Grants to James City County, Virginia Neighborhoods and
HOAs to Improve Drainage and Stormwater Management

Description: Request a Grant Writer

Grants to James City County, Virginia neighborhoods and homeowners associations to maintain local water drainage systems and privately-owned stormwater management facilities (BMPs). Projects will support the general welfare and safety of local communities.

Neighborhood Drainage Systems:
Neighborhood drainage systems include structures such as inlets, pipes, vegetated or paved swales and outfall structures, located outside of the VDOT roadway, which move runoff originating on or off-site safely through residential areas in order to protect citizens and property. Roof and footing drains and privately installed on-lot drainage structures are not considered part of a neighborhood drainage system.

Stormwater Management Facilities (BMP):
Stormwater management facilities, also known as best management practices or BMPs, include structures that reduce the quantity of storm runoff and improve the water quality of the runoff. BMP components include, but are not limited to, inlets, pipes, vegetated or paved swales, ponds, bioretention features, embankments, outfalls and energy dissipation structures.

Available Grants:

Inventory & Inspection Grants: Inventorying and mapping the existing drainage structures and inspecting the system for operating condition. Results are for planning future maintenance or for inclusion in a homeowners association (HOA) reserve study. Inspection may include a photo record or pipe video and documentation in GIS. For example, a map of drainage structures with a condition assessment for each structure/ component

Repair & Maintenance Grants: Repairs to maintain a drainage system as originally designed. Repairs do not include upgrades to improve the system function. For example, replacement of broken concrete, crushed pipes, clearing of trees, resealing inlets or manholes, etc.

BMP Repair & Maintenance Grants: Repairs to maintain a BMP as originally designed. Only non-routine maintenance or repairs will be considered. For example, replacing the trash rack, sealing the riser, lining the barrel, repairing emergency and/or principal spillway, planting a buffer, etc.

General Conditions for Applicants:

1. All work must be completed within the timeframe specified in the executed grant agreement.

2. All drainage repairs will be accomplished in accordance with the James City County Stormwater Drainage Conveyance Systems (Non-BMP related) General Design and Construction Guidelines.

3. All BMP maintenance and repairs will be accomplished in accordance with the approved as-built or construction files for the BMP.

4. All BMP maintenance and repairs will be accomplished in accordance with the James City County BMP Operations and Maintenance Manual.

5. Projects will require local environmental permitting. Successful applicants will be advised of permit requirements.

6. Costs associated with the design, permitting, construction and inspection of the proposed project can be funded as part of the project costs.

Special Conditions for Applicants:

Neighborhoods without Mandatory Homeowners Associations (Non-HOAs):

1. For drainage repairs, a generic, or undedicated, drainage easement must be present on the subdivision plat and include, in whole or in part, the structure(s) needing repair. Alternatively, an outfall from a public roadway must be present that discharges runoff to private property during storms.

2. For BMP repairs, the facility must be designated as a water quality facility and have an assigned number on record with the Stormwater Division. Furthermore the facility must be released from the Engineering and Resource Protection Division, with approved as-built or construction plans on file. (NOTE: this is flexible depending on the age of the BMP & the quality of the file data.)

3. Prior to award of a grant, property owners adjacent to the structure(s) needing repair must provide the County with a one-time, temporary permission to access the infrastructure and the easement for the purpose of repair. The County and/or its designee will provide technical assistance for the repair. The County will not accept the drainage structures into the County’s system.

4. Prior to award of a grant, a non-HOA neighborhood funded for inventory and mapping, must provide to the County the right to enter and inspect the stormwater and drainage facilities located in the generic easements that serve the neighborhood on private property. Access is necessary for the County and/or its designee to map and assess the infrastructure condition.

5. The County will manage contracts for non-HOA projects with more than one owner.

Neighborhoods with Mandatory Homeowners Associations (HOAs):

1. Participating HOAs must have a responsible and active association board.

2. Through this application, participating HOAs agree to manage the repair or inspection project, securing a minimum of three competitive bids. The County reserves the right to review and approve the bid documents prior to securing quotes and to review solicited quotes upon receipt. The HOA must accept the lowest responsive and responsible qualified bid.

3. Through this application, participating HOAs funded for inventory and inspection provide to the County the right to enter and inspect the stormwater and drainage facilities located in the drainage easements that serve the neighborhood.