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W.C. O'Donovan

The yearly progress report just issued by James City County presents a six-page scorecard of government accomplishments in the past year. It also takes credit for three initiatives in customer service.

Conspicuously absent is any mention of customer service to business or anyone trying to do business in the county. While nine new enterprises came to the county in the past year, it's pretty much biz as usual when it comes to turning the screws.

That's evident in another new report, which found that the business climate in the county is pretty bleak. Some reasons (wages, labor shortage, traffic, housing) are not the county's fault. Lack of affordable housing is something that officials have seriously addressed over the years, for which they deserve credit.

But some things can certainly be improved upon, beginning with site plan and permit approvals, which take forever and cost a bundle as a result. The victim is no longer limited to the hated developers of residential subdivisions, but includes business entrepreneurs. From the report:

With few exceptions, interview participants described the development review process as "arduous" and "unpredictable." Planning staff were characterized as adversarial and overwhelmed, causing lengthy (and costly) delays in getting projects approved. "We had plans that sat unreviewed for three months because staff was tied up" with other projects, one person commented. Another business owner portrayed planning and permitting officials as "professional but tough," saying that "they need to understand the business perspective and work with people to help them address the requirements." Repeatedly, the consultant team was told theat James City County has earned a reputation as "one of the most difficult places to work with" in the state of Virginia.

Comparable counties offer fast-track permitting that James City has offered less than a dozen times in the past five years. Spotsylvania offers interest-free loans on water/sewer connections, which is relevant since James City just raised the rates.

The county seems to equate developers and business as harmful to our quality of life. Yet these are the factors that deliver our homes and shops that enhance the quality of life. If the county's regulatory efforts are designed to thin the herd of ubiquity to find unique stores, then set that as the policy instead of delaying everything to discourage anyone. If, instead, the problem is many stores, the free market will take care of that.

The report was so critical as to be quietly shelved for four months until the Gazette got wind of it. What does that tell you?*

There's a pattern here. John Deere closed because of internal problems, but was clearly unhappy with county meddling. We lost Lowe's at Warhill over a sign, and then Home Depot over trees. Sentara Williamsburg left because of too much red tape. All three went to York, where they and that county are prospering.

Among those nine operations that have just set up shop, it's questionable if any of them was actively recruited. The county does a poor job of that, squandering lost business tax revenue as a result. That money would come in handy now that the miscalculation on residential growth will create a tax gap approaching $3 million. This comes at a time when the property tax consumes 25% or more of one's monthly mortgage payment, due to inflation from artificial appreciation.

Republicans have already seized on the business climate report as a basis for the fall campaign. Funny they didn't step up before now, but that's the nature of political expediency.

The business climate report offers plenty of examples of progressive communities that have come up with ingenious ways to keep their local economy prosperous and their business base happy. Fully 15 pages are chock-full of ideas and incentives that the Economic Development Authority should seize on.

The report also presents 23 recommendations on growth management, labor, housing, entrepreneurship, and incentives. They should be studied by all seven people running for election this fall for supervisor. More business taxes through tools, machinery, income and property can offset that 25% pop that homeowners have to pay.

Ambitious regions are known for bio-tech, high-tech, med-tech and more. James City has the dubious distinction of being known merely for red tape. What a shame.

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* Paradoxically, a separate report gives James City high marks for business, but that's for external issues as quality of life while still criticizing the business climate.

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