Williamsburg Notebook: Planning Commission Talks Capital Improvements

By Amber Lester Kennedy Friday, February 03, 2012

The Williamsburg Planning Commission looked over the proposed Capital Improvements Plan for the next five years at its Wednesday work session. On Saturday, the Neighborhood Council will learn more about the area’s Urgent Care facilities and next Monday, the Northeast Triangle Focus Group will deliver its final report to City Council. Read on for more details.

Planning Commission Reviews Capital Improvement Plan

The Williamsburg Planning Commission met for a work session Wednesday to review the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for fiscal years 2013-17.

The plan outlined proposed projects concerning street construction, corridor enhancement/underground wiring, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, stormwater management, recreation and open space, public safety facilities and equipment, general government facilities and informational technology improvements and improvements to projects shared among the jurisdictions. The five-year CIP is $15.9 million, including debt service.

At the work session, Planning Director Reed Nester noted most of the items on the CIP were included in last year’s adopted plan. One major item – the replacement or reconstruction of the Stryker Building – does not have a solid cost estimate yet, and was listed on the CIP, but with no estimated timeline.

City Manager Jack Tuttle said the proposed Stryker Center would house city meetings currently held in the Stryker Building, but would also expand to contain more community meetings and administrative space for the Williamsburg Regional Library. The proposed 12,000-square-foot center would also include an exhibition, gallery and reception space.

Tuttle said the city has not yet come up with a precise estimate, but he gave a rough estimate of $5 million for the project. He said the money isn’t available for the project right now, but could be financed in a “pay-as-you-go” scenario, which is how the city paid for its revamped Municipal Building. He estimated it could take 24 to 36 months to come up with a design, choose an architect, put the project out to bid for contractors, award a bid and construct the new complex.

Planning Commissioner William Kafes suggested now might be a good time to consider bond financing. “You might try to fast-track this,” he said.

Tuttle responded that the project is the single largest cost in the CIP. He thought it might be possible if the school division doesn’t need to build another middle school. “Council is careful,” he said. “They want to be sure the public’s with them.”

The CIP includes plans to improve Ironbound Road between Richmond Road and the Longhill Connector, widening to three lanes, improving the intersection and adding a left turn lane onto Richmond Road. Due to reductions in state transportation funding, the city doesn’t anticipate starting that project until 2016.

In the nearer future, the city will improve Prince George Street between North Boundary Street and Armistead Street by eliminating parking on the north side, widening to 13 feet and bricking the sidewalk on the north side adjacent to the Imperial Building and on the south side next to the College’s property. That project is budgeted for fiscal year 2013.

The city also continues to implement underground wiring projects, with some financial support from Dominion Power. Over the next five years, the city hopes to move wires underground in five areas: Page Street from Penniman Road to Bypass Road; Quarterpath Road from Redoubt #2 to Route 199; South Henry Street from Newport Avenue to Port Anne; and York Street from Quarterpath to the city limits. Underground wiring will also be included in the Ironbound Road project.

Williamsburg also plans to partner with surrounding localities to improve the entrance corridor on Route 60 from Page Street to Busch Gardens.

Proposed public safety upgrades include improvements to three existing fire station bathroom and shower facilities, the replacement of two Lifepack defibrillator monitors and the installation of laptops into police vehicles to allow mobile field-based reporting by law enforcement.

To see the full proposed CIP, click here.

Neighborhood Council Talks Health Care on Saturday

The Neighborhood Council of Williamsburg will meet from 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Quarterpath Recreation Center.

Representatives from the area’s Urgent Care facilities will discuss their programs and role in the community’s health care system. They will be joined by Captain John Hansen of the Williamsburg Fire Department.

Council meetings are open to the public. For more information, call Jim Joseph at 565-1549. To contact the recreation center, call 259-3760.

Northeast Triangle Group Presents Report Next Week

The Northeast Triangle Focus Group will present its final report to City Council at the Feb. 6 work session.

Co-chairs Sarah Stafford and Mickey Chohany will deliver the group’s vision for the area of the city bounded by Capitol Landing Road, Merrimac Trail and Second Street.

After 12 months of study and discussion, the group agreed accessibility for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists should be improved to ensure the area can attract and retain businesses that meet the needs of residents and visitors. The group would also like to see a more inviting and safe streetscape, and like to see the city preserve and develop the area’s historic past.

See the report here. The work session begins at 4 p.m. Monday in the Stryker Building.

Fire Department Sponsors Boy Scout Program

The Boy Scouts of America Firefighter Explorer Post 1699 is a program sponsored by the Williamsburg Fire Department for youth ages 14-20 (students must have completed eighth grade).

Explorers work side-by-side with Williamsburg Firefighters. They get the chance to respond to real emergencies with fire department personnel, and also assist them by performing routine, supervised tasks. Fire Explorers also assist with community relations, fire prevention, equipment and station maintenance and training.

Anyone interested in participating in this year’s Firefighter Explorers can call 220-6220 or find more information here.