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County approves Luxstone parking‑lot expansion after engineer says site will treat 100% of stormwater on‑site
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Summary
The James City County board approved a 0.27‑acre parking‑lot expansion at 7734 Richmond Road for Luxstone (Luck Companies), with staff calling impacts 'major' but recommending approval conditioned on either planting 30 units or payment (staff cited $15,000) to the county mitigation fund; engineer said the design treats 100% of the site's stormwater on‑site.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — The James City County Chesapeake Bay/Wetlands Board on Oct. 9 approved an exception for a 11,968 sq ft (0.27‑acre) expansion of a Luck Companies laydown/distribution yard at 7734 Richmond Road despite staff labeling the proposal’s RPA impacts as major.
Staff recommended mitigation equal to 30 planting units (30 canopy trees, 60 understory trees, 90 shrubs) or payment into the county’s Chesapeake Bay mitigation fund. The staff report stated: “The applicant must pay an amount equal to 15,000 or another amount as determined by staff into the county's Chesapeake Bay mitigation fund as mitigation for the project.” Staff also clarified the recommended approval term was two years, expiring in 2026, rather than the year initially listed in the report.
Applicant representatives highlighted site controls and screening. Jad Malab, Luck Companies’ land‑development manager, described the Toano distribution yard’s regional role and said Luck Companies is a family‑owned business that marked its 100th year recently. Engineer Steve Roe of Resilient Design described the stormwater design and treatment approach, saying the project treats stormwater on‑site: “We’re treating 100% of the stormwater quality on‑site.” Roe explained the design routes impervious runoff to a level‑2 dry swale and then to an existing wet pond that was left intact rather than retrofitted.
Grojean told the board staff had worked with the applicant to minimize impacts and that, because the property is zoned industrial and lacks previously impacted RPA areas to restore, staff proposed mitigation through planting or payment into the county fund. She recommended approval with conditions including mitigation payment or planting, required permits and monitoring.
Board members expressed support after applicant testimony and a short technical exchange about BMP placement and drainage. The board adopted the resolution to grant the exception by voice vote, 4–0.
Next steps: staff and the applicant will finalize mitigation obligations (planting plan or mitigation‑fund payment) and ensure the required surety and permit‑start deadlines are met.
