JAMES CITY-Members of the James City County Planning Commission will receive an update on recommended projects for the county’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP) at its next meeting on Monday, March 20.
The proposed projects are ambitious and extensive, and involve potential upgrades and expansions at nearly all of the county’s parks and facilities as well as renovation projects being requested by WJCC Schools.
A policy committee annually reviews CIP requests and then sets forth recommendations for consideration. At its February 23 meeting, the committee unanimously voted on a new recommended list of projects for fiscal years 2024-2028. Fully 32 projects have been ranked.
The top five staff recommended projects are: stormwater neighborhood drainage improvements; replacement of fire station 3 on John Tyler Highway; matching of funds for various transportation project improvements; the construction of a park with a walking trail, picnic shelter, and pool at the lower end of the county in Grove; the construction of a 10,000 square foot library, also in Grove; and renovations to the Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center and the Human Services Center on Olde Towne Road.
Fully 17 of the 32 projects are requesting funding in the next fiscal year cycle. Among them: the stormwater project; the transportation match project; the lower county park; the human services building upgrades; a matching funds project for space acquisition; the construction of a convenience center in Grove; construction of pre-K classroom spaces on existing elementary school sites, which would accommodate roughly 250 students at each site; and construction of a 227,341 square foot consolidated county complex.
Other projects looking for funding in FY2024 are: construction of a new 469,000 square foot building for the county’s General Services Administration & Operations; additional parking spaces at the James City County Marina; funding for the business ready sites program; funding to complete the expansion of the county’s firing range; replacement of the baby pool at Upper County Park with a splash pad; upgrades to Veterans Park in mid-county for Phase 2, which includes a splash pad, pump room, additional parking, sidewalk connections, and outdoor workout equipment; expansion of the cafeteria at Jamestown High School; an expansion of instructional space at Lafayette High School; and installation of a playground at the James City County Library.
The proposed CIP plan through fiscal year 2028 also includes additional softball fields, baseball fields, and other fields at the Warhill Sports Complex, as well as construction of a new connector road to meet standards by Virginia Department of Transportation; improvements to Brickyard Landing; additional restrooms, parking, a stage, and boat storage at Jamestown Beach Event Park; a multi-use trail and an ADA accessible paddlecraft area at Chickahominy Riverfront Park; a theatre at the James City County library; restrooms at Greensprings Interpretive Trail; amenities at Freedom Park to include basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool and splash pad, and an additional picnic shelter and playground; a new skate park; a centralized storage facility; and funding for the construction of the new regional library, which came in last on the committee’s recommended list.
Total cost for proposed projects in FY2024 is $106,439,027, while the complete cost of projects for the CIP through FY2028 is $361,157,620. The James City County Board of Supervisors will have the final say on exactly what projects will get funded.
A public hearing on the CIP will be held as part of the Planning Commission’s next meeting. The meeting is scheduled for March 20 at 6pm in the County Government Center Board Room, 101-F Mounts Bay Rd.
