a longtime local, often visiting there to shop, the real, SCARY problem belongs directly with drivers who DO NOT follow simple laws and rules of civility, like ZOOMING across intersections WITHOUT STOPPING at the many STOP SIGNS!! The tight, close street intersections. now, frighten me when approaching!
Alas, it is indicative of our society in general, with individuals no longer considering civility and laws as important....

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+13 #3 Guest 2011-02-24 10:36

"...only half the stores on Main Street are occupied...". That's all they need is metered parking on Main Street. It's not a solution, it's a deterrent.

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