Blog Williamsburg

Affordable Housing in Williamsburg

The following letter was sent to the Planning Commission. I am posting it here in its entirety. - Joe Hertzler

December 17, 2007
Dear [city of Williamsburg Planning] Commissioners:
The city of Williamsburg is fortunate to be a place where people want to live. Young people move here to go to college; some decide to stay, work and raise families. Others see this as a vibrant and inviting place to retire. Along that continuum, families and individuals have varied needs in the type of housing they choose and the services they require. In meeting those needs, Williamsburg must find a sustainable balance for growth in both housing and business development. 

As data from the housing needs study for Williamsburg and James City County (released December 5) indicate, there is a significant gap between the housing that people working in this community can afford and the housing stock that is currently available. Affordable housing is priced so that people spend no more than one third of their income on rent/utilities or a mortgage. A high quality economic development plan includes housing that is affordable to those at all levels of income in a community. We have seen much construction in the Williamsburg area of luxury homes and have more slated for
production over the next several years with the High Street development. Now, it is time to consider how we can have an impact on the gap between what is available and what is affordable.

At root of all you do in planning for the growth and development of the city of Williamsburg, is an obligation to care for and consider the needs of the community. When people have housing near their jobs that they can afford, the community is a better place: parents are available to contribute time and energy to the schools, shorter commute times reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollutants; people are better able to remain housed through minor economic upsets. You can see from the housing needs study that many who work in this community cannot afford to live here, which contributes to traffic congestion, growing costs of child care, and many other issues.

There is not going to be one overall solution to the problem of affordable housing. Instead, we must look at each proposal that comes before the planning commission and city council to determine what is the benefit that this plan might provide. We must not miss any more opportunities to improve the outlook for the families and individuals who are struggling here in our own community and those who would like to call it home. That will require incremental changes in the way proposals are considered and the way we communicate with developers. When developers bring plans forward for review, we have an opportunity to consider, “Does this meet the needs of our community? How will this proposal provide a solution to the gap between income and affordable housing?”

For instance, considering PCR #07-037, what impact will these condominiums have on the housing needs of the city? Is there a way for the developers to offer some affordability within their proposal to help the city meet its goals of economic viability? If the developer cannot answer those questions or provide any possible improvement in the housing outlook, then maybe that is not the right development for our city.

I look forward to continued discussions within the city and with our partners in the region on how we can work together to find solutions to this crisis of affordability as we grow and thrive.

Sincerely,
Jodi Mincemoyer

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