Development Plans Withdrawn Amid Community and Environmental Concerns in Williamsburg

Cale Development LLC recently decided to withdraw its application to rezone a city-owned parcel on Strawberry Plains Road in Williamsburg. The rezoning would have allowed for the construction of Landmark Village, a high-density townhome development planned to encompass 112 homes on the 13.91-acre site, with 15 designated as affordable housing. Initially, the proposal included 120 homes but was scaled back in response to community feedback.

The project faced significant opposition from the start, with local residents raising concerns about increased traffic impacting Strawberry Plains Road, especially during peak times at the nearby Berkeley Middle School. Environmental concerns were also a major point of contention, as the development would border William & Mary’s College Woods, potentially harming its ecosystems and educational use.

Despite efforts by Cale Development to modify the plans, including reducing the number of homes, enhancing greenspace, and implementing traffic mitigation strategies, the project did not gain the necessary support from city officials. “It has become abundantly clear that City officials will not support this project,” stated Lindsey Carney, attorney for Cale Development, in a communication to the Williamsburg Planning and Codes Compliance Director.