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Residents urge council to revisit 2018 Vibrancy study and oppose zoning changes for Richmond Road conversion
Summary
Speakers in public comment told council the 2018 Vibrancy study should be revisited and that a proposal to increase allowable density for a Wells Fargo building conversion at 1006 Richmond Road conflicts with the comprehensive plan and neighborhood character.
During the Feb. 10 work session public‑comment period, residents urged Williamsburg City Council to reexamine the city’s 2018 Vibrancy study and to oppose zoning changes that would raise multifamily density allowances near downtown, using a proposed conversion of the former Wells Fargo building at 1006 Richmond Road as an example.
Hal Hardaway (resident) said he moved to Williamsburg to avoid aggressive development and asked council not to follow what he described as “the Kool‑Aid of density development.” He said, "Smart development's necessary... but please don't be lemmings. Let your legacy be preserving the jewel that is Williamsburg."
A second resident, identified in the meeting as Ms. Kizer, requested reconsideration of the 2018 Vibrancy study, saying many of its findings pre‑date the COVID‑era context and should be revisited. She cited Chapter 7 of the city comprehensive plan and its emphasis on protecting neighborhoods and ensuring compatibility in design. Kizer said that the medium‑density multifamily category in the comprehensive plan recognizes densities up to eight dwelling units per net acre, and she objected to a developer request she said would raise that to 11 units per net acre (with a possible increase to 14) at the Wells Fargo property. "All these signatures are saying is that we, the undersigned, oppose any zoning changes that would allow for increased density and looser height restrictions," she said, and offered a petition with 42 online signatures gathered door‑to‑door in neighborhood areas.
Kizer emphasized neighborhood impacts she said were not addressed in the conversion proposal — light, noise, trash and traffic — and asked council to ensure that any downtown or midtown zoning changes include design standards to protect adjacent neighborhoods such as Matoka Court. Council accepted the public comments; no formal action was taken on zoning changes at the work session.
Council members did not vote during the work session on the vibrancy study or any specific zoning change. City staff earlier in the meeting had listed several upcoming agenda items, including a public hearing for a right‑of‑way application from Colonial Williamsburg and a special‑use permit application for apartments in the LB‑2 district at 1006 Richmond Road; those items will appear on a future meeting agenda where the public will have additional opportunity for comment and the council may consider formal action.
