Community members are invited

to attend an open house event on Wednesday, June 29 to view natural and cultural assets and to comment on strategies to restore or protect them. Arrive at the James City County Recreation Center Community Room A anytime from 4 to 7 p.m. and stay as long or as little as you like! There will be a formal presentation from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

Unable to attend the meeting or want to learn more? Maps and an informational presentation are available online ahead of the meeting on the County’s website. An online survey is also available for those unable to attend the open house, available now through July 10 at jhttps://www.jamescitycountyva.gov/3862 or by scanning the QR code. Citizens can also learn more about the project on the latest episode of This Week in James City County at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_5kZLCtWHk.

What are natural and cultural assets?

James City County is a special place, due in large part, to its rich natural and cultural landscape. Natural and cultural assets include trees and forests, waterways, wetlands, agricultural soils, and natural areas such as parks and trails, or areas of cultural significance to residents such as scenic or historic areas. The largest blocks of intact habitats support native species and can be connected by corridors to form a network. The more connected the landscape, the more resilient it is and the more pathways there are for people, pollinators or plants.

The Natural and Cultural Assets Plan

The open house is part of a larger effort to develop a Natural and Cultural Assets Plan. The plan will help identify, evaluate and prioritize the County’s highest value natural resources and cultural assets and identify opportunities to protect and restore them. The project began in August 2021 and is projected to be completed in fall 2022. Prioritizing the protection of natural lands and open spaces was the most highly ranked and supported objective across all three rounds of community engagement during the recent update of the County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Visit jamescitycountyva.gov/3856 to learn more, or contact Community Development at 757-253-6671
or via email at planning@jamescitycountyva.gov.