Grove News
12/06/2024 Joint Meeting WJCC School Board/Williamsburg City Council/Williamburg City Leadership/JCC Supervisers
1) Groundbreaking for the two new Bright Beginnings/Pre-K buildings to serve 500 students to start in Spring 2025, both are not in the Grove.
2) This will hopefully remove the need for tailers, alleviate over crowding county wide, which is the largest problem at Jamestown High. This will kick off redistricting, a process which discussion will start within the next week. (I personnaly think this won't impact Grove but if it did it would probably be for the middle schoolers.)
3) Because of this any talks of expanding Jamestown High and James Blair are both outside the 5 year plan.
4)Jamestown Capacity is 1,208 James Blair is 608 and James River is 457
5) All 16 schools are fully Accredited, and have not only bounced back after COVID but exceeded pre-COVID educational county goals.
12/10/24 Superviser Meeting
Mainly the topics that concerned our community were discussed in the VDOT Residency Administrators presitation which occurs quarterly. The Administrators name is Mr. Rossie Carroll.
1) Traffic study on Skiffes Creek Connector will be starting shortly. This is to find out how many trucks have been diverted because of the added road.
2) The award date for phase 1 of the widening, sidewalks, and beautification for route 60 (Pocahontas Trail) is set for March 29 2028.
3) They decided not to post a no litering sign on John Tyler because VDOT only has to go down that road 5 times a year to do trash removal.
No one was there to speak on behalf of the Grove, if you would like to start a group to make sure that a least one person is present to speak on topics concerning our community please let us know. And we will share your group on our website.
11/25/2024- A statement from our School Board Representative Dr. Cavazos
We’re in the process of arranging for Dr. Cavazos to visit the Grove to meet with parents and residents. This will give him a chance to share his current work and listen to any concerns from the community.
"Personally, I recently visited James River Elementary and had a discussion with Ms. Washington about the launch of the new reading program at the school. Literacy is a critical issue for our minority students in the division as evident by the historical data on their performance on the reading component of the SOL testing. Efforts to improve the passage rate for the students at James River may need further discussion." - Dr Dan Cavazos
11/20/2024 Grove Connections questions to Supervisor John McGlennon
1) "NNWW has replaced any lead line found in the disribution system" Dr Yann A Le Goullec Director NNWW
2) The cutting of trees behind Country Village to Windy Hill, "those properties are being timbered by the current property owner in accordance with a duly filed Department of Foresty-registered logging operation plan." says Paul Holt, JCC Development Management Director. So nothing about the building of 8-12 homes
3) As to the church that as been planned for the field next to Morning Star Church. Mr Holt states, "This is the proposed location for the Peninsula Pentecostal Church. The use is still permitted. The site plan is still under staff review and has not yet received final approval. Construction cannot begin until all required permits have been issued." So nothing about them NOT being able to build as of yet.
4) As to the large Windy Hills Franklin Management sign sitting mangled in their parking lot Christy Parrish, the JCC Zoning Administrator is working on getting information.
If you like these updates please help us out by purchasing a t-shirt for our fundraiser. - Thanks
11/13/2024 JCC BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING NOTES
1) Our community gets its water from Newport News Waterworks (NNW), a rep for JCC Waterworks stated that NNW did find that some residents had higher lead levels. NNW is responsible for notifying those affected, and the Rep stated that "Tens of Thousands of Residents were notified".
You can go to this NNW page to see your status.
JCC (and I'm sure Newport News also) only tests water lines from the meter back and not from the meter into the homes. So even if a home is negative that might not mean the resident is 100% lead free because there might be lead from the meter into the home which is more likley in older homes. You can get a lead test from a local hardware store or by calling NNW at 757-926-1000.
Because of nationwide rule changes, any home built after 1979 more than likley does not have lead. Brass fixtures up till 10 years ago could have approximately 7% lead, it is now .25%.
2) The topic of a Norge/Toano Area event tourist location came up. We need to make sure our Supervisor John McGlennon knows that we also are interested in this.
10/22 JCC BUSINESS MEETING
1) $4.566 million Stormwater Improvements Project: Howard, Jackson, Whitting, McGruder, Railroad has been approved. We will now have to wait 1-2 months till we get a timeline.
2) The Widening of 60 through Grove will not bid till 2028
3) Skiffes Creek Connector: VDOT has not done any traffic data to tell if it has helped releive the 18 wheeler traffic through Grove
Picture 1:
Blue Lines- $4.566 million Stormwater Improvements Project: Howard, Jackson, Whitting, McGruder, Railroad
Area In Light Green- Future Storm Water Project
Area in Yellow and Orage- Land the county is currently attempting to purchase for park and Cost Effective Housing
Picture 2: Concept of Route 60 Widening
Picture 3: Grove Conenience Center to the left (while loooking at it) of the firestation
We do have a picture of the BOAT (Birth of America Trail) Tying in the Capital Trail to one that will go to Fort Monroe, it just does not show up well in this format, If you want it please send us an email.
Meeting Notes Are Below
10/02: John McGlennon Meeting notes.
Summery (Photos and designs to be posted when provided)
1. $4.566 million Stormwater Improvements Project: Howard, Jackson, Whitting, McGruder, Railroad a. Likely JCC Board of Supervisors approval at Oct. 22, 2024 1pm meeting. McGlennon did not anticipate debate on this “non-controversial item”. b. Project begins possibly end of 2024. Under driveway culvert pipes will be replaced. Roadside ditches addressed. Mailboxes may need to be moved. Impacted residents have been informed.c. Construction project is anticipated to take 280 days will include road closers.d. Door hangers, letters, and Groveconnections.com posts will notify community with dates when approved.e. Email the County to be included on weekly updates. f. Bulletin boards placed in construction area with info and who to contact.g. A second phase of stormwater drainage improvements will be in the future and there will be information as it develops, and funding becomes available.
Q. What will be the impact of Skiffes Creek with additional water?
A. The priority of the project is to remove standing/flooding water from pooling on residents’ properties and directing stormwater more efficiently toward Skiffes Creek. All the stormwaters currently make their way to Skiffes at this time, so there will be no “additional” water, though it will be faster. Redirecting the water as it makes its way through the area will alleviate the flooding on streets and residents which is the priority now.
Q. It’s been thirty years that we have been asking for stormwater drainage.
A. We know it will be funded and we have no reason to believe the contract will not be awarded and the project approved on the Oct 22nd agenda.
Q. You said that some personal property will be taken?
A. Drainage easement plans have already been agreed upon with any residents who are directly impacted by the project, we negotiated with residents for the necessary easements. Whatever had been used on the properties, i.e., gravel, asphalt, will be replaced upon completion of the needed piping.
Q. Will there be any handouts for the project with notes or list of properties?
A. The list of properties is available with the county and a map of detailed project area is here to review. (We will post a link)
Q. Do we need water quality improvements during this project?
A. Mr. McGlennon made it clear that we were not talking directly about impact on drinking water, but only stormwater quality, meaning silt and sand that gets redistributed during heavy rains events. Land disturbances during this project will also create additional run-off and the project is designed to address the minimal effects of this for adjacent properties and redirecting additional sediment, etc. as needed.
Q. What happens if it goes past 280 days of construction?
A. The contractor will need to notify the County if the project will extend, and they will pay a penalty as part of the contracted price.
2. Grove Community PARK
Funding is in place and part of the 5-year Capital Improvement Budget. However, the purchase agreement needs to be “tweaked” a bit with Little Zion Baptist Church and Mt Gilead Church who currently co-own the Grove Heights playground and building. The County is also looking at negotiating with a property owner directly on Route 60 that has more public visibility and may be a larger area for what the community wants to have.
Ongoing conversations about the building and play areas as well as a community pool will be had once a property purchase has been made. Once the property is purchased, the County will hold meetings to determine the desired amenities by the community.
Q. The playground noise level is loud. Will there be a buffer zone for residents in the area?
A. The noise will be addressed and the zoning will be discussed when a purchase is finalized during the planning phase of the area.
3. Route 60 Widening - Phase 1
a. VDOT will be widening Route 60/Pocahontas Trail - to a 3 lane plus multi-use trail, with one lane in each direction and a center/turning lane for the entire length of the roadway. b. Includes pull-offs on the shoulders/for buses and the addition of shelters at stops. c. Phase 1 will begin at the fire station where the road is already at the width and continue south through Magruder Avenue. d. Total funding for Phase 2 - from Magruder to James River Elementary School - is not secured.
Q. Truck traffic is dangerous. Can there be restrictions on when trucks are allowed on Rt 60?
A. Truck traffic should have been reduced somewhat from the Skiffes Creek Connector (Green Mount Parkway) to redirect to I-64. There will be some amount of truck traffic to local routes, but not as much.
Residents expressed disagreement on this. The County will investigate the traffic data to see if there has been significant traffic reduction as a result of the Green Mount connector to I-64.
Q. Can we have a speed monitor on Rt 60 to slow everyone down?
A. The police dept has done this at times and the County is more than willing to continue to make sure the police have a presence in the area and can perhaps have a speed radar sign occasionally to remind drivers. Just a reminder that Route 60 is a state-maintained road and it is VDOT.
Q. How much revenue does the Roberts District generate for JCC?
A. A lot. The industrial base in Grove and Kingsmill, etc., generate a lot of revenue for the whole county. There will be continued development by industrial companies such as the one coming in from Norway and there are already several large manufacturing and warehouse companies in the area.
Q. “You can walk from Jamestown to Richmond, but you can’t go from my house to 7-11.” The Walmart got the Green Mount Pkwy in less time than we got a sidewalk.
A. The County recognizes that some projects have seemed delayed especially for Grove. Industry will always drive these projects because of revenue generation, and it is based on funding available. There is a Capital Trail improvement project that the County is looking for funding on for a connector from Jamestown Rt 5 trail all the way through to Newport News. They have funding but we don’t yet. A map is available of potential routes and what has been funded so far through the area.
Q. The weapons manufacturing company from Norway was just announced. Will that be in Grove and will it provide jobs?
A. The County is not able to state where exactly the property is other than it will be in proximity to the Yorktown Naval Station where the manufacturers will be supplying the missiles. We anticipate that there will be an effort to match skills with available jobs and that the job opportunities will be competitive with other area employers such as the Shipyard and others. The County prioritizes economic development through jobs and revenue and encourages area residents to pursue further education to be competitive in the job market through programs like the VA Peninsula Community College and other skilled / trades based programs.
4. Convenience Center (big cheers from the community!)
a. Funding is in place and we are about one year away / with 6 months of construction anticipated. b. The center plan is available for review.c. It will hold recycling, household trash, electronics, and other - comparable to Tewning Road Convenience Center.d. It will be next to the Fire Station where it was previously. e. There are fees to use the center.
Related, there is a plan in the works to provide waste management services through the County instead of having multiple private companies servicing the area. However, private companies must be notified five years in advance of such a decision.
The County is looking into a plan of reducing costs and fees for the residents and being competitive with private companies on both trash and recycling. It is planning these services with these priorities in mind:
a. Regulate outdoor burning / minimizing noxious fumesb. Bulk pickup availability at no extra chargec. Combine recycling and trash into one feed. Keeping costs and fees lower The County plans to break out select areas and slowly bid out in order to expand over the next 5 years. It will start out on a voluntary basis as residents can choose to participate in the service initially, but possibly looking to make it mandatory but that’s still on the table. It would reduce the number of trucks and service visits throughout the week to all the residences over time.
It does seem that the Grove area would be the ideal location to start this program. More information will be made available in the future.
Q. Can we address the truck waste dumping all over Route 60?
A. Yes. We are working with waste management services to alert them to waste and they often will send a crew to remove. However, it can be difficult to know which companies and this further highlights the need to consolidate into one waste company for the area. B. Cameras installed around certain areas of the neighborhood - ie Grove Heights playground area - will help if residents are dumping onto those properties. The county wishes to stop /prevent waste from happening and be less about catching and penalizing. The County looks to everyone to help with this.
1. $4.566 million Stormwater Improvements Project: Howard, Jackson, Whitting, McGruder, Railroad a. Likely JCC Board of Supervisors approval at Oct. 22, 2024 1pm meeting. McGlennon did not anticipate debate on this “non-controversial item”. b. Project begins possibly end of 2024. Under driveway culvert pipes will be replaced. Roadside ditches addressed. Mailboxes may need to be moved. Impacted residents have been informed.c. Construction project is anticipated to take 280 days will include road closers.d. Door hangers, letters, and Groveconnections.com posts will notify community with dates when approved.e. Email the County to be included on weekly updates. f. Bulletin boards placed in construction area with info and who to contact.g. A second phase of stormwater drainage improvements will be in the future and there will be information as it develops, and funding becomes available.
Q. What will be the impact of Skiffes Creek with additional water?
A. The priority of the project is to remove standing/flooding water from pooling on residents’ properties and directing stormwater more efficiently toward Skiffes Creek. All the stormwaters currently make their way to Skiffes at this time, so there will be no “additional” water, though it will be faster. Redirecting the water as it makes its way through the area will alleviate the flooding on streets and residents which is the priority now.
Q. It’s been thirty years that we have been asking for stormwater drainage.
A. We know it will be funded and we have no reason to believe the contract will not be awarded and the project approved on the Oct 22nd agenda.
Q. You said that some personal property will be taken?
A. Drainage easement plans have already been agreed upon with any residents who are directly impacted by the project, we negotiated with residents for the necessary easements. Whatever had been used on the properties, i.e., gravel, asphalt, will be replaced upon completion of the needed piping.
Q. Will there be any handouts for the project with notes or list of properties?
A. The list of properties is available with the county and a map of detailed project area is here to review. (We will post a link)
Q. Do we need water quality improvements during this project?
A. Mr. McGlennon made it clear that we were not talking directly about impact on drinking water, but only stormwater quality, meaning silt and sand that gets redistributed during heavy rains events. Land disturbances during this project will also create additional run-off and the project is designed to address the minimal effects of this for adjacent properties and redirecting additional sediment, etc. as needed.
Q. What happens if it goes past 280 days of construction?
A. The contractor will need to notify the County if the project will extend, and they will pay a penalty as part of the contracted price.
2. Grove Community PARK
Funding is in place and part of the 5-year Capital Improvement Budget. However, the purchase agreement needs to be “tweaked” a bit with Little Zion Baptist Church and Mt Gilead Church who currently co-own the Grove Heights playground and building. The County is also looking at negotiating with a property owner directly on Route 60 that has more public visibility and may be a larger area for what the community wants to have.
Ongoing conversations about the building and play areas as well as a community pool will be had once a property purchase has been made. Once the property is purchased, the County will hold meetings to determine the desired amenities by the community.
Q. The playground noise level is loud. Will there be a buffer zone for residents in the area?
A. The noise will be addressed and the zoning will be discussed when a purchase is finalized during the planning phase of the area.
3. Route 60 Widening - Phase 1
a. VDOT will be widening Route 60/Pocahontas Trail - to a 3 lane plus multi-use trail, with one lane in each direction and a center/turning lane for the entire length of the roadway. b. Includes pull-offs on the shoulders/for buses and the addition of shelters at stops. c. Phase 1 will begin at the fire station where the road is already at the width and continue south through Magruder Avenue. d. Total funding for Phase 2 - from Magruder to James River Elementary School - is not secured.
Q. Truck traffic is dangerous. Can there be restrictions on when trucks are allowed on Rt 60?
A. Truck traffic should have been reduced somewhat from the Skiffes Creek Connector (Green Mount Parkway) to redirect to I-64. There will be some amount of truck traffic to local routes, but not as much.
Residents expressed disagreement on this. The County will investigate the traffic data to see if there has been significant traffic reduction as a result of the Green Mount connector to I-64.
Q. Can we have a speed monitor on Rt 60 to slow everyone down?
A. The police dept has done this at times and the County is more than willing to continue to make sure the police have a presence in the area and can perhaps have a speed radar sign occasionally to remind drivers. Just a reminder that Route 60 is a state-maintained road and it is VDOT.
Q. How much revenue does the Roberts District generate for JCC?
A. A lot. The industrial base in Grove and Kingsmill, etc., generate a lot of revenue for the whole county. There will be continued development by industrial companies such as the one coming in from Norway and there are already several large manufacturing and warehouse companies in the area.
Q. “You can walk from Jamestown to Richmond, but you can’t go from my house to 7-11.” The Walmart got the Green Mount Pkwy in less time than we got a sidewalk.
A. The County recognizes that some projects have seemed delayed especially for Grove. Industry will always drive these projects because of revenue generation, and it is based on funding available. There is a Capital Trail improvement project that the County is looking for funding on for a connector from Jamestown Rt 5 trail all the way through to Newport News. They have funding but we don’t yet. A map is available of potential routes and what has been funded so far through the area.
Q. The weapons manufacturing company from Norway was just announced. Will that be in Grove and will it provide jobs?
A. The County is not able to state where exactly the property is other than it will be in proximity to the Yorktown Naval Station where the manufacturers will be supplying the missiles. We anticipate that there will be an effort to match skills with available jobs and that the job opportunities will be competitive with other area employers such as the Shipyard and others. The County prioritizes economic development through jobs and revenue and encourages area residents to pursue further education to be competitive in the job market through programs like the VA Peninsula Community College and other skilled / trades based programs.
4. Convenience Center (big cheers from the community!)
a. Funding is in place and we are about one year away / with 6 months of construction anticipated. b. The center plan is available for review.c. It will hold recycling, household trash, electronics, and other - comparable to Tewning Road Convenience Center.d. It will be next to the Fire Station where it was previously. e. There are fees to use the center.
Related, there is a plan in the works to provide waste management services through the County instead of having multiple private companies servicing the area. However, private companies must be notified five years in advance of such a decision.
The County is looking into a plan of reducing costs and fees for the residents and being competitive with private companies on both trash and recycling. It is planning these services with these priorities in mind:
a. Regulate outdoor burning / minimizing noxious fumesb. Bulk pickup availability at no extra chargec. Combine recycling and trash into one feed. Keeping costs and fees lower The County plans to break out select areas and slowly bid out in order to expand over the next 5 years. It will start out on a voluntary basis as residents can choose to participate in the service initially, but possibly looking to make it mandatory but that’s still on the table. It would reduce the number of trucks and service visits throughout the week to all the residences over time.
It does seem that the Grove area would be the ideal location to start this program. More information will be made available in the future.
Q. Can we address the truck waste dumping all over Route 60?
A. Yes. We are working with waste management services to alert them to waste and they often will send a crew to remove. However, it can be difficult to know which companies and this further highlights the need to consolidate into one waste company for the area. B. Cameras installed around certain areas of the neighborhood - ie Grove Heights playground area - will help if residents are dumping onto those properties. The county wishes to stop /prevent waste from happening and be less about catching and penalizing. The County looks to everyone to help with this.