York stop order part of broader tension between homeowners and developers

Good morning! York County's emergency stop order on developer illustrates tensions between existing neighborhoods & developers...a look at JCC challengers' campaign for supervisors' seat.

Aug 06, 2025

cut through at Indiana Rd., flooding at home off Alabama Lane — pictures show unauthorized cut through at construction site, flooding in downstream home.

York County ordered the developers of The Fenton Mill subdivision to stop work Tuesday until they remediate construction issues that raised complaints from the neighboring Skimino Hills neighborhood, including backyard flooding during rainstorms.

But county supervisors said the issue is part of the broader tension that arises between established neighborhoods and developers of new homes, given much of York’s remaining land suited for development is next to existing neighborhoods.

“The issue won’t go away,” District 4 Supervisor G. Stephen Roane Jr. said at the county board of supervisors’ meeting Tuesday evening.

During the meeting the supervisor representing Skimino Hills, Vice Chair Douglas R. Holroyd, showed some of the pictures we reposted above illustrating problems at the construction site, which is behind Fire Station 5.

“The number of violations is excessive,” Holroyd said during his slide show.

One picture at Fenton Mill showed silt barriers meant to control soil erosion he said had been removed to allow passage for construction trucks from Indiana Road to the construction site. Holroyd said the road had already developed cracks because it was not designed to handle heavy vehicles.

He also showed a picture of a flooded backyard at a home on Alabama Lane, resulting from rainwater running downhill from soil that had been elevated at the construction site. He said the flooding has occurred four times since December during rainstorms.

Another picture showed dust rising behind a construction truck, leading Holroyd to complain “a lot of young kids in the area…(are) being denied an opportunity to enjoy outdoor life”.

“Development will alter – I don’t care what they say – it’ll alter the landscape and the flow of water,” said District 5 Supervisor Thomas G. Shepperd, Jr.

County Administrator Mark Bellamy told the supervisors he had issued an emergency stop work order to the developer, Virginia Beach-based Forestar Development Group, and will be meeting with the contractors this week to resolve the matter.

Once construction resumes, he said, the county will monitor the work until things return to normal.

Editor’s Note: This is the second part of our story on the race for the Jamestown seat on the James City County board of supervisors. Our story on incumbent Chair Jim Icenhour ran Monday.

Oictures of John Slokovitz with his wfe and kids and knocking on doors — John Slokovitz with wife and children (left), preparing to knock doors. (Williamsburg Watch photos)

Republican newcomer John Slokovitz is making taxes and government spending the focus of his campaign for the Jamestown District seat on the James City County board of supervisors.

Slokovitz, 45, is challenging incumbent Jim Icenhour, who has been in the seat for four nonconsecutive terms.

“I don’t think I’ve had one person that has said…I can’t wait for my taxes to go up” while on the campaign trail, Slokovitz said.

He has been attacking the county’s plans to spend more than $200 million on a new government and library complex, while highlighting the 21% increase in property taxes paid by the average homeowner over the past two years.

He warned the county is basing its borrowing and spending plans on over-optimistic expectations for population growth, as well as a continuing increase in home values. The county’s 2026 budget expects property tax revenue to increase by 7% every other year, when home values are reassessed, and by 3% on the years there is no reassessment.

Rising home values bring real estate taxes along for the ride, unless officials cut the tax rate. James City County provided a one-time tax credit last year, but did not renew it this year.

Slokovitz runs his own business, JCR Plumbing and More, which he started in 2018.

He is making his campaign a family affair, with wife Mary working as his treasurer. Their four children – two girls and two boys -- attend James City County schools and go on campaign visits with their parents.

Slokovitz said he alternates between door-to-door campaigning and attending meet and greets put together by his friends.

“Then you can have a conversation with somebody and they don’t feel like you’re intruding on them,” he said.

Slokovitz said he found some voters don’t fully understand the role of the county supervisor. He said he has been asked about his viewpoint on abortion, and responds that’s not an issue local officials handle.

And while supervisors also don’t run the local school system, he said they need to be more assertive in dealing with the Williamsburg-James City County school board — and the city — to push for improving student outcomes.

Slokovitz said the county should encourage the growth of small, locally owned business. But he is leery of multifamily housing and excessive population growth, saying “people tell me, ‘if this becomes Newport News West, we are going to New Kent county.’ ”