Farms of New Kent PUD amendment passed by supervisors 4-1

A Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment for the Farms of New Kent that underwent nearly three years of work, negotiations, and meetings received approval from county supervisors after additional conditions and terms were agreed upon.

New Kent leaders voted 4-1 to approve the submitted PUD amendment after deferring the item for 90 days back in Dec. 2017. Only District 5 representative Ray Davis voted against the approval as part of Tuesday’s regularly scheduled board meeting.

At the Dec. 2017 meeting, Director of Community Development Matthew Smolnik presented the proposal that divided 2,230 acres into five land bays. The original PUD amendment proposed that Lady Bay I would include increasing the number of units from 300 to 400, lowering the total square foot size from 2,800 to 2,500, the addition of 230 cottages with 200 of them being age restricted, the removal or conversion of 100 resort cottages, the removal of paths, bike trails, equestrian facilities, and square foot requirement for the golf clubhouse and the additional of a fitness center.

Land Bay II was proposed to be removed from the PUD, while Land Bay III underwent technical changes under the original PUD amendment. Land Bay IV (The Arbors) recommended widening lots, adding recreation amenities, and a clubhouse. Land Bay V (Four Seasons) proposed a reduction of size in 250 lots from 1,200 to 1,180 square feet, the addition of recreation amenities after the 372nd home, and the addition of a community garden.

Despite many residents supporting the PUD amendment, county supervisors deferred the action to review more than 200 pages inside the document.

Fast-forwarding to Tuesday night’s meeting, County Administrator Rodney Hathaway mentioned to county leaders that several changes and terms have been agreed upon in the last 90 days since the deferral.

The first PUD change appeared in Land Bay I. In total, only 455 total homes would be added, with approximately 100 being age-restricted cottages. In Land Bay II, additional requirements were added for removal and must be done within two years. The applicant must also regrade the polo field.
The commercial phasing portion of the PUD named items that would be credited to the applicant. Approximately 23,500 square feet was designated as met commercial requirements (golf club house, Vintager Inn) as part of negotiations. The applicant must document what areas are classified as open space within 120 days, with a minimum of 25 percent of the total grounds meeting that requirement.

A new proffer statement was also agreed as part of the terms. The applicant will provide $850,000 to the county, with $100,000 designated to parks and recreation and the remaining $750,000 to fire and rescue. Hathaway said due to the fire and rescue project being expedited, the applicant agreed to pay $350,000 within the first 30 days of the agreement ($100,000 for parks and recreation and $250,000 for fire and rescue). An annual payment of $250,000 over the next two years will be paid by the applicant, while the county agreed to reduce the surety bond from $1.3 million to $850,000 and will reduce it even further as payments are made. The applicant will finally donate 10 acres of land to the county, located adjacent to New Kent’s Visitor Center.

During discussion, Davis made known that the Farms of New Kent was not living up to its commercial development as they had originally promised.

“This was supposed to be at least half commercial [lots],” the District 5 leader said, referencing the original agreement. “All we are doing is building more and more houses.

“Every time the come back they want smaller and smaller houses and smaller and smaller lots,” Davis continued. “They keep nibbling around the edges but they’re taking a big bite this time.”

Common Bond Capital Partners LLC Chief Financial Officer David Guy assured Davis and other supervisors that plans are for more commercial to begin as well as construction of an assisted living complex.

“Right not the issue is that I can only get 500 permits right now,” Guy commented. “We haven’t got a permanent PUD in place and I am hoping that this will solve the problem.”

The motion passed, with Davis making a prediction about the applicant’s future progress.

“They’ll be back,” he concluded.