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Housing strategy moves to forefront after council reviews hotel conversions and ADU research
Summary
Council reviewed hotel‑to‑housing conversion progress (about 400 units proposed; staff says 144 remain), debated ADUs, inclusionary zoning and middle‑housing legal risks, and directed staff to craft a housing strategy built from updated studies and targeted pilot programs.
Williamsburg councilors and staff spent significant time on housing policy at the retreat, reviewing conversion opportunities, regulatory tools and pilot approaches to expand housing choices without eroding neighborhood character.
Staff reported that an earlier hotel‑to‑housing conversion program had proposed roughly 400 units across several facilities; recent updates showed approvals and conversions have reduced the remaining portfolio to about 144 units that could be converted in future actions. "We added with that minimum 250 for a total of 400 unit over 3 different facilities; we now are down to 2 facilities and 144 units remaining," a staff presenter summarized.
The council discussed a slate of tools: accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rule changes, inclusionary zoning requirements, impact or linkage fees to seed an affordable‑housing trust, and targeted workforce units on city‑owned parcels such as Waller Mill. Staff warned that some middle‑housing approaches pursued elsewhere had prompted litigation; an intern’s research noted jurisdictions that eliminated single‑family zoning had drawn lawsuits. Staff recommended a cautious, phased approach.
Public comment also raised process concerns. Resident Robert Wilson urged more transparency about private meetings with large landowners and developers, saying in public comment, “I have been very outspoken about the lack of openness and transparency with respect to the city government.” Council and staff noted that any rezoning or major land‑use change will require public hearings and statutory notice but also agreed to re‑emphasize public engagement in future development reviews.
Council next steps: staff will (a) update prior housing studies (staff suggested commissioning a targeted update to the 2021 housing analyses), (b) draft a consolidated “housing strategy” GIO that packages hotel conversions, workforce housing pilots, ADU policy and fees as a coordinated program, and (c) return with feasibility and financing scenarios (including options for contingent interest or modest linkage fees) before the November work session.
Why it matters: Housing emerged repeatedly in FutureFest engagement and the National Community Survey as the top resident concern; councilors framed the problem as regional (requiring adjacent jurisdictions and university partners) and local (zoning and city‑owned parcels where the city can act).
