ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. (WAVY) — County leaders have put up signs to let people know where future development efforts will be focused as more and more people move to the largely rural county of Isle of Wight.
The Board of Supervisors directed that the signs be installed several years ago as it became clear the county was set for unprecedented growth.
Between 2020 and 2023, the county saw a 5.4% increase in population, surpassing 40,000 residents for the first time, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This comes on the heels of a 9% increase between 2010 and 2020 and an 18.6% increase between 2000 and 2010.
Donald Robertson, deputy administrator for Isle of Wight County, said many people are attracted to the county to get away from the “hustle and bustle” of more urbanized areas of Hampton Roads while also being close enough to modern amenities.
“It’s been something that we knew was going to happen,” Robertson said. “Quite frankly, in some respects, we planned the development of the county with that in mind.”
However that influx can also come with growing pains.
Isle of Wight County is far from the only municipality seeing growth. Both James City County and the city of Suffolk have seen double digit percentage growth in the last decade.
In Suffolk, much of the population settled in North Suffolk.
When there is a crash that closes travel on either the James River Bridge or the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, traffic can become extra heavy on U.S. Route 17 through Carrollton, according to Robertson.
He said that is where many people voice their displeasure.
“Obviously, with growth comes the growing pains of a small community having to invest in infrastructure, water and sewer, you know, road projects, those kinds of things,” Robertson said. “We’re doing that now. And, you know, some of that is to keep up with the growth. Some of it is to, you know, really anticipate other areas where growth is going to occur.”
To help let people know where growth is going to occur, the county has development service districts in their comprehensive plan.
Currently, three are in the county — Camptown, Newport and Widnsor.
“So if you’re in a development service district, then you are in an area that is slated for growth from the standpoint of that’s where the county’s going to invest in infrastructure, in water and sewer infrastructure to accommodate growth, be it residential, commercial or industrial, depending on which development service district you’re in,” Robertson said. “So the way our comprehensive plan is designed is that we have those areas that are slated for growth, but they probably encompass about 15% of the county. So that 85% is still intended to, by design, … to remain rural.”
Several years ago, Robertson said signs went up to identify the districts. He said this came after complaints about growth in the districts.
“If you move to a subdivision on Route 17, you’re not in the country,” Robertson said. “You’re in a part of Hampton Roads that is growing and is very much like the cities that neighbor us. … Whether or not people see those signs or understand what those signs reflect, we don’t know. But we try, to the degree that we can, to make sure that we educate people about areas that are slated for growth.”