May 13, 2026 Planning Commission

[1. Call to Order ]

[00:00:05]

THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE A PLANNING COMMISSION, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO ADVISE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON LAND USE AND PLANNING ISSUES AFFECTING THE COUNTY.

THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS EXERCISED THROUGH RECOMMENDATIONS CONVEYED BY RESOLUTIONS OR OTHER OFFICIAL MEANS, AND ARE ALL MATTERS OF MATTERS OF PUBLIC RECORD.

THE COMMISSION IS COMPRISED OF SEVEN CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS APPOINTED BY THE BOARD WITH ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH VOTING DISTRICT, AND TWO AT LARGE MEMBERS.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

HERE.

MR. TITUS.

HERE.

MR. BROOK.

HERE.

MR. KING? HERE.

MR. KRINER? HERE.

MR. SMITH.

HERE.

MR. ER, MR. CHAIR.

YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALL ALLEGIANCE IS FLAG.

FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

OKAY.

NEXT

[4. Approve Minutes – April 8, 2026 ]

ANY COMMENTS ON THE MINUTES? MR. CHAIRMAN? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

WE, UH, UH, PASS THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.

ALL RIGHTY.

ANY COMMENTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

THE MOTION BY MR. KING STOOD UP THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ON APRIL 8TH, 2026.

MR. TITUS? YES.

MR. BROOKS? YES.

MR. KING? YES.

MR. KRINER? YES.

MR. SMITH? YES.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN? YES.

MOTION PASSES.

ALRIGHT.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS, UH, CITIZEN COMMENTS.

IT'S THE CHANCE FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION FOR ANYTHING THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

AND I HAVE NO CARDS.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL

[Application No. ZT-220-26, York County Board of Supervisors: Consider amendments to the York County Zoning Ordinance, Section 24.1-306. Table of Uses, and to update Section 24.1-431. Standards for all institutional uses to insert a new use and performance standards for Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Centers. Jeanne Carner, Senior Planner]

UH, JEANIE, THAT'S YOU.

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING.

THIS APPLICATION CONTAINS AMENDMENTS TO VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE YORK COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE TO INCORPORATE STANDARDS FOR INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS.

A DEFINITION FOR INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS IS PROPOSED TO BE ADDED TO SECTION 24.1 DASH OH FOUR.

THE USE IS PROPOSED TO BE ADDED TO THE TABLE OF LAND USES IN SECTION 24.1 DASH 3 0 6.

IN ADDITION TO PERFORMANCE STANDARDS IN SECTION 24.1 DASH 4 33, AND PARKING STANDARDS IN SECTION 24.1 DASH 6 0 6, THE, THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION HAS BEEN PROPOSED.

A STATE LICENSED FACILITY PROVIDING 24 HOUR RESIDENTIAL CARE, MEDICAL DETOXIFICATION, COUNSELING, OR CLINICAL TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND DRUGS WITH OVERNIGHT STAYS.

THESE FACILITIES CURRENTLY FALL UNDER MEDICAL CARE FACILITY, INCLUDING GENERAL CARE HOSPITAL TRAUMA CENTER ON THE TABLE OF LAND.

USES MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES ARE ALLOWED BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE LIMITED BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT, AND BY RIGHT IN THE GENERAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

ZONING DISTRICTS.

THE PROPOSED DEFINITION FOR INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS WOULD DIFFERENTIATE THEM FROM OTHER MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES.

INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS ARE PROPOSED TO BE PERMITTED BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE LIMITED BUSINESS, GENERAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

ZONING DISTRICTS, UH, PERMITTING INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UH, RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THESE SAME DISTRICTS WILL GIVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, THE YORK COUNTY AND THE YORK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION THE ABILITY TO DECIDE WHERE THESE FACILITIES ARE APPROPRIATE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, AND PROVIDE ANY NECESSARY CONDITIONS TO SITUATE THE USE AT A PARTICULAR LOCATION.

TWO PERFORMANCE STANDARDS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS, A STANDARD THAT WOULD REQUIRE INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RE UH, RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS TO BE LICENSED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES HAS BEEN PROPOSED.

MANY VIRGINIA STATE AGENCIES REQUIRE PROOF OF ZONING APPROVAL, UH, PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE.

FOR THIS REASON, PROOF OF LICENSURE IS NOT REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

HOWEVER, INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTER PROPRIETORS WILL BE COMPELLED TO PROVE LICENSURE, UH, DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS REQUIRED FOR ALL S UH, 24 HOURS, UH, PER DAY, SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK CARE MUST BE PROVIDED ON SITE.

THIS DIFFERENTIATES INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS FROM SOBER LIVING RESIDENCES OR GROUP HOMES THAT DON'T OFFER 24 7 TREATMENT ON SITE.

THESE

[00:05:01]

UH, THESE EXISTING STANDARDS REQUIRE PARKING AREAS TO BE LOCATED AT LEAST 25 FEET FROM ANY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND SCREEN FROM VIEW OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WITH LANDSCAPING OR FENCING MATERIAL.

THEY ALSO REQUIRE A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS TO BE SUBMITTED UNLESS THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR WAIVES THIS REQUIREMENT.

THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS MUST SHOW THAT THE USE WILL NOT CREATE EXCESSIVE OR ADVERSE IMPACTS ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, NOR DEMONSTRABLE SAFETY HAZARDS.

AT SITE ENTRANCES WHERE SUCH EXCESSIVE OR ADVERSE EFFECTS ARE IDENTIFIED, THE ANALYSIS MUST PROVIDE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THESE ISSUES.

THE EXISTING STANDARDS ALSO ENSURE THAT SITE LIGHTING DOES NOT CAST UNREASONABLE LIGHT ONTO ADJACENT PROPERTIES.

AND NOISE FROM HVAC AND OTHER UTILITIES IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM.

THE USES PROPOSED TO HAVE, UH, ONE PARKING SPACE PER EVERY TWO PATIENT BEDS, PLUS ONE SPACE FOR EVERY 350 SQUARE FEET, FEET OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE SPACE, AS WELL AS ONE LOADING SPACE FOR EVERY LOADING DOCK OR BAY AS THE PROPOSED, UH, PARKING REQUIREMENT.

THIS IS, UH, ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENT FOR HOSPITALS WITH THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING THAT HOSPITALS REQUIRE ONE ADDITIONAL LOADING SPACE.

INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS ARE LIKELY TO HAVE MEDICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE JANITORIAL AND FOOD SERVICE STAFF.

WHILE MANY, WHILE MANY RESIDENTS MAY NOT BRING VEHICLES WITH THEM DURING THEIR STAY, THE PROPOSED PARKING REQUIREMENTS TAKES, UH, STAFF AS WELL AS RESIDENT PARKING INTO ACCOUNT AND ONLY REQUIRE LOADING SPACES IF THE LOADING DOCK OR BAY IS PROPOSED.

A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 24.1 DASH 1 0 4 WOULD ADD A DEFINITION FOR INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS AND DISTINGUISH THEM FROM OTHER MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES.

THE AMENDMENTS, UH, PROPOSED TO MAKE INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS PERMITTED BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE LIMITED BUSINESS, GENERAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ZONING DISTRICTS, ALTHOUGH ONLY TWO PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ARE PROPOSED SPECIFICALLY FOR INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS, THE STANDARDS FOR ALL INSTITUTIONAL USES ADDRESS RELEVANT CONCERNS.

THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER PC 26 DASH OH NINE.

THANK YOU.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NOPE.

I SEE NO QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

AT THIS POINT, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS? I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS.

SEEING NONE.

I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION? I THINK IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

YEAH.

IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD.

IT GIVES US A, A, A LOOK, SEE AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH SPECIAL USE PERMIT, AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT.

MOTION CHAIRMAN, I RECOMMEND TURN MY THING ON.

I START OVER AGAIN.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I RECOMMEND WE SEND PC 26 DASH OH NINE TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL.

ALL RIGHTY.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

THE MOTION BY MR. TITUS IS TO ADOPT PC 26 DASH OH NINE TO AMEND THE SECTION OF THE YORK COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE TO INCORPORATE PROVISIONS CONCERNING INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY TREATMENT CENTERS.

MR. BROOKS? YES.

MR. KING? YES.

MR. KRINER? YES.

MR. SMITH? YES.

MR. TITUS? YES.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN? YES.

MOTION PASSES.

ALL RIGHTY.

ANY OLD BUSINESS? NONE.

NEW BUSINESS? WE HAVE THE, WE GOT ANOTHER, ANOTHER COMPREHENSIVE PARKS THAT'S

[Proposed Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan: Certify the proposed Master Plan for conformance with the Comprehensive Plan in accordance with Section 15.2 2232 of the Code of Virginia]

IT'S UNDER NEW BUSINESS.

I'M JUST GETTING TO THAT.

OKAY.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

YEAH.

ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT.

WAIT A MINUTE.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY.

ALRIGHT.

UM, .

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THIS UP HERE.

DO YOU HAVE THE REPORT LOADED? NO.

HMM.

OH, I SENT Y'ALL EMAILS FROM AFTERNOON IDRIVE.

IT'S ON THE HIGH DRIVE I DRIVE.

OKAY.

B FAR.

WHICH ONE? ON THE TOP ONE.

OH, OKAY.

Y'ALL GET THE ONE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN

[00:10:01]

WELL, GOOD EVENING.

THANK Y'ALL, UH, FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT TONIGHT.

UM, QUITE EXCITED TO BE HERE.

I'M BRIAN FULLER, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH COUNTY.

BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 41 YEARS.

SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS COMPREHENSIVE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN FOR ABOUT 40 OF THOSE YEARS.

SO, FIRST I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN IN THE LAST THREE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS THAT THE COUNTY DO A COMPREHENSIVE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.

SO IF YOU PLEASE TURN TO PAGE ONE, I'LL START READING THOUGH.

, I WOULD NOT DO THAT.

TO, TO YOU.

GIVE UP.

NEVER GIVE UP.

HEY, IT TOOK ME 15 YEARS TO GET IT.

40 YEARS TO GET IT.

I, I FIGURED I'D GET MY TIME.

SO, UM, REALLY JUST WANTED TO THANK Y'ALL.

I I'M GONNA BRIEFLY GO THROUGH SOME OF THE, THE PRESENTATION, UH, BUT REALLY HERE TO JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS, UH, ABOUT THE PLAN, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY.

AND THEN JUST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE WE DO WITH THE CIP KIND OF GET, GET CONCURRENCE FOR THAT.

THIS IS GONNA BE MAP OUT THE FUTURE FOR THE BOARD AND FOR THE COUNTY AND PARKS AND RECREATION.

UH, AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.

WE CONTRACTED WITH A COMPANY CALLED MCGILL, UM, OUT OF, UH, THEY HAVE OFFICES IN VIRGINIA.

THIS IS ONE OF THEIR SPECIALTIES AND REALLY PLEASED WITH THE PRODUCT THAT THEY'VE DONE AND HOW THOROUGH THEY WERE, UH, WITH THE PROCESS.

AND I'LL GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

SO, UH, HERE, IT'S, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS THE SECOND ITEM IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION SECTION.

BUT WE REALLY JUST WANTED TO LOOK AT, UH, ALL PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS, FACILITIES, OPERATIONS, AND, UM, KIND OF MATCH IT TO WHAT WE HAVE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF BENCHMARKING TO OUR, OUR PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES TO NATIONAL STANDARDS, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION.

AS A NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION.

THEY DO A 10, A TENSE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ON ALL PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES AND BASICALLY COME UP WITH A PER CAPITA NUMBER.

HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, PLAYGROUNDS YOU SHOULD HAVE PER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE OR HOW MANY SOFTBALL FIELDS AND BASEBALL FIELDS.

SO THEN THEY JUST KIND OF REALLY RANKED US WHERE WE WERE ABOVE AVERAGES.

UH, AS YOU CAN SEE IN PICKLEBALL, SINCE WE'VE JUST ADDED 12 PICKLEBALL COURTS AND THEN AREAS WHERE WE WERE AVERAGED IN, IN GREEN, AND THEN AREAS WHERE WE WERE DEFICIENT.

SO, GAVE US A REALLY GOOD BENCHMARK FOR WHERE WE STAND TODAY.

SO, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE, BUT, UM, THE BIG THING WE DID WAS COMMUNITY INPUT.

UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH COMMUNITY INPUT.

UH, WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE, THE STATISTICAL VALID SURVEY AND INFORMATION THAT Y'ALL DID AS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

UH, AND WE KIND OF PICKED IT UP A NOTCH.

AND WE DID A, A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY WITH, UH, RESIDENTS TO GET THAT INFORMATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION.

WE ALSO USED, UH, SEVERAL, UM, OPEN, WE HAD AN OPEN SURVEY AS WELL TO MATCH THE SCIENTIFIC SURVEY.

BUT WHAT WE REALLY DID WAS WHAT MCGILL DID WAS GOT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY HAD COMMUNITY PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS.

THEY WENT TO EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AND JUST BASICALLY INTERVIEWED PEOPLE.

UH, AND THEY ALSO INTERVIEWED LOTS OF STAFF.

THEY INTERVIEWED THE PUBLIC WORK STAFF THAT DOES THE MAINTENANCE OF IT.

THEY INTERVIEWED, SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH OUR PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF, AND ALSO WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD TO JUST GATHER ALL THE DATA THAT THEY COULD.

UH, AND WE HAD INFORMATION OUT ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE COULD PUT INPUT.

SO THEY REALLY DID A GREAT JOB.

AND THEN THEY KIND OF PUT ALL OF THAT STUFF TOGETHER.

THEY TALKED ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT WHAT WE NEED, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT THE FACILITIES ARE, THE CURRENT LEVEL OF UNMET NEED.

AND THEY CAME UP WITH A PRIORITY INVESTMENT RATING, UH, WHICH THEY HAVE A COMPANY ETC INSTITUTE THAT SPECIALIZES IN SURVEY DOCUMENTS AND, AND DATA, AND REALLY BENCHMARK US AGAINST OTHER AREAS.

SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE PRIORITY INVESTMENT RANKING.

IT'S A PROPRIETARY TOOL THAT THEY USE WHEN EVALUATING PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS.

BUT THIS IS THE LEVEL OF DETAIL ON EACH OF THE FACILITIES THEY WENT THROUGH AND KIND OF CAME UP WITH A RANKING ON, ON THE NEED AND THE, WHICH ONES WERE THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES BASED ON THE SURVEY DATA.

AND I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL THIS FOR YOU.

UM, LIKE I SAID, IT'S 300 PAGES.

IT'S QUITE IN DEPTH.

UM, SO

[00:15:01]

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY CAME OUT OF THE SURVEY IS, UM, WE HAVE ENOUGH ATHLETIC FIELDS RIGHT NOW.

UM, WE, WE DON'T, THEY DON'T ENVISION US NEEDING ATHLETIC FIELDS RIGHT NOW.

UH, YOUTH SPORTS GOES THROUGH CYCLES.

UH, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT THE USE FOR, OR THE NEED FOR ATHLETIC FIELDS FOR YOUTH SPORTS, UH, IS NOT THAT GREAT RIGHT NOW.

BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK AT PARTS AND RECREATION OVER THE, THE 40 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, THAT'S WHERE OUR MAJOR INVESTMENT'S BEEN.

WE'VE SPENT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON UPGRADING ATHLETIC FIELDS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, UH, WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO THAT.

UH, IN 2009, WE OPENED A MERCK RENTALS ATHLETIC COMPLEX.

WE HAD 13 FIELDS.

UM, BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK AT ALL THOSE STATISTICAL DATA THAT WAS USED TO DESIGN THAT PARK AND JUSTIFY THE PARK, UH, IT SAID WE NEEDED 17 FIELDS BY 2010.

AND WE OPENED THAT IN 2009 WITH 13 FIELDS AND SAID WE WOULD NEED 17 FIELDS BY 2015.

SO, UH, WE, WE LOOKED AT ALL THE DATA, THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, THE CHANGES IN YOUTH SPORTS.

PEOPLE ARE PLAY, KIDS ARE PLAYING SPORTS YEAR ROUND NOW.

SO THAT'S KIND OF PUT A DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT NEED FOR THE FIELDS.

YOU GOT BASEBALL KIDS THAT ARE JUST PLAYING BASEBALL YEAR ROUND, UH, WHERE BEFORE THEY WOULD PLAY BASEBALL IN THE SUMMER OR IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER.

THEY MAY PLAY FOOTBALL IN THE FALL OR SOCCER IN THE FALL.

NOW THEY'RE PLAYING BASEBALL YEAR ROUND.

SO IT'S KIND OF CHANGED THE DESIRE AND THE NEEDS FOR FIELDS.

UM, SO, UM, ACCESS TO SCHOOL FACILITIES HAS CHANGED THOUGH, UH, USED TO BE IN, IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.

WE'VE DONE THE ATHLETIC SCHEDULING AT SCHOOLS SINCE 1989.

UH, WE'VE ALL SCHEDULED ALL THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

THERE'S A DESIRE FOR THEM TO TAKE THAT BACK.

IT'S HARDER AND HARDER WITH SCHOOL SAFETY FOR US TO HAVE, IF YOU WILL, FREE REIGN AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, UH, IN THE SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY IN THE INDOOR FACILITIES.

SO, WHILE WE'VE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY IN THE SCHOOL SITES IN ALL THOSE YEARS, THERE IS GONNA BE A NEED FOR US TO, TO INVEST IN, IN SOME ADDITIONAL FACILITIES AND ALL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO THE SCHOOLS THAT WE DID.

BUT REALLY, ONE THING THAT WE REALLY NEED IS, IS PASSIVE AREAS AND AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET, JUST GET OUT AND ENJOY NATURE.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, UH, BEING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THE COUNTY'S APPROACHING BUILD OUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ABOUT ANOTHER 10,000 MORE TO GO.

WELDON COOPER, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT A COUPLE TIMES NOW.

THEY KEEP SAYING, WE'RE GONNA GET TO 85,000.

WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

Y'ALL DON'T BELIEVE THAT OUR, OUR ZONING DOESN'T SUPPORT THAT.

UH, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY THINK THEY'RE GONNA DO THAT.

SO, UH, I, I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PARKLAND.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR, UH, WHERE WE RANK, UH, AVERAGELY, IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE REALLY, FOR OUR LOCALITY OF OUR SIZE, WE HAVE ENOUGH PARKLAND.

THE PROBLEM IS 76% OF OUR PARKLAND IS AT ONE PARK, AND IT'S IN THE UPPER AREA OF THE COUNTY.

NEW COURT OF PARK.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK, BUT IT'S UNDERUTILIZED BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION.

UM, SO IT REALLY IS A CHALLENGE, AS YOU CAN SEE, NUMBER SIX UP THERE, UH, ACROSS THE WAY FROM CAMP PERRY.

UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE 80% OF OUR POPULATION THAT'S IN THE LOWER COUNTY.

I'VE SAID FOR ALL THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, IF YOU COULD PICK UP NEW QUARTER PARK AND DROP IT IN GRAFTON OR DARE SOMEPLACE, YOU'D HAVE 200, 300, 400,000 PEOPLE A YEAR IN THAT PARK.

UH, JUST BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF IT AND WHAT YOU COULD DO, UH, BEING WITH IT WHERE IT IS AT NEW QUARTER PARK, UH, AND THE WAY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO UNFORTUNATELY MANAGE IT, WHERE WE KEEP IT CLOSED A LOT OF THE WINTER, UH, IT JUST DOESN'T GET THAT MUCH USE.

UM, AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO SEE, YOU KNOW, UM, ONE THING THE COUNTY'S NOT DONE IS PURCHASE LAND.

UM, THE LITTLE GREEN CIRCLE THERE, IT'S, WHILE IT'S A BIG CIRCLE, THAT'S 10 ACRES AT CHARLES BROWN PARK.

UH, WE'VE ALSO BOUGHT FOUR ACRES ADJACENT TO YORK HIGH SCHOOL AND SIX ACRES AT QUEENS LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE 50 SOME YEARS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S 20 ACRES.

UM, YOU GO TO OTHER PARKS, YOU KNOW, JAMES CITY COUNTY'S BOUGHT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF ACRES.

UH, THERE AGAIN, YOU SEE THE PINK AREA THERE.

WE, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF LAND TO BUY.

SO YOU, THE, THE TAB AREA OF MR. UH, SHEPHERD'S DISTRICT, OR IN DISTRICT FIVE IS THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED, UM, AREA IN THE COUNTY, HAS NO PARKS, NO PARKS AT ALL.

SO THOSE ARE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT DI UH, UM, ADDRESSING, UM, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.

SO HERE IT LOOKS

[00:20:01]

UM, AND, AND WE CAN KIND OF COMPARE THAT TO WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AND YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE FAIRLY CONSISTENT IN, IN WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO THE, UH, RESIDENTS.

AND YOU SEE THEIR, YOU KNOW, ATHLETIC FIELDS WERE, WERE DOWN LOW, BUT A LOT OF PASSIVE THINGS, UH, AREAS FOR BIKE PATHS, SIDEWALKS, THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN BOTH THE COUNTY'S, UH, SURVEYS THAT WE'VE DONE RECENTLY, AS WELL AS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

UH, THIS WAS REALLY, UH, UNIQUE TO US THAT ONLY 2% OF THE POPULATION WANTED TO PRODUCE FUNDING IN PARKS AND RECREATION.

UH, SO THAT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A, A VAST MAJORITY, 86%, UH, THINK WE SHOULD INCREASE FUNDING OR AT LEAST MAINTAIN IT.

SO PLAN IS VERY DETAILED.

IT KIND OF BREAKS UP THINGS INTO THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO NOW OR, OR WE CAN DO NOW.

UH, AND THEN THINGS IN DIFFERENT, IN SHORT TERM, MIDTERM AND LONG TERM TYPE GOALS.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A LOT, LOOKED A LOT ABOUT OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, HOW WE NEED TO UPDATE THOSE, UH, WORKING ON OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS.

UM, AND JUST KIND OF ONE THING IT DOES TALK ABOUT IS GETTING ACCREDITED.

THERE'S A NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR, FOR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS.

UH, THAT'S A HUGE LIFT.

THERE'S 150, UM, THINGS THAT THEY EVALUATE YOU ON THAT YOU HAVE TO BE PROFICIENT IN.

UH, WITH A SMALL STAFF LIKE WE HAVE NOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY REASONABLE THAT WE COULD TAKE THAT ON WITH ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS AND THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.

MOST OF THE PLACES EITHER HIRE SOMEBODY OR HAVE MUCH BIGGER STAFFS WHERE THEY'LL, THEY'LL PUT A TEAM OF THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEY'LL WORK ON IT FOR TWO YEARS TO GET THAT ACCREDITATION.

SO SOMETHING WE SHOULD STRIVE TO, BUT, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THERE ONE DAY.

UH, UM, SO REALLY, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT WAY WE CAN IMPROVE OUR EXISTING FACILITIES, UH, AS THE BUDGETS HAVE WANED IN PUBLIC WORKS, THEY ARE, THEY PROVIDE ALL OF OUR MAINTENANCE.

UM, WE HAVE THE MAC, WHICH IS A WORLD CLASS FACILITY.

UM, THE OTHER PARKS HAVE KIND OF SLIPPED, UH, AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE.

SO WE NEED TO, TO REINVEST SOME TIME, ENERGY, AND MONEY INTO THOSE PARKS, UH, TO GET THEM BACK UP TO, TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY, THEY WERE ONCE.

UM, SO THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT SOME SHORT TERM THINGS ABOUT REBRANDING, WORKING ON THE CURB APPEAL, UH, WORKING ON OUR PROGRAMS TO MARKET THEM BETTER.

UH, BACK IN MY EARLY DAYS IN PARKS AND RECREATION, IT WAS, I TELL THE STORY, STAFF DOESN'T LIKE TO HEAR IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS PRETTY EASY RUNNING PROGRAMS BACK THEN.

UM, THERE WAS ONE SOCCER PROGRAM IN TOWN.

IT WAS MINE.

THERE WERE MAYBE SIX TV CHANNELS, ON TV.

NOBODY HAD ENTERTAINMENT IN THEIR HAND.

SO IF YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, YOU CAME, PLAYED IN MY PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS. SO IT WAS REALLY NICE.

NOW WE'RE COMPETING WITH EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMPETING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, THE INTERNET, THERE'S SIX DIFFERENT SOCCER PROGRAMS. SO IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING.

SO WE'VE GOTTA DO A BETTER JOB OF, OF PROMOTING OUR PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UH, AND, AND WE'RE DOING A LOT BETTER ON THAT.

SO, UM, ONE BIG, BIG, UH, VOID IN THE COUNTY, ASIDE FROM PARKLAND IS INDOOR FACILITIES.

WE HAVE NO INDOOR PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES.

UM, WE HAVE CHARLES BROWN PARK, WHICH HAS A CONFERENCE MEETING ROOM.

AND WE HAVE THE SENIOR CENTER, WHICH IS IN LEASED SPACE IN FOUR OFFICES, OR FOUR, UH, STOREFRONTS.

UM, AND THAT'S IT.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY INDOOR FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE.

NOW, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, MONEY, AND ENERGY IN SCHOOL SITES, INCREASING THOSE.

SO WE HAVE SOME LARGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GYMNASIUMS AT DARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS WHERE WE OFFER OUR SKATING PROGRAM ON FRIDAY NIGHTS.

WHEN WE DESIGNED THAT, THE SCHOOLS WE'RE LOOKING TO PUT A PE SPACE IN THE COUNTY INVESTED IN, UH, BASICALLY DOUBLED THE BUDGET FOR THAT SO THAT WE COULD ADD SPACE FOR RECREATION.

AND WE PUT A BIG GYM IN THERE.

WE DO SKATING.

WE HAVE A DJ ROOM AND ALL THAT.

SEAFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO DO THAT, WE DID THE SAME THING.

WE DOUBLED THE BUDGET FROM, FOR THE SCHOOLS WE CREATED, UH, CREATED A, A LARGER GYMNASIUM, AND WE PUT A DANCE ROOM IN THERE WHERE WE CAN OFFER DANCE AND, AND AEROBICS CLASSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT AS I SAID, IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO GET INTO THE SCHOOLS.

UM, AND, AND SO THAT'S MAKING IT MORE CHALLENGING.

THE SCHOOLS PROGRAMS ARE INCREASING AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, NOW YOU HAVE YEAR ROUND SPORTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THE BASEBALL TEAM CAN PLAY YEAR ROUND, WITH EXCEPTION OF ABOUT FOUR, TWO WEEK INTERVALS WHERE THEY CAN'T PLAY.

AND SCHOOLS ARE DOING THAT.

SO, UM, ALSO, IT'S HARDER AND HARDER FOR THE SCHOOLS TO GET COACHES THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO IF THEY CAN'T GET,

[00:25:01]

SO IF THE PERSON DOESN'T GET OFF WORK AT FOUR UNTIL FOUR 30 OR FIVE O'CLOCK, HE CAN'T GET TO THE SCHOOL TILL FIVE 30 OR SIX.

WELL, INSTEAD OF PRACTICING RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL, WHEN SCHOOL GETS OUT AND THEY PRACTICE FROM THREE TO FIVE 30, AND THEN AT FIVE 30 I CAN USE THAT FACILITY, THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT PRACTICING UNTIL FIVE 30 OR SIX.

SO THEN THAT FACILITY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, UH, FOR OUR PROGRAM.

SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE AS WELL, BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR.

SO, UH, SO INDOOR, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER OR SOME RECREATIONAL FACILITY IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, A SCIENCE COMMUNITY OF OURS, UM, SHOULD HAVE INDOOR FACILITY WHERE WE CAN OFFER, I KNOW THE COUNTY DOES HAVE TWO YMCAS, AND THAT TENDS TO BE THE ANSWER OF THEIR, THEIR YMCAS.

UM, THOSE ARE PRIVATE FACILITIES.

UM, THEY HAVE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS.

THEY'RE NOT TRULY A COMMUNITY CENTER.

UM, UH, THEY, THEY SERVE A GREAT NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY.

UH, AND THEY'RE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF UNMET NEED THAT PEOPLE NEED.

UM, RECREATIONAL OUTLETS AND PROGRAMS. SO INDOOR FACILITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSES, UM, PARKS, TRAILS AND GREENWAYS.

YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THAT ACROSS THE COUNTY WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING AT TRAIL SYSTEMS SEVEN, THE TRAIL 7, 5 7, THAT'S GONNA CONNECT ONE DAY.

THE, THE CAP TO CAP TRAIL THAT ENDS IN JAMES CITY COUNTY WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO FORT MONROE.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A HUGE LIFT BY ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES.

UH, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S A BIG MOMENTUM TO GET THAT, UH, IN THE PIPELINE.

AND THEN, THEN IT'S UP TO THE LOCALITIES THEN TO RUN SPURS OFF OF THAT TO GET THERE.

UH, AND THAT WILL REALLY HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION.

UM, SO I WILL GO THROUGH AND THEN FUTURE, YOU KNOW, BEYOND, UM, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS IS A LONG WAY AWAY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU MAY NEED.

UH, BUT AS WE CAN, UH, KNOCK OFF SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME MORE OPEN SPACE, GREEN WHALES AND TRAILS, PLACES TO GO, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE PLAYGROUNDS.

UH, WE'VE DONE A BETTER JOB RECENTLY.

WE HAVE PLAYGROUNDS AT THE MAC AND AT KILN CREEK PARK IN THE LOWER END OF THE COUNTY.

BUT IF YOU'VE GOT A PRESCHOOLER, UM, AND YOU'RE A STAY AT HOME MOM, WHERE DO YOU GO FOR A PLAYGROUND? BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL TO ONE OF THE PARKS IN THE LOWER END OF THE COUNTY OR MAYBE CHARLES BROWN PARK.

UH, BUT WE HAVE TWO PLAYGROUNDS AT EVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

'CAUSE THAT'S HOW WE'VE USED THAT SCHOOL PARK CONCEPT THAT WE STARTED BACK IN THE EIGHTIES.

BUT YOU CAN'T GO THERE DURING THE MIDDLE OF A SCHOOL DAY.

YOU KNOW, THEY WON'T LET YOU ON THE SCHOOL SITE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT A CHILD THERE.

SO THOSE, THOSE FACILITIES AREN'T ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT, AT HOW WE HAVE INCREASED FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND, AND KIND OF LOCATED.

SO, UH, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, YOU KNOW, AN AQUATIC FACILITY IS ALWAYS A, A HIGH ON THE NEEDS LIST OF PEOPLE, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE PRESSING NEEDS THAN THAT.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AND USE THIS PLAN, UH, IN ORDER TO BUILD THE COUNTY CIP.

UM, SO FOR THE LAST 37 YEARS, YOU KNOW, BRIAN'S DEVELOPED UNTIL THE LAST SEVERAL, BUT BRIAN'S DEVELOPED THE CIP WE'VE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET AND WE'VE KIND OF JUST DONE WHAT WE'VE FELT HAS PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN THE BEST.

BUT THIS HAS KIND OF GIVEN US A ROADMAP ON WHAT WE SHOULD PUT IN THE COMP IN OUR CIP OVER THE NEXT 10 AND 15 YEARS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE UP TO THE, TO THE BOARDS TO APPROVE THE MONEY TO DO THOSE THINGS.

WE KNOW WE'LL NEVER GET EVERYTHING WE WANT.

THERE'S LOTS OF COMPETING, UM, NEEDS OUT THERE.

BUT THIS PLAN IS REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, IT IT, IT WENT THROUGH THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD PRODUCT THAT REALLY WILL SET US UP IF WE CAN KIND OF FOLLOW ITS PLAN, UH, AND CHECK OFF THE THINGS AS WE HAVE THE FUNDING FOR, AND THE STAFFING FOR IT'S REALLY GONNA SERVE THE COUNTY WELL IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

SO WE REALLY, UM, WANNA THANK THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO PUT THAT INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BECAUSE THEY FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT.

UH, AND NOW THAT WE'VE GOT IT, WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING FOR THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S BLESSING AS THE PARKS AND RECREATION, UH, BOARD HAS LOOKED AT IT AND APPROVED IT.

UH, AND THEN IT'LL BE OUR KIND OF MARCHING ORDERS FOR THE FUTURE FOR OUR CIP AND HOW WE, UH,

[00:30:01]

YOU, THERE IS CLIFF NOTES IN THE FRONT.

IT'S ONLY ABOUT 30 PAGES.

SO THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY'S ONLY 10%.

UH, AND I WAS, I WAS REALLY, I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THAT AS WELL.

THAT'S A, A REALLY EASY READ COMPARED TO THREE.

AND THE 300 PAGES IS, IT'S A LOT OF THE BACKUP MATERIAL AND THE DATA AND THE STATISTICAL DATA.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET DEEP DIVE INTO THAT STUFF, IT'S THERE FOR YOU.

UH, SO, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

AND WE HAVE SOME STAFF HERE TOO, AS WELL.

ALRIGHT.

QUESTIONS.

WE'LL START THIS WAY.

YEP.

JUST A COUPLE OF COM OF COMMENTS MORE REALLY.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT A FANTASTIC JOB THIS IS.

AS YOU SAID, THIS IS LONG, LONG OVERDUE.

UH, IT WAS BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, DISCUSSIONS AND COULDN'T BE HAPPIER TO SEE THAT.

UH, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO WHERE YORK COUNTY IS, BUT SURROUNDING MUNICIPALITIES WITH, I KNOW JAMES CITY COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE.

THEY'RE AT ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION IN THEIR PARKS AND RECS PROGRAM.

UH, I DON'T THINK WE'RE ANYWHERE NEAR THAT, BUT OUR POPULATION IS HIGHER.

MY DEAR FRIENDS IN JAMES CITY COUNTY.

I LOVE THEM TO DEATH.

AND I'VE ALWAYS, UH, TEASED THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE YOU WHEN WE GROW UP .

UM, THEY'VE GOT AN 80,000 SQUARE FOOT RECREATION CENTER, RIGHT.

WITH POOL.

UM, I, I, THEY HAVE, I I KNOW 15 YEARS AGO, MAYBE IT'S MAY I'M OLD.

SO IT MAY HAVE BEEN LONGER THAN THAT.

WITHIN ABOUT THREE MONTHS, THEY BOUGHT OVER A THOUSAND ACRES OF PARKLAND WITH NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE GONNA DO WITH IT.

NONE.

IT CAME AVAILABLE AND THEY BOUGHT IT.

UH, THEY BOUGHT A CAMPGROUND AT CHINEY ON THE CHI, UH, UP ON THE JAMES RIVER.

YOU KNOW, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ACCREDITED, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT THEY HAVE THE, THEY'VE HAD THE ABILITY, UH, AND, AND THE SUPPORT TO, TO GO OUT AND DO THINGS, UM, THAT, THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO DO.

WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE LAND, YOU KNOW.

RIGHT.

AS, AS Y'ALL, I'M SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN 50% OF YOUR LAND IS NOT AVAILABLE TO DO ANYTHING.

UH, AND THE REST, MOST OF IT, THE REST OF IT'S DEVELOPED THERE.

THERE'S NOT A LOT YOU CAN DO.

UH, BUT WE'LL, WE CAN TAKE THOSE LITTLE INCREMENTS AND, AND DO THINGS.

UM, SO I, I DIDN'T WANNA BORE YOU WITH, BUT THE DATA IS IN HERE.

IT TALKS ABOUT PER CAPITA SPENDING AND HOW LOW WE ARE ON PER CAPITA SPENDING AND PARTIAL RECREATION COMPARED TO OUR, OUR MUNICIPALITIES IN, IN THE AREA.

AND IF YOU DO TAKE OUT THE NEW QUARTER PARK PIECE, WE'RE REALLY DEFICIENT IN PARKLAND AS WELL.

WELL, MAN, AND I'M HOPING THAT HAVING THIS, THIS DOCUMENT GOING FORWARD WILL HELP.

MM-HMM .

PROPEL SOME OF THAT LONG TERM INVESTMENT.

AND I, AND I THINK TO GIVE THE BOARD CREDIT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT STRIDES IN, IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH THE CIP.

UH, AND WE'VE HAD SOME FUNDING IN THE C-I-P-I-I CAN REMEMBER, LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN HERE 40 YEARS.

THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN STRETCHES WHERE WE WOULD GO FIVE AND SIX YEARS AT A TIME WITH ZERO CIP MONEY.

UH, WE OPENED UP THE MAC IN 2009.

SO FROM 2009 TO 2015, THERE WAS NO, NO MONEY.

AND OUR PARKS ARE AGING TOO.

SO, YOU KNOW, NEW QUARTER PARK, UM, I COULD TALK ALL DAY ABOUT THAT ONE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, UM, WE WERE OPENED, IT WAS, IT STARTED AS A RESERVATION ONLY PARK.

I MEAN, IT WAS, IT'S 500 ACRES THAT WERE GIVEN TO THE COUNTY BY THE FEDERAL SURPLUS LAND ACT.

AND IT WAS GONNA BE ONE OF THE MOST PREMIER GOLF COURSES IN THE COUNTRY, OR AT LEAST ON THE EAST COAST.

GEORGE COBB FAMOUS A A GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT TO DESIGN THE GOLF COURSE, HAD AN AMPHITHEATER, TENNIS FACILITIES, EQUESTRIAN CENTER.

UH, AND BACK THEN THE BOARD SAID, NOPE, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.

UH, GIVE THE PROPERTY BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THE, THE DIRECT PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR AT THE TIME SAID, HEY, CAN I DO WHAT I CAN TO KEEP IT? UH, AND THEY SAID, YEAH, BUT YOU HAVE NO MONEY.

AND HE WORKED MIRACLES, UH, BEG, BORROW, AND, AND DID PUT A, GOT A STATE TO PUT A ROAD IN, DID SOME LOGGING, AND WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN THAT PARK, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO OPERATE IT.

SO BASICALLY THE PARK STAYED SHUT AND YOU WOULD COME TO OUR OFFICE, RESERVE IT, AND WE'D GIVE YOU THE KEY FOR YOUR PICNIC.

YOU HAD 500 ACRES TO USE ALL BY YOURSELF.

NOW, THE QUEENS LAKE RESIDENTS THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.

'CAUSE THAT WAS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

NO OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IN THE COUNTRY'S 500 ACRES.

MOST NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE 10 ACRES.

BUT, SO, BUT IT TOOK US A LONG TIME.

WE OPERATED LIKE THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

WE FINALLY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AND WE PUT, WE DIDN'T HAVE STAFF, SO WE PUT A SECURITY GUARD COMPANY THERE AND OPENED

[00:35:01]

AND PEOPLE WOULD, AND WE TOOK TIME, WE TIMED THEM.

THEY CAME IN AND OUT OF THE PARK.

AVERAGE STAY WAS TWO MINUTES.

THAT WAS A MILE LONG ROAD THEY WERE DRIVING IN BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T ANY AMENITIES OR ANYTHING TO KEEP THEM THERE.

YEAH.

FINALLY, THE BOARD GAVE US SOME MONEY.

WE ADDED PLAYGROUNDS AND PICNIC SHELTERS AND BIKE TRAIL.

AND WE GOT, UH, GROUPS TO, UH, BUILD BIKE TRAILS AND DISC GOLF AND WALKING TRAILS.

AND SO NOW PEOPLE WILL COME AND, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK.

UH, IT'S JUST KIND OF STUCK IN THAT AREA WHERE IT'S, WELL AGAIN, ITS LOST MY CONGRATULATIONS TO, TO THE STAFF, UH, AND TO THE, I KNOW THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY, UH, GROUP AND OTHERS, UH, THAT HAD A TREMENDOUS PLAY IN THAT, SO MM-HMM .

YEAH.

I AM VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

MM-HMM .

SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

YEAH.

I, I THINK WE'RE AT A GREAT POINT HERE, BRIAN.

I, I DID NOTICE IN THE, IN THE BREAKOUT LIKE 30 AND 31, YOU HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR A 30 TO $40 MILLION REC FACILITY.

UM, DOES YOUR VISION, WHAT DOES THAT ENCOMPASS? I MEAN, IS PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT GONNA BE OFFICE THERE AND, WELL, THAT WOULD BE A COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU KNOW, FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF INDOOR FACILITY.

UM, WOULD WE MOVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION OFFICE THERE? I WOULD HOPE SO.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN A STRIP MALL, , UH, UH, SO THAT'S NOT CONDUCIVE.

UM, YOU KNOW, UM, BUT THAT, THAT WOULD BE, I, I WOULD THINK TO BE THE PLAN THAT WOULD BE PART TO PUT THEM THERE THAT WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE.

BUT I NOTICED TOO, Y'ALL WAS TALKING ABOUT SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY.

AM I CORRECT? YES.

SOME, SOMEWHERE CENTRALLY LOCATED.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, I TALK ABOUT 80,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITIES.

I THINK VIRGINIA BEACH HAS GOT EIGHT OR NINE OF 10 OF 'EM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, LET'S BE REALISTIC.

WE'RE GONNA GET ONE SHOT, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO ONE.

UM, SO IT'S GONNA NEED TO BE AS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

IT IS A VERY WELL DONE PLAN.

UM, I ACTUALLY DID LOOK OVER IT, THEN I LOOKED OVER IT AGAIN AND I LOOKED OVER IT AGAIN.

'CAUSE IT'S A LOT TO, IT IS, IT IS A LOT TO, UM, TO TAKE IN.

UH, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN KIND OF NOT JUST PUT THIS ON THE SHELF AND CHECK BOX AND SAY WE DID IT AND ACTUALLY USE IT AS THE PLAN THAT IT'S INTENDED TO BE, IT'S, IT'S GONNA SERVE US FOR A LONG TIME.

THANKS.

ALRIGHT.

WE'LL GO DOWN THIS SIDE.

ANY COMMENTS? JOB WELL DONE.

WELL, YOU, YOU, HE WAS PLAYING IN MY SOFTBALL PROGRAM AT TAB MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SO HE, AND AT MOUNT VERNON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, , I WON'T SAY, YOU KNOW, LAST MONTH, BUT IT WASN'T, WASN'T LONG AGO.

ANYBODY ELSE? BRIAN? GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

AND, UH, IT'S A TESTAMENT THAT, UH, STICK TO IN IT AND EVER QUITTING.

EVENTUALLY YOU CAN GET IT DONE.

IT TOOK 41 YEARS, BUT LET'S HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE ANOTHER 41 TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE GREAT IDEAS YOU HAVE IN THERE.

UH, ONE THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION, AS, AS YOU KNOW, AS THE, UM, CHAIRMAN OF CITIZEN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GROUP, WHAT KEPT COMING UP OFTEN DURING THE MEETINGS WE HAD WITH CITIZENS WAS NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

AND PEOPLE WOULD, CITIZENS WOULD SAY, HEY, THE MAC IS GREAT.

WE LOVE IT.

YOU GOTTA DRIVE THERE, YOU GOTTA HAVE A CAR, YOU GOTTA LOAD YOUR KIDS UP, YOU GOTTA DRIVE THERE.

UM, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT I MEAN ALL AS YOU KNOW, ALL THROUGH THE LOWER END OF THE COUNTY.

AND, BUT THERE'S VERY FEW, IF ANY NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, UH, THAT YOU CAN WALK TO THAT'S WITHIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

NOW WE DO HAVE SOME SUBDIVISIONS, AS YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE LIKE A, A TOT LOT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SURE.

THAT SERVES THEM.

BUT REALLY IT'S NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

AND I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, TO DO THE CITIZEN JUSTICE, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS UP.

I NOTICED IN THE RANKING SYSTEM IT WAS LIKE NUMBER SIX OR SOMETHING.

IT WAS PRETTY HIGH THERE, RIGHT? OF THE NEED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.

YES.

SO IF WE CAN JUST KEEP THAT ON THE RADAR SCREEN.

YOU SAID 10 ACRES.

I THINK WE CAN FIND THAT.

UH, THEY GOT ONE, I GOT SOME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN PINEY POINT.

MM-HMM .

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT MORE THAN THAT THAT'S SITTING OUT THERE.

YEAH.

VACANT MM-HMM .

SO, UM, BUT KEEP THAT IN BACK OF YOUR MIND IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CITIZENS.

AND I WANTED TO PROMOTE THAT IDEA.

YEAH, IT, IT'S A GREAT POINT.

YOU KNOW, UM, LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, BUT I, I'M OF THE AGE THAT, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN RECREATION.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT.

I JUMPED ON MY BIKE.

I WAS EIGHT OR NINE AND I RODE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MILES AWAY TO THE LITTLE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WE HAD.

THERE WAS A BACK OF IT, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THAT'S WHERE I HUNG OUT IN THE SUMMERS.

AND YOU KNOW, BUT WE GOT ON OUR BIKES AND WE RODE TO THE PARKS.

UM, BUT WE ALSO PLAYED IN THE STREET AND WE PLAYED IN THE BACKYARD.

AND THE, THE WORLD DOESN'T DO THAT NOW.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT UPBRINGING.

IF BY Y'ALL CAR, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, YOU'RE GONNA STOP.

AND, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE DOING WHEN YOU PLAYED IN THE STREET.

SOMEBODY YELLED CAR,

[00:40:01]

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WOULD LOOK OUT THE CAR AND YOU GOT OUTTA THE WAY YOU DID THAT TODAY.

KIDS WOULDN'T THEY, THEY'D GET HIT 'CAUSE THEY WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

UM, AND, BUT YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING NOW HAS TO BE ORGANIZED AND STRUCTURED AND ALL, AND WE'VE LOST THAT ABILITY TO PLAY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU.

COUPLE THOUGHTS, BRIAN.

ONE, UH, ARE YOU PURSUING PARTNERSHIPS LIKE YOU DID WITH THE, WITH THE YMCA WITH PRIVATE, PUBLIC, PRIVATE, UM, PARTNERSHIPS? WE, YEAH, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR, FOR THOSE TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES.

OKAY.

'CAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE PUSHING, WELL, BETTY AND I, I THINK YOU KNOW BETTY.

BETTY.

OH YES.

YEAH.

WE PUSH THAT AS OFTEN AS WE CAN.

AND I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT NEW QUARTER PARK AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DID THERE, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WERE THERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAD A, IF I, MY MEMORY SERVES ME ABOUT $375,000 AND WE PUT IN SOME PICNIC SHELTERS AND SOME THINGS.

UM, WE GOT SIX AND A HALF MILES OF BIKE, MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL THAT THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB PUT IN AND MAINTAINED, UH, THE DISC GOLF CLUB, PUT IN THE DISC GOLF COURSE.

WE HAD TO BUY THE BASKETS AND STUFF.

BUT THEY DESIGNED AND BUILT THE APPALACHIAN, UH, TRAIL WALKING CLUB, PUT IN THE WALKING TRAILS.

SO WE'VE, WE'VE, I'M PARKS AND RECREATION GUY, WE ALWAYS, WE CAN NEVER DO IT ALONE.

SO WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR PARTNERS WHEREVER WE CAN.

YEAH, I FIGURED YOU'D ADD.

AND, AND, AND THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING REALLY, BUT ANOTHER QUESTION I JUST HAD, 'CAUSE IT'S MY OWN INFORMATION.

WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE FACILITIES, I'M GOING TO JUST DO THE KAYAKS THINGS MM-HMM .

BECAUSE I, I WAS TALKING TO NICK EARLIER ABOUT KAYAKING.

KAYAK'S A GREAT THING.

I HAVE KAYAKS, I LIKE TO DO THAT.

BUT HOW MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE USE YOUR KAYAK FACILITIES? DO YOU KEEP TRACK OF THAT? OR IS IT JUST NUMBER OF USAGE? YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE, WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH ON HOW TO, UM, HOW TO CAPTURE THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STAFF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MANAGED, I'VE GOT A $19 MILLION FACILITY AT THE MAC THAT I BASICALLY MANAGE WITH ONE PERSON THAT'S THERE THAT OVERSEES THAT AND A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF.

PARKS OPEN 364 DAYS A YEAR.

WELL, FIVE, THREE DAYS A YEAR.

IT'S ONLY CLOSED THREE DAYS.

UH, IT'S OPEN FROM EIGHT IN THE MORNING TILL FIVE AT NIGHT IN THE WINTER, BUT EIGHT UNTIL EIGHT OR 10 11 WHEN THE ACTIVITIES OPEN THE, THE MOST OF THE YEAR I'M MANAGING 'EM WITH PART-TIME PEOPLE.

YEAH.

UM, SO THAT PART-TIME CAUGHT ME WITH MY DOG THERE THOUGH.

BUT , YEAH.

SO BACK CREEK PARK, WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE STAFF NEW QUARTER PARK STAFF, WE HAVE STAFF.

SO, BUT IT'S ALWAYS CHALLENGING.

HOW DO YOU GET THAT DATA? UM, WE'RE INVESTING IN SOME PLATFORMS THAT USE AI AND GEOFENCING THAT WE CAN NOW GATHER THAT DATA, UM, THROUGH CELL PHONE DATA AND THROUGH SOME ALGORITHMS AND ALL THAT.

THEY CAN GIVE US, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME REALLY ACCURATE DATA ABOUT, UM, PEOPLE THAT ARE USING OUR PARKS.

YOU KNOW, WE PUT UP THE, THE OLD VEHICLE COUNTERS.

UH, BUT THAT GETS YOU JUST HOW MANY CARS GO THROUGH YEAH.

UNTIL IT COMES ON FLOOD.

SAME PERSON COMES THROUGH 10 TIMES IN 10 DAYS.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, VERSUS BUT 10 DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THAT'S, THAT'S, AND AND PEOPLE USED TO ALWAYS FUSS ABOUT THAT.

WELL THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON ONLY USING YOUR PART, HE'S USING YOUR FACILITY 10 TIMES, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, THAT'S THIS NO DIFFERENT THAN IF 10 PEOPLE USED YOUR BATHROOMS AND YOUR FAC.