JCC Notebook: Post-Storm Information

By Desiree Parker Saturday, September 03, 2011

Most of this week’s James City County news has to do with the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Though nearly all residents should have power back by this weekend, there is still the debris cleanup to cope with. News about that is below, as well as a rescheduled Planning Commission Policy Committee discussion and some other storm-related odds and ends.

Jolly Pond Convenience Center will be open all weekend including Labor Day, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is the only Center that takes storm debris in addition to regular trash and recycling materials. No coupons are needed for tree limbs and other vegetative debris until September 16. Proof of James City County residency is required.

Toano Convenience center will reopen Friday and operate on its regular schedule, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (It will be closed on Labor Day). Tewning Road will open Tuesday, September 6, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will follow normal operating hours.

Jolly Pond Road is open to cars and small trucks only. All other vehicles must use Chickahominy Road and Cranston’s Mill Pond Road to access the Convenience Center.

There are two ways to dispose of hurricane construction debris: self haul to Jolly Pond and use coupons or place by curb for pick up after September 6, no coupons required. Keep construction debris separate from vegetative debris.

Trucks will collect vegetative and storm-related construction materials from Hurricane Irene beginning September 6 on all public streets and private streets in gated communities in the County. There will be two collection passes to all affected areas – on September 6 and a second pick up to be announced at a later time.

All storm-related debris should be placed at the edge of property line at the curb or shoulder of the road, within 10 feet of the road. Avoid placing in the roadway. Do not cut logs in very short lengths. Logs up to 10 to 12 feet in length are acceptable.

Make sure to avoid piling debris near hanging wires and anything that could be hit or damaged by the truck during collection, such as mail boxes or utility boxes and meters.

Do not mix vegetative and construction debris or it will not be picked up. No hazardous materials will be accepted. Do not burn debris.

Vegetative debris can also be bagged in clear bags no larger than lawn or leaf-size (40 gallons or less).

Building Permits

County staff will continue issuing expedited building permits for residents and businesses for the repair of structures damaged by the storm at the County Government Center, 101-E Mounts Bay Rd. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All fees will be waived and proof of storm damage is needed. For more information call 253-6620.

Other Post-Storm Information

Those residents needing showers or air conditioning can visit the James City/Williamsburg Community Center at 5301 Longhill Road. As long as people do not have power, the showers will be available at the James City/Williamsburg Community Center, 5301 Longhill Road.

Water is available by connection to a fire hydrant in front of the parking lot at Stonehouse Elementary, 3651 Rochambeau Drive, and Matoaka Elementary, 4001 Brick Bat Road. Residents must bring their own containers.

Dominion plans to have nearly all power restored Saturday. Dominion Power plans to restore the largest concentration of neighborhoods first and then move to more sparsely populated areas. In the meantime, customers can call Dominion Power’s customer service number at 1-888-667-3000 and speak to an agent for more specific information.

The following County parks are now open: Warhill Sports Complex, Mid-County Park, Skate Park, Jamestown Beach, Powhatan Creek, Chickahominy Riverfront Park.

Tree Scams

Don’t forget to stay vigilant and be aware that this is prime time for scammers to be out looking for victims.

A potential tree removal scam has been reported in First Colony, according to the county. Residents should remain vigilant and do research on any company going door-to-door claiming to offer tree clean up services.

In a time of disaster, a fast recovery is desirable, but not taking the time to hire a reputable tree service may create greater problems in the future. Always ask or check for the following: certification, professional affiliation, advertisements, references and estimates.

For more details, click here.

Planning Commission Policy Committee

The Planning Commission Policy Committee has rescheduled the topics originally planned to be discussed at last Thursday’s meeting to a meeting on Tuesday, September 6, at 4:30 p.m.

Specifically, the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance topics that will be addressed include: R-3, Residential Redevelopment District, Nonconformities, and Exterior Signage.

The meeting will be held in Building A of the James City County Government Center on Mounts Bay Road. Members of the public, organizations, businesses and other interested parties are invited to attend and opportunities for comment will be available. If you are unable to attend, comments can be submitted online.

Meeting materials will be available online the week before the scheduled meeting.

For more information, please contact the Planning Division at 757-253-6685 or planning@james-city.va.us.