Urban One’s proposed casino and resort on Philip Morris-owned land just off Interstate 95 will be put to a second vote by residents after the first referendum was defeated. (BizSense file)
BPOL tax exemption hike, casino-tied real estate tax cut on city agenda
The Richmond City Council meets Monday starting with a 1 p.m. work session on next fiscal year’s budget, followed by a 4 p.m. informal meeting that includes an overview of recommendations for a police civilian review board and an update on the city’s voter redistricting process.
Business on the consent agenda for the 6 p.m. regular meeting includes a proposed increase to the city’s exemption threshold for Business, Professional and Occupational License taxes. The adjustment would raise the annual revenue threshold from $100,000 to $250,000.
Also on the consent agenda, typically approved without discussion, is a resolution supporting a 2-cent reduction of the city’s real estate tax rate should a second voter referendum on the One Casino + Resort project pass.
Other items include a special-use request for a pair of three-story duplexes that local investor Mark Telfian is planning for a vacant lot at 1505-1507 W. Cary St. A special-use request for a five-story apartment building that developer David Gammino is planning at 208-212 E. Leigh St. is being deferred to March 14.
Business on the regular agenda includes a long-deferred technology zone program aimed at fostering development and location of tech businesses in the city. Also on the agenda is a request by a majority of councilmembers to make amendments to the Richmond 300 master plan.
The full agendas for the meetings can be found here.
City extends application deadline for small business assistance program
The City of Richmond has extended the application deadline for its Triple A Business Assistance program to today. Businesses interested in participating can complete the program application here.
Slots for the program are limited, and participants will be selected via a selection committee. Businesses are no longer required to be registered with the Office of Minority Business Development to be eligible for the program. More information on the program is available on the city’s website.
Feedback sought on regional bicycle and pedestrian plan
Public comment is sought on BikePedRVA 2045, the region’s first bicycle and pedestrian plan update in nearly two decades. The plan maps out local-level projects for shared-use paths, bike lanes, sidewalks, neighborhood connectors, bikeable streets and related enhancements to the region’s transportation network.
The public is asked to review the draft plan and provide feedback through March 23. BikePedRVA 2045 will update the 2004 Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, document progress made and forecast a vision for the next 25 years. Click here to review the draft plan and submit comments.
Meeting Thursday on ‘Reconnecting Jackson Ward’ project
The public is invited to participate in three meetings scheduled to discuss a feasibility study for improving access between the north and south sections of Jackson Ward.
Called the “Reconnect Jackson Ward Feasibility Study,” the six-month effort began in January and will evaluate and recommend options for reconnecting the historically black neighborhood that was cut in half when the interstate was built in the 1950s.
The first of the three meetings is scheduled Thursday, March 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center. Masks will be required. The meetings are hosted by the study’s organizers: the City of Richmond Office of Equitable Development, the Virginia Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Thursday’s meeting will feature interactive stations in an open-house format and seeks to educate attendees on the study, engage on what “reconnecting” Jackson Ward means for them, and solicit feedback on design elements, points of interest and reconnection locations.
More information is available on the project’s website, where meeting materials and a survey will be posted.
Henrico considering real estate tax credit, 2-cent rate reduction for FY23
Henrico County is considering a one-time credit to property owners on their real estate taxes. The credit and a proposed 2-cent reduction of the real estate tax rate are aimed at helping taxpayers manage impacts from rising real estate values and increased assessments, as home prices in some areas of the county have jumped by 30 to 50 percent.
An ordinance for the proposals was introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting last week, and a public hearing and potential vote on the tax credit are scheduled for Feb. 22. If approved, property owners would receive an amount equal to 2 cents per $100 of their real estate’s taxable value for 2022.
The 2-cent tax rate reduction will be considered when the board adopts a budget for fiscal 2022-23. The recommended budget, which will be presented to supervisors in March, is proposed to be balanced on a real estate tax rate of 85 cents, down from the current rate of 87 cents.
Chesterfield sets dates for community meetings on FY23 budget
Chesterfield County plans to hold several community meetings next month after a presentation on the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget March 9.
County Administrator Joe Casey is slated to present his proposed FY23 budget to the Board of Supervisors during a work session at noon March 9, according to a county news release.
The board’s five members are expected to host community meetings for their districts to allow their constituents a chance to learn about the proposal and provide feedback. Here is the schedule for the meetings, which will all take place from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room at 10001 Iron Bridge Road:
March 10: Dale District.
March 14: Clover Hill District.
March 16: Bermuda District.
March 21: Midlothian District.
March 22: Matoaca District.
The meetings will be held in-person and will be streamed on social media and the county’s TV station on Comcast channel 98, Verizon channel 28.
Hanover’s proposed FY23 budget would include more competitive salaries
Hanover County Administrator John Budesky has pitched a 5 percent merit raise for employees among other measures intended to make the county more competitive in hiring as part of a $615 million proposed budget.
Other salary-related elements of the proposed budget include implementation of a $15 per hour minimum wage and market-based salary adjustments. The School Board has also included a 5 percent raise for school division employees in its budget proposal.
The recommendations come in response to fewer applications for county jobs, low unemployment in the county and high turnover among other factors, Budesky told the board during his presentation Feb. 16.
The $615 million proposed budget is a nearly 20 percent increase compared to the county’s current budget. The county’s proposed general fund, which is the primary operating fund of the budget, is $321 million, an 11 percent increase compared to the current budget’s general fund.
No rate changes to the county’s taxes are included in the proposed budget.
Budesky also proposed the county earmark $122 million in cash and debt to cover the construction of three replacement elementary schools and renovations for Beaverdam Elementary School over the next five years.
County-side projects over the course of the proposed five-year capital plan include a new fire station in the Laurel Meadow area and $25 million in county facility renovations. The plan would also provide for $112.8 million in road improvements.
A public hearing on the budget and tax rates is scheduled for April 6. The budget is slated for adoption April 13. More information about the county’s proposed budget can be found here.
Ashland under contract to buy land for new park
The Ashland Town Council this month OK’d the acquisition of about 7 acres for a new park. The three parcels that make up the acreage are on West Vaughan Road, just to the north of Randolph-Macon College.
The deal is expected to close at a total cost of $658,000 in June. There aren’t immediate plans or funding for development of the property, the town said in an announcement.
Ashland has made it a goal to have every residential parcel in town within a 10-minute walk of a park.
“While there is already a small park and trail in the area, the town has been actively looking for opportunities to develop a more substantial public park in North Ashland for some time,” Deputy Town Manager Matt Reynal said in the announcement.
Former Henrico general services director takes same role in Chesterfield
John Neal
John Neal took on the helm of Chesterfield County’s department of general services last week.
Neal was previously the general services director in Henrico County, a title he held for eight years, according to a Chesterfield news release.
Neal assumes the Chesterfield general services director position from Clay Bowles. Bowles was named Chesterfield’s deputy county administrator for community operations in December.
The general services department is tasked with upkeep of the county’s government facilities and vehicle fleet, and also oversees construction and renovation projects for government installations among other activities
Neal, a Virginia Tech graduate, joined Henrico as the general services assistant director in 2012 and then became director a little over a year later. Prior to that, he was capital projects manager for Richmond and held various management roles in VDOT, according to the Chesterfield release.
Chesterfield supervisors approve private landing strip
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors voted last week to give approval to Doug Sowers to build a private landing strip on a 232-acre property at 1401 County Line Road.
The property on which the landing strip would be built is near the county’s border with Powhatan. The landing strip would be used primarily by Sowers and family members.
Urban One’s proposed casino and resort on Philip Morris-owned land just off Interstate 95 will be put to a second vote by residents after the first referendum was defeated. (BizSense file)
BPOL tax exemption hike, casino-tied real estate tax cut on city agenda
The Richmond City Council meets Monday starting with a 1 p.m. work session on next fiscal year’s budget, followed by a 4 p.m. informal meeting that includes an overview of recommendations for a police civilian review board and an update on the city’s voter redistricting process.
Business on the consent agenda for the 6 p.m. regular meeting includes a proposed increase to the city’s exemption threshold for Business, Professional and Occupational License taxes. The adjustment would raise the annual revenue threshold from $100,000 to $250,000.
Also on the consent agenda, typically approved without discussion, is a resolution supporting a 2-cent reduction of the city’s real estate tax rate should a second voter referendum on the One Casino + Resort project pass.
Other items include a special-use request for a pair of three-story duplexes that local investor Mark Telfian is planning for a vacant lot at 1505-1507 W. Cary St. A special-use request for a five-story apartment building that developer David Gammino is planning at 208-212 E. Leigh St. is being deferred to March 14.
Business on the regular agenda includes a long-deferred technology zone program aimed at fostering development and location of tech businesses in the city. Also on the agenda is a request by a majority of councilmembers to make amendments to the Richmond 300 master plan.
The full agendas for the meetings can be found here.
City extends application deadline for small business assistance program
The City of Richmond has extended the application deadline for its Triple A Business Assistance program to today. Businesses interested in participating can complete the program application here.
Slots for the program are limited, and participants will be selected via a selection committee. Businesses are no longer required to be registered with the Office of Minority Business Development to be eligible for the program. More information on the program is available on the city’s website.
Feedback sought on regional bicycle and pedestrian plan
Public comment is sought on BikePedRVA 2045, the region’s first bicycle and pedestrian plan update in nearly two decades. The plan maps out local-level projects for shared-use paths, bike lanes, sidewalks, neighborhood connectors, bikeable streets and related enhancements to the region’s transportation network.
The public is asked to review the draft plan and provide feedback through March 23. BikePedRVA 2045 will update the 2004 Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, document progress made and forecast a vision for the next 25 years. Click here to review the draft plan and submit comments.
Meeting Thursday on ‘Reconnecting Jackson Ward’ project
The public is invited to participate in three meetings scheduled to discuss a feasibility study for improving access between the north and south sections of Jackson Ward.
Called the “Reconnect Jackson Ward Feasibility Study,” the six-month effort began in January and will evaluate and recommend options for reconnecting the historically black neighborhood that was cut in half when the interstate was built in the 1950s.
The first of the three meetings is scheduled Thursday, March 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center. Masks will be required. The meetings are hosted by the study’s organizers: the City of Richmond Office of Equitable Development, the Virginia Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Thursday’s meeting will feature interactive stations in an open-house format and seeks to educate attendees on the study, engage on what “reconnecting” Jackson Ward means for them, and solicit feedback on design elements, points of interest and reconnection locations.
More information is available on the project’s website, where meeting materials and a survey will be posted.
Henrico considering real estate tax credit, 2-cent rate reduction for FY23
Henrico County is considering a one-time credit to property owners on their real estate taxes. The credit and a proposed 2-cent reduction of the real estate tax rate are aimed at helping taxpayers manage impacts from rising real estate values and increased assessments, as home prices in some areas of the county have jumped by 30 to 50 percent.
An ordinance for the proposals was introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting last week, and a public hearing and potential vote on the tax credit are scheduled for Feb. 22. If approved, property owners would receive an amount equal to 2 cents per $100 of their real estate’s taxable value for 2022.
The 2-cent tax rate reduction will be considered when the board adopts a budget for fiscal 2022-23. The recommended budget, which will be presented to supervisors in March, is proposed to be balanced on a real estate tax rate of 85 cents, down from the current rate of 87 cents.
Chesterfield sets dates for community meetings on FY23 budget
Chesterfield County plans to hold several community meetings next month after a presentation on the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget March 9.
County Administrator Joe Casey is slated to present his proposed FY23 budget to the Board of Supervisors during a work session at noon March 9, according to a county news release.
The board’s five members are expected to host community meetings for their districts to allow their constituents a chance to learn about the proposal and provide feedback. Here is the schedule for the meetings, which will all take place from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room at 10001 Iron Bridge Road:
March 10: Dale District.
March 14: Clover Hill District.
March 16: Bermuda District.
March 21: Midlothian District.
March 22: Matoaca District.
The meetings will be held in-person and will be streamed on social media and the county’s TV station on Comcast channel 98, Verizon channel 28.
Hanover’s proposed FY23 budget would include more competitive salaries
Hanover County Administrator John Budesky has pitched a 5 percent merit raise for employees among other measures intended to make the county more competitive in hiring as part of a $615 million proposed budget.
Other salary-related elements of the proposed budget include implementation of a $15 per hour minimum wage and market-based salary adjustments. The School Board has also included a 5 percent raise for school division employees in its budget proposal.
The recommendations come in response to fewer applications for county jobs, low unemployment in the county and high turnover among other factors, Budesky told the board during his presentation Feb. 16.
The $615 million proposed budget is a nearly 20 percent increase compared to the county’s current budget. The county’s proposed general fund, which is the primary operating fund of the budget, is $321 million, an 11 percent increase compared to the current budget’s general fund.
No rate changes to the county’s taxes are included in the proposed budget.
Budesky also proposed the county earmark $122 million in cash and debt to cover the construction of three replacement elementary schools and renovations for Beaverdam Elementary School over the next five years.
County-side projects over the course of the proposed five-year capital plan include a new fire station in the Laurel Meadow area and $25 million in county facility renovations. The plan would also provide for $112.8 million in road improvements.
A public hearing on the budget and tax rates is scheduled for April 6. The budget is slated for adoption April 13. More information about the county’s proposed budget can be found here.
Ashland under contract to buy land for new park
The Ashland Town Council this month OK’d the acquisition of about 7 acres for a new park. The three parcels that make up the acreage are on West Vaughan Road, just to the north of Randolph-Macon College.
The deal is expected to close at a total cost of $658,000 in June. There aren’t immediate plans or funding for development of the property, the town said in an announcement.
Ashland has made it a goal to have every residential parcel in town within a 10-minute walk of a park.
“While there is already a small park and trail in the area, the town has been actively looking for opportunities to develop a more substantial public park in North Ashland for some time,” Deputy Town Manager Matt Reynal said in the announcement.
Former Henrico general services director takes same role in Chesterfield
John Neal
John Neal took on the helm of Chesterfield County’s department of general services last week.
Neal was previously the general services director in Henrico County, a title he held for eight years, according to a Chesterfield news release.
Neal assumes the Chesterfield general services director position from Clay Bowles. Bowles was named Chesterfield’s deputy county administrator for community operations in December.
The general services department is tasked with upkeep of the county’s government facilities and vehicle fleet, and also oversees construction and renovation projects for government installations among other activities
Neal, a Virginia Tech graduate, joined Henrico as the general services assistant director in 2012 and then became director a little over a year later. Prior to that, he was capital projects manager for Richmond and held various management roles in VDOT, according to the Chesterfield release.
Chesterfield supervisors approve private landing strip
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors voted last week to give approval to Doug Sowers to build a private landing strip on a 232-acre property at 1401 County Line Road.
The property on which the landing strip would be built is near the county’s border with Powhatan. The landing strip would be used primarily by Sowers and family members.
Take a close look at the photo. Is there a subliminal message? Its always appeared to me that the hotel is afire. As well, instead of reading on the hotel, “ONE” I read “(three vertical lines) NO”. Is that intentional?
Jackson may be a historical Black community, but it is a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
Richmond start building sidewalks along Huguenot Road to the Chesterfield County from the current end of sidewalk on Cary Street.