Developer proposing apartments adjacent to Holly Hills Carriage homes in Williamsburg VA

This proposal was tabled at the Jan 17th meeting. It will now be on the Feb 2018 agenda. The City of Williamsburg Planning department will hold a public hearing on  January 17, 2018 at the request of the developer of Holly Hills Villas who is proposing to rezone approximately 6.84 acres at 200 Brookwood Drive (southeast corner of Route 199 and Brookwood Drive) from RM-1 Conditional Multifamily Dwelling District to RM-2 Multifamily Dwelling District.

The developer is proposing to build Holly Hills Villas, comprised of fifty-three (53) luxury apartment units in four buildings (two two-story buildings and two three-story buildings). The intended market for the Holly Hills Villas community is “empty-nesters” and persons desiring a second-home in the City of Williamsburg. Holly Hills Villas intends to supply this market niche with a desirable community free of the stress of upkeep and maintenance. Typical units will be comprised of two bedrooms and 2.5 baths with hardwood floors throughout, 9 and 10-foot ceilings, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and similar luxury fixtures and accouterments. The Holly Hills Villas will also include a clubhouse containing a kitchen, gathering area, upscale fitness center and pool.

The Holly Hills Villa Apartment project’s developer is Hatcher Cale,  a Co-Owner/Partner in McCale Development Corporation, which developed over 3,000 lots in many prominent communities throughout Southeastern Virginia including Holly Hills, Landfall at Jamestown. Upon completion, the project will be managed by Cale Management, headquartered in Williamsburg and founded in 2010 by John Cale.

ZONING
This parcel was zoned LBR Limited Business/Residential District when the Zoning Ordinance was revised in 1991. The property was rezoned in 2007 from LBR to RM-1 Conditional. At that time Proffers were offered and accepted limiting the density to no more than 20 total dwelling units that would match the existing Holly Hills Carriage homes/  and requiring a cash contribution in an amount equal to $3,000 per dwelling unit for the construction of a sidewalk from The Carriage Homes at Holly Hills to Jamestown Road which has been completed.

In advance of the meeting on the 17th, a majority of the homeowners in the Carriage Homes at Holly Hills have sent in letters to Carolyn Murphy, the director of Planning for the City of Williamsburg asking for the proposal to be denied. The homeowners cite a variety of concerns including the volume of traffic that will be generated by 53 apartments,  architecture that is not a compatible design to the adjacent carriage homes, negative effect on property values within the neighborhood, One homeowner cited the proposed design as looking like a “federal prison”. Not a single homeowner has come forward in favor of the proposal. Even the surrounding neighborhoods (Yorkshire) have voiced negative opinions toward the project.

Check out what residents have to say!

“As residents of Holly Hills Carriage Homes, my husband and I vehemently oppose the proposed rezoning of 200 Brookwood Drive from RM-1 to RM-2 and the construction of five apartment buildings to house 53 apartments. ”

“Of significant concern is traffic congestion and safety.  The only entrance to our community is very restrictive in space.  Adding 50 plus, and possibly up to 100 more vehicles exiting an entering the area would not only increase the congestion but also create a situation for many more serious traffic accidents. Some residents and guests have already been involved in accidents at our entrance.”

“It is my judgement that Cale’s rezoning request, if approved, will benefit only one person, and that person is Mr. Cale.”

“If approved, the HHCH residents will suffer and have to contend with double the traffic capacity exiting and entering at the “now and already dangerous 199/Brookwood drive intersection!”

Want to go:

Planning Commission

 Date:01/17/2018 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

• Location:Stryker Center
  412 North Boundary
  Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Check out more information about the Holly Hills Carriage Homes community here!

Homes for sale at Holly Hills Carriage Homes!

Pss’t I’m a real estate agent

This website is authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of the Williamsburg/ Richmond/ Hampton Roads area and his expertise helping buyers and sellers in the local real estate market.

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