A map of the city blocks and properties involved in the city’s City Center plan and their potential uses. (Courtesy of the City of Richmond)
TIF districts considered for four areas in Richmond
The Richmond City Council’s Governmental Operations Standing Committee meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The sole item on the agenda is a request from Councilmember Andreas Addison for the city to evaluate and report on the possibility of creating tax-increment financing districts in four areas of the city: the Diamond District, City Center, the Port of Richmond area and Southside Plaza.
TIF districts are an option that local governments can use to help pay for a project using tax revenues generated over time. TIFs can be used to help support low-income housing, mixed-use development, economic development, infrastructure and transportation improvements. The meeting agenda can be found here.
Northside apartment plan advances; VUU tower signage deferred 90 days
At its meeting last week, the Richmond Planning Commission supported an ordinance declaring surplus and directing the sale of a portion of city-owned land at 1111 Fourqurean Lane, where Commonwealth Catholic Charities is planning a development with 56 income-based apartments.
The commission deferred for 90 days a special-use permit request from Virginia Union University to allow its “VUU” signage to remain on its campus belltower. The illuminated signs were placed without required city and state approvals, and an agreement between the university and the state was in the works when the request was deferred at previous meetings.
The case is now scheduled to be heard at the commission’s Feb. 21 meeting.
Henrico approves Innsbrook apartment infills, BHC project
At their Nov. 9 meeting, Henrico supervisors approved Lingerfelt Development’s reworked proposals to add nearly 1,400 apartments and structured parking across five office building properties it owns in Innsbrook. The cases had been deferred multiple times to give the developer time to address issues related to mixture of uses, appearance and impacts on public infrastructure and services.
The board approved Better Housing Coalition’s plan for 112 apartments and 28 townhomes on 10 acres just east of Henrico’s Eastern Government Center, and KM Hotels’ revised plan for the former Akaza Hotel property at 6531 W. Broad St., where 250 apartments are now proposed.
Supervisors also approved the creation of the Henrico Investment Program and amended the county’s commercial rehabilitation tax credit program. The investment program will start in January and provide incentives that are modeled after the enterprise zone program but are designated for additional areas of the county.
Chesterfield OKs more than 1,200 homes in Chester
The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors voted last week to give final approval to two projects that will bring more than 1,200 new homes to Chester.
Emerson-Roper Cos. plans to build an 830-unit development called Moore’s Lake to the north of the Route 1 and Route 10 intersection in Chester. As approved, the development would feature 500 apartments, 238 two-over-two units, 62 single-family lots and 30 townhome lots.
The development would be built around the 385-unit apartment complex called The Jane at Moore’s Lake.
The board also gave final approval to a Lingerfelt Development proposal for 390 apartments on 17 acres to the south of the Route 1 and Route 10 intersection, near Breckenridge Shopping Center.
Watkins Centre residential development moves forward
The Chesterfield County Planning Commission voted last week to recommend approval of proposed residential units to be added to Watkins Centre, a mixed-use development underway near Westchester Commons.
Watkins Land LLC and Middleburg Real Estate Partners want to build 283 townhomes and single-family homes at Watkins Centre. The development would be called the Hamlet at Watkins Centre and would be built on a 69-acres site at 631 and 701 Watkins Centre Parkway. The housing would be tailored toward renters.
The proposal now goes to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Charlottesville-based Castle Development Partners are working on the first residential area of Watkins Centre, a 450-unit apartment complex.
Chesterfield officials to discuss updates to land-use maps
The Chesterfield County Planning Department has teed up an online meeting Nov. 30 to provide an overview on a proposal to replace several old land-use plans.
The county wants to remove old land-use maps and replace them with modernized ones in line with the comprehensive plan adopted in May 2019, the county said in a statement. The plans slated for updates are:
- • The Eastern Midlothian Plan
- • The Jahnke/Chippenham Development Area Plan
- • The Route 360 Corridor Plan
- • The Northern Courthouses Road Community Plan
The update project won’t change existing zoning districts or change the permitted uses on properties. The plans offer recommendations that help county officials and staff make decisions about proposed rezonings, according to county planner Andrew Noxon, who is leading the project.
The idea behind the effort is to make county policies better reflect existing development in those areas. Taken together, the plans cover about 10,000 acres of land that’s largely already been developed.
Folks who want to attend the online meeting should contact Noxon at [email protected]. More information about the project can be found here.
Hanover launches update to comprehensive plan
Hanover County recently announced the beginning of an update to the comprehensive plan, a land-use plan intended to help county officials guide development and growth.
Starting in February, the county plans to hold open houses and other events designed to educate people on the plan and the update process throughout the year. A community advisory group will be created in early 2022.
Prior to all that, a comprehensive plan update website is expected to launch in December.
A draft plan is expected to be created in January 2023. The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors are expected to hold public meetings on the update.
Adoption of the update isn’t planned to occur until summer 2023.
The project consultant is ERP.
A map of the city blocks and properties involved in the city’s City Center plan and their potential uses. (Courtesy of the City of Richmond)
TIF districts considered for four areas in Richmond
The Richmond City Council’s Governmental Operations Standing Committee meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The sole item on the agenda is a request from Councilmember Andreas Addison for the city to evaluate and report on the possibility of creating tax-increment financing districts in four areas of the city: the Diamond District, City Center, the Port of Richmond area and Southside Plaza.
TIF districts are an option that local governments can use to help pay for a project using tax revenues generated over time. TIFs can be used to help support low-income housing, mixed-use development, economic development, infrastructure and transportation improvements. The meeting agenda can be found here.
Northside apartment plan advances; VUU tower signage deferred 90 days
At its meeting last week, the Richmond Planning Commission supported an ordinance declaring surplus and directing the sale of a portion of city-owned land at 1111 Fourqurean Lane, where Commonwealth Catholic Charities is planning a development with 56 income-based apartments.
The commission deferred for 90 days a special-use permit request from Virginia Union University to allow its “VUU” signage to remain on its campus belltower. The illuminated signs were placed without required city and state approvals, and an agreement between the university and the state was in the works when the request was deferred at previous meetings.
The case is now scheduled to be heard at the commission’s Feb. 21 meeting.
Henrico approves Innsbrook apartment infills, BHC project
At their Nov. 9 meeting, Henrico supervisors approved Lingerfelt Development’s reworked proposals to add nearly 1,400 apartments and structured parking across five office building properties it owns in Innsbrook. The cases had been deferred multiple times to give the developer time to address issues related to mixture of uses, appearance and impacts on public infrastructure and services.
The board approved Better Housing Coalition’s plan for 112 apartments and 28 townhomes on 10 acres just east of Henrico’s Eastern Government Center, and KM Hotels’ revised plan for the former Akaza Hotel property at 6531 W. Broad St., where 250 apartments are now proposed.
Supervisors also approved the creation of the Henrico Investment Program and amended the county’s commercial rehabilitation tax credit program. The investment program will start in January and provide incentives that are modeled after the enterprise zone program but are designated for additional areas of the county.
Chesterfield OKs more than 1,200 homes in Chester
The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors voted last week to give final approval to two projects that will bring more than 1,200 new homes to Chester.
Emerson-Roper Cos. plans to build an 830-unit development called Moore’s Lake to the north of the Route 1 and Route 10 intersection in Chester. As approved, the development would feature 500 apartments, 238 two-over-two units, 62 single-family lots and 30 townhome lots.
The development would be built around the 385-unit apartment complex called The Jane at Moore’s Lake.
The board also gave final approval to a Lingerfelt Development proposal for 390 apartments on 17 acres to the south of the Route 1 and Route 10 intersection, near Breckenridge Shopping Center.
Watkins Centre residential development moves forward
The Chesterfield County Planning Commission voted last week to recommend approval of proposed residential units to be added to Watkins Centre, a mixed-use development underway near Westchester Commons.
Watkins Land LLC and Middleburg Real Estate Partners want to build 283 townhomes and single-family homes at Watkins Centre. The development would be called the Hamlet at Watkins Centre and would be built on a 69-acres site at 631 and 701 Watkins Centre Parkway. The housing would be tailored toward renters.
The proposal now goes to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Charlottesville-based Castle Development Partners are working on the first residential area of Watkins Centre, a 450-unit apartment complex.
Chesterfield officials to discuss updates to land-use maps
The Chesterfield County Planning Department has teed up an online meeting Nov. 30 to provide an overview on a proposal to replace several old land-use plans.
The county wants to remove old land-use maps and replace them with modernized ones in line with the comprehensive plan adopted in May 2019, the county said in a statement. The plans slated for updates are:
- • The Eastern Midlothian Plan
- • The Jahnke/Chippenham Development Area Plan
- • The Route 360 Corridor Plan
- • The Northern Courthouses Road Community Plan
The update project won’t change existing zoning districts or change the permitted uses on properties. The plans offer recommendations that help county officials and staff make decisions about proposed rezonings, according to county planner Andrew Noxon, who is leading the project.
The idea behind the effort is to make county policies better reflect existing development in those areas. Taken together, the plans cover about 10,000 acres of land that’s largely already been developed.
Folks who want to attend the online meeting should contact Noxon at [email protected]. More information about the project can be found here.
Hanover launches update to comprehensive plan
Hanover County recently announced the beginning of an update to the comprehensive plan, a land-use plan intended to help county officials guide development and growth.
Starting in February, the county plans to hold open houses and other events designed to educate people on the plan and the update process throughout the year. A community advisory group will be created in early 2022.
Prior to all that, a comprehensive plan update website is expected to launch in December.
A draft plan is expected to be created in January 2023. The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors are expected to hold public meetings on the update.
Adoption of the update isn’t planned to occur until summer 2023.
The project consultant is ERP.