Wetlands board approves 110-foot riprap revetment at 2521 Manion Drive

The James City County Wetlands Board on March 12 approved a wetlands permit authorizing a 110‑linear‑foot riprap revetment at 2521 Manion Drive to mitigate shoreline erosion and protect an existing retaining wall.

Watershed planner Emily Grogan told the board that the proposed revetment lies between mean low water and mean high water and therefore required board review. She said staff finds the project meets the three criteria in the state wetland mitigation policy and recommended approval with standard conditions, including compliance with federal, state and local permits and a wetlands permit expiration date of March 12, 2028 unless construction begins or an extension is requested by Jan. 29, 2028.

A representative from Tallwood Waters Edge Construction (speaking as the applicant/contractor) described the site history and erosion. He said the upland retaining wall was built in 2018 as an upland wall about 2 feet tall but that erosion has since increased the effective height to nearly 6 feet, saying “When we built that wall, it was about 2 foot tall. It's been major erosion against it. Now it's almost 6 foot tall.” He told the board the plan is to “do the job from the top of the slope with a long reach” to avoid working in the resource protection area.

Board members asked about adjacent structures and shoreline energy; the contractor noted existing offshore sills installed decades earlier and said storms and northwest winds had driven recent erosion.

After board discussion the chair called for a motion. The board voted to adopt the resolution granting the wetlands permit for WJPA-25-0003 at 2521 Manion Drive; the motion passed 4–0.

Conditions include the staff-recommended permit terms and the March 12, 2028 expiration unless construction begins or an extension is requested.