KING WILLIAM — King William County has scheduled three community meetings to gather public feedback after appointing architects to draw up a vision for a new library and community center.
The meetings were scheduled as the Board of Supervisors appointed Tymoff + Moss to design the building on July 10.
The first meeting is to be held on July 27 at 7 p.m. in the administration building’s board room. The second forum will take place on July 31 at 6 p.m. at Upper King William Library. The final meeting is slated for Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation building in Aylett. Citizens can also take an online survey on King William County’s website.
The meetings are not intended to hear opinions on whether a facility should be built but to “help the architects create a design for future consideration and give us an idea of how much it might cost,” the county states on its website.
The facility would be built on a site in the Central Garage area, the fastest-growing part of the county.
“I don’t have to tell anyone that the growth in Central Garage is aggressive,” County Administrator Percy Ashcraft told the board earlier this month. The 2041 comprehensive plan calls for a community center to serve “many needs in the Central Garage area,” Ashcraft said.
“Expanded library space is the big one,” Ashcraft said. The center would allow more library space than the present leased facility on Sharon Road.
Ashcraft said the center would provide meeting space, senior programming and digital learning opportunities. The county has earmarked a location off Route 30 on land provided by a 55-plus housing subdivision close to the County Rec Park.
Seven architectural firms submitted proposals for the community center. The county selected Tymoff + Moss and the board unanimously agreed on a contract of just over $368,000 with the firm.
Ashcraft said the county would have to borrow money if it proceeds with the community center.
Board chair Bill Hodges asked if the public meetings should be held before the vote on the contract to air “total objections to the whole project.”
“I have seen some opposition … that we need a whole lot more other items than a community center,” Hodges said.
“Unless the board wants that kind of discussion. I don’t think it’s a matter of whether there should be input for or against,” Ashcraft said. He said the meetings should be about the type of facility the public wants to see.
Supervisor Stewart Garber said the community requires a new facility. “It’s a need and it’s going to be a growing need,” he said.
The online survey is available at https://form.jotform.com/231873833132152.
David Macaulay, [email protected]
