Williamsburg Notebook: Northeast Triangle Group Talks Finance Options

By Amber Lester Kennedy Friday, September 30, 2011

The Northeast Triangle Focus Group has begun drafting its final report, which will be used in the city’s Comprehensive Plan in 2012. On Saturday, the Neighborhood Council will meet to hear guest speaker Reed Nester explain the Comprehensive Plan process. On Oct. 8, the city will host Wallerpalooza, a day of fun at Waller Mill. Read on for more details.

Northeast Triangle Focus Group Drafting Final Report

The Northeast Triangle Focus Group has begun to draft its final report, starting with ideas written by member Tory Gussman.

The group is working to come up with a vision for an approximately 565-acre area encompassed by Capitol Landing Road, Merrimac Trail, Second Street and Penniman Road. They are expected to complete a vision statement by December 2011 for use in the city’s Comprehensive Plan in 2012.

At Monday’s meeting, the group suggested that any redevelopment of the area should begin with infrastructure upgrades, such as underground wiring, sidewalk projects, crosswalks, intersection improvements, bike lanes and more.

Williamsburg Economic Development Director Michele DeWitt shared five possible financing tools the city could use to finance the proposed infrastructure projects. The tools are:

• Assessments for Local Improvements: The Code of Virginia allows local governments to tax or assess abutting properties for local improvements, including sidewalk upgrades and improvements to streetlights, alleys, curbs and gutters and more.

• Community Development Authorities (CDA): The city could create a community development authority and issue tax-exempt revenue bonds to develop and manage facilities and services. A separate and additional tax on real estate may be assessed to pay the debt service on the bonds. The same method was used by York County to construct the Marquis Shopping Center.

• Tax Increment Financing (TIF): The city could create TIF districts. TIF district boundaries are set and the current or “base assessed value” of tax revenue is determined. In the ensuing years, the base value continues to go to the locality’s general fund, but any increase in revenue due to redevelopment is placed in a separate TIF fund. The funds are used to pay off debt incurred to provide redevelopment incentives.

• Real Estate Tax Abatement: Local governments can provide partial exemption from taxation of real estate on structures that have been rehabilitated (the structures must be more than 20 years old). Taxes are paid on the pre-rehab value of the building for up to 15 years, and can apply to residential, commercial or industrial properties. The tax abatement of up to 25 years is also allowed for hotel/motel properties at least 35 years old that are rehabilitated for residential use.

The group will host its last public forum at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Community Building in Williamsburg. Find more information about the group and its plan here.

Neighborhood Council Meets Saturday

The Neighborhood Council of Williamsburg (NCW) meets from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Quarterpath Recreation Center. The meetings are open to the public.

Planning Director Reed Nester will speak about the process and general plans for developing the city’s next five-year Comprehensive Plan.

For more information, contact Jim Joseph at 565-1549.

City to Host Wallerpalooza at Waller Mill Park

The city will offer Wallerpalooza “Family Fun in the Park” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 8 at Waller Mill Park.

The event will include games, crafts, live demonstrations and children’s activities. There will also be concessions and live music. A $5 entrance fee will be charged per vehicle.

For more information, call (757) 259-3778.

General Election Information for Residents

A sample ballot is available for the General Election, to be held Nov. 8. Residents can view the ballot here.

Because of the redistricting by the state this year, the city will now be located in the 93rd House of Delegates District and the 1st Senatorial District of Virginia.

The redistricting will also result in a change of polling place location for some residents, who will receive new voter registration cards from the State Board of Elections in October. Find new polling places here.

The last day residents can register to vote or make changes to their registration is Oct. 17, at 4:30 p.m. The final day to apply for an absentee ballot on Nov. 1 and in person at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 5. In-person absentee voting will be available during regular office hours on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.

Please note the Voter Registrar’s Office is now located in the Municipal Building at 401 Lafayette Street.