Williamsburg officials raise concerns about comprehensive plan consultants

WILLIAMSBURG — Three weeks after holding an open house to gather feedback about creation of the town’s first comprehensive plan, Planning Board members are expressing reservations about the work compiled so far by a Boston consulting company the town hired to advise the process.

At a meeting on Monday, board members raised concerns that consultants from J.M. Goldson may be using a “boilerplate” formula that favors development of housing in communities with which they consult. While some members understand the need for development in town, they want the community to drive those decisions rather than outside consultants.

Members discussed the draft of a letter J.M. Goldson wrote detailing the outcome of the June 26 open house. On that day, 70 residents voiced their opinion about the core themes that will be woven into the comprehensive plan. The themes were drawn from surveys and listening sessions conducted by the town over the past two years, and include a desire for transit options or “community connection,” infrastructure improvements, promoting economic opportunity, planning for a population increase, and adapting to climate change since the town is prone to flooding.

The board was pleased with the turnout at the open house, which they said shows the devotion residents have for plan’s success.

“People came through consistently throughout the time that we were open,” said Podge Thomas of the Planning Board. “I felt like overall people were favorable — people felt good about it.”

On the other hand, members of the Planning Board and the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group were uneasy that the consultants may be pushing their own agenda at the expense of residents wishes. Thomas was the first member to use the word “boilerplate” in reference to J.M. Goldson.

Penny Robbins, a member of the advisory group, said she wasn’t comforted when she overheard a conversation at the open house.

“It was an interesting conversation that I overheard, with I don’t remember which Goldson representative at the open house, but it was about zoning, and how you expand a designation,” she said.

In response, said Robbins, the representative said that “you can always go up.”

According to Robbins, the representative added, “I mean, you could have a four- or five-story small complex at the end of your village mix up against your farmland, or you have to take a look at what the farmland is being used for.”

“This is a really wild, wild conversation coming from a consultant,” said Robbins.

J.M. Goldson officials declined to comment on the discussions that took place at Monday’s meeting.

Also on the six-person advisory group is Julia Peters, who noted a difference of opinion about housing development in town.

Members discussed that the concept of increasing housing in town has a mild generational divide, with those aged 25 to 40 more likely to favor affordable housing options since home ownership is less realistic for younger generations.

However, consensus has shown through town surveys that housing is a low-ranking priority for residents.

Planning Board co-chair Holly Hendricks, who led Monday’s meeting in the absence of chairman Steve Smith, said she felt J.M. Goldson’s summary of the open house lacked mention of agricultural land use. “I didn’t find that was covered,” she said.

J.M. Goldson started working on the comprehensive plan in April under a $148,571 contract. A final report is anticipated to be completed in June of 2026.

“The budget is limited, the time is limited,” said member Tariq Abu-Jaber, who was concerned that the consultants may be wasting valuable time in developing the plan. He said the open house only drew the “usual suspects” who have been involved in surveys in the past.

“I hope they didn’t just burn up our fees,” he said.

Thomas agreed, and is fearful that the consultants are, “blowing though a bunch of money just playing catch up,” since the town has repeatedly already undertaken public input sessions.

The board has decided to wait until Smith, the chair, returns from a vacation on the Colorado Trail to speak with J.M. Goldson about these concerns.

J.M. Goldson is expected to present a report to the Planning Board on July 29 that details existing conditions in the town. Then on Aug. 11, the board will finalize the comprehensive plan’s core themes and goals.

Both events will be in the town offices and held at 7 p.m.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.