Farms of New Kent requesting PUD amendments

A request for amendments to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the Farms of New Kent will be making their way down the pipeline.

New Kent leaders received their first look at the changes during the July 26 morning work session. Common Bond Capital Partners LLC Chief Financial Officer David Guy addressed supervisors, saying that the proposed changes for the Farms of New Kent were being presented to supervisors to remain transparent in plans. Guy highlighted accomplishments achieved under the original PUD which included the building of the golf course, installation of wells, and fiber optic being installed in the area. He also touched on the flourishing of the housing market in the area, saying that about 175 lots have been sold on Land Bay IV and Land Bay V since January of this year, areas designated for home construction.

One of the major requests in the new amendment is the withdrawal of Land Bay II from the PUD. According to Guy, the request was made by the developer and would be compensated by having more open space in the other land bays to meet requirements established by law. Other changes requested included the addition of 300 age restricted homes in Land Bay I (with the reduction of 130 original cottages), the expansion of recreation facilities in Land Bay IV, and working towards providing amenities in Land Bay V. Additional changes would see Farms of New Kent replace wells as well as provide funding for the new fire station that is being constructed in the area.

“This is a process that is going to take a while but I wanted the board to be aware of this proposal,” said Guy in the hour-long dialogue. “I have been meeting with residents who lived in all the Land Bays and have been in contact with them.”

Supervisors minimized comments, but expressed concerns about one of the roundabouts in the area as well as a bridge that spans over Interstate 64 in the area and how it would accommodate the possibility of increased traffic. The proposed PUD amendments are currently being reviewed by the county’s planning commission and public hearings are expected to take place this fall.

In other business addressed by the board of supervisors:

–Approved a $19,000 broadband design service agreement with AcelaNet. The approval will allow SCS Broadband to engineer a strategy to bring a county-wide broadband system to residents of New Kent.

–Approved the purchase of five vehicles to add to the fleet for the county’s fire stations in an amount not to exceed $3.2 million. Fire Chief Rick Opett said negotiations with a company resulted in pricing for the vehicles to be constructed and delivered to New Kent. Payment on the vehicles will not commence until they are in the possession of the county. County Administrator Rodney Hathaway advised supervisors that the approval of the vehicles may result in a one-cent increase in the tax rate for the upcoming budget cycle.