In an effort to find common ground, we spent over a year of meeting with residents and stakeholders to hear and address concerns on Landmark Village. Based on these conversations we were able to improve our site plan by eliminating units, offering more green space, proffering rental caps, and adding (increased) environmental/stormwater protections that would not be required. We appreciated the community feedback and value the process of citizen input into government. However, despite our extensive efforts to address all of the citizen input and responsively enhance the proposed project, it has become apparent to us that there is no middle ground at this time. The City has a very limited amount of developable land and needs 1,247 affordable housing units across all five income levels, with the number of units rising each year. Included in the City’s workforce housing report recommendations is inclusionary zoning (a zoning policy that encourages or requires, through density or height bonuses, the inclusion of affordable housing units in a market rate development). Inclusionary zoning is the most prevalent affordable housing strategy. It is disappointing that despite the reality of the lack of workforce housing in the City and the fact that the intended rezoning designation is consistent with the comprehensive plan, anti-development influences have trumped efforts toward increasing affordable housing in the City. We have decided to table our application to review the most recent comments, site plan, and our Purchase Agreement with the City of Williamsburg and will proceed accordingly.

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John Cale

Cale Development, LLC