Regional sports complex plan clears major hurdle
York County’s approval sends $80M project forward
YORK — The $80 million Williamsburg Sports and Events Center took a major step closer to becoming a reality last week when the York County Board of Supervisors backed the financial plan for the center.
York County was the third and final authority to approve the project after it was backed in recent weeks by James City County and Williamsburg.
However, the proposal split the York board 3-2. Supervisors Walter Zaremba and Stephen Roane voted no, with Roane concerned the county would be left on the hook for up to $800,000 a year for 30 years.
The approval means a green light for a funding agreement for the Historical Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority and a memorandum of understanding between York and James City counties for the sharing of capital and operating costs of the venue.
Now that all three localities have approved the plans for the project’s design and financing, the HTRFA can move ahead on an agreement with construction firm MEB to design and build the facility on property adjacent to the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. The roughly 200,000-square-foot facility is set to include 12 basketball courts that can be converted to 24 volleyball courts and 36 pickleball courts. The design also includes a climbing wall, a ninja gym and a conversion turf system.
The York board heard that the county should expect to earn about $335,000 a year from sports tourism related to the 20,000-square-foot center, more than James City County and Williamsburg. A consulting firm estimates the center will generate $222,400 a year in tax revenue in Williamsburg and $293,180 in James City County.
The financing plan requires Williamsburg to provide 64% of the capital costs, or roughly $2.5 million annually, with HTRFA covering the remaining 36%, or about $1.5 million annually, according to an HTRFA release.
James City and York face covering an annual operating subsidy of $400,000 in the first year, rising to $800,000 each in years two to five. In years five to 30, the two counties are expected to pay $300,000 to $800,000 apiece for subsidies or operating deficits.
Williamsburg will bear the capital costs of the nearly $80 million facility, which will be bond-funded. As part of the agreement, York County residents will be able to use the James City County Recreation Center at the same rates as James City residents; likewise, Waller Mill Park in
Williamsburg at city resident rates.
The complex would be used for local recreational programs Mondays through Thursdays and open to regional and national tournaments Fridays through Sundays, according to the HTRFA.
The votes in James City County and Williamsburg followed lively public hearings. However, only three members of the public spoke Tuesday at the York supervisors meeting.
York resident Troy Lyons recounted a time when the minor-league baseball team wanted to build a training facility in York County and neighboring counties failed to support the initiative.
“I’m opposed to any funding for this project,” Lyons said. “We lost the opportunity to have something that would drive tourism in York County.”
Roane said he remained concerned about the county’s intention for tourism funds to pay for the center’s running costs. He warned another pandemic could halt tourism revenues and leave taxpayers bailing out the center.
“Where it starts to fall apart for me is the model of providing the funds,” Roane said. “I don’t believe we’ll get enough usage out of this to justify the expenses.”
Zaremba said he was concerned about the adequacy of public input on a major financial project.
“I’m disappointed and saddened that something as expensive as this for the next 30 years does not have a real public hearing,” Zaremba said. “We had three people show up, two opposed and one in support of it. … I think it’s a joke.”
Supervisors Sheila Noll, Chad Green and Thomas Shepperd supported going forward with the agreement.
The plan review process will continue. While Williamsburg’s Architectural Review Board has approved the exterior design, the process will also include site plan reviews by city staff and a planning commission committee, as well as a rezoning request.
The rezoning request will require public hearings before the Williamsburg Planning Commission and City Council.