Williamsburg Notebook: Council Opts for No Trash Bin Changes

By Amber Lester Kennedy Friday, January 13, 2012

City Council decided not to pursue adding any new ordinances concerning trash at its Thursday meeting. Three years after gaining approval from City Council, AT&T has completed work on a new antenna system meant to improve cell service in the Historic Area. Read on for details.

City Council Opts for No New Trash Bin Ordinance, Approves Trailers

City Council members agreed Thursday not to add any ordinances concerning trash bins, opting instead to promote cooperation among neighbors.

In July, City Council discussed possibly regulating when and where trash bins can be seen. Deputy Planning Director Carolyn Murphy presented several possible regulations, ranging from prohibiting trash containers in front or side yards except on pick-up days to requiring fencing to conceal trash bins visible from public streets. At the time, council recommended Murphy present her suggestions to the Neighborhood Council and gather feedback.

On Thursday, Murphy said the Neighborhood Council members agreed containers should not be left in front or side yards, but were concerned about the costs of screening containers. In addition, she said they would like to receive larger recycling bins to prevent overflowing.

The Neighborhood Relations Committee has created a flyer of customs and courtesies to be distributed around the city, encouraging neighbors work together to keep trash bins from becoming unsightly.

Murphy said she personally picks up trash when she walks around town, and before Thanksgiving, made sure to move empty trash bins that had been left by college students who went home on holiday break.

Vice Mayor Paul Freiling said he attended the meeting, as well, and found there was little consensus among the attendants. “Cooperative efforts to move empty containers could go a long way,” he said.

At the same meeting, council approved a request from Williamsburg-James City County Schools to install two classroom trailers at Berkeley Middle School, contingent upon their removal in July 2017.

The members agreed trailers were not ideal, but Freiling said there isn’t money to build another middle school, spot redistricting might be difficult and it wasn’t worth rehashing the debate over the conversion of James Blair Middle School into a central office for WJCC administration.

AT&T Improves Antenna System in Historic Area

AT&T has launched its new outdoor distributed antenna system, or DAS, in downtown Williamsburg. The system was built to enhance cellular phone coverage at Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William & Mary.

AT&T’s DAS systems are typically built indoors, but in this case, are strategically hidden in the Historic Area. Towers were constructed at 305 S. England St. and 300 E. Francis St and at 107 Visitor Center Drive.

The cell towers, resembling flagpoles, were built and will be maintained by Crown Castle International, a company specializing in providing wireless infrastructure. City Council approved the plan in September 2009.

Share Input with EDA

The Williamsburg Economic Development Authority is seeking input before updating the city’s Economic Development Plan.

Citizens are asked to review a list of topic areas and contact the specified EDA member for each topic area here.

Sample topics include downtown vibrancy, redevelopment opportunities, economic diversification strategies and tourism marketing. Share input by Jan. 27 by contacting the designated EDA member for each topic.

Offices Closed Monday

City offices and the Quarterpath Recreation Center will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The holiday does not affect trash and recycling collections that week, and they will occur as usual.