Retail project in Midlothian, Sportsplex land-use plan get planning commission green light

depot1 1

The Chesterfield Planning Commission last week voted to recommend approval of Midlothian Depot, a mixed-use development that would feature a grocery store, 30,000 square feet of additional retail space and 350 apartments. (Images courtesy of Chesterfield County)

A bid to build a grocery-anchored retail center near Chesterfield Towne Center took a step forward last week, as did a draft plan to guide development of the area around River City Sportsplex.

The Chesterfield Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a rezoning and conditional-use request that would allow construction of a $175 million mixed-use development at the corner of Midlothian Turnpike and Alverser Drive.

The development by Atlanta-based SJC Ventures, known as Midlothian Depot, would be anchored by a 43,000-square-foot grocery store and would house an additional 30,000 square feet of retail space as well as 350 apartments.

The commercial area of the development would be built closer to the intersection. The apartments, which are planned to feature a pool, rooftop terrace and structured parking, would be built farther back.

SJC Ventures hopes to break ground early next year, assuming the Board of Supervisors gives the proposal a thumbs up at a future meeting. Atlanta-based Dynamik Design is the project’s architect.

depot2 1

Midlothian Depot, a $175 million project by Atlanta-based SJC Ventures, would be built on a site at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike and Alverser Drive.

SJC Ventures hasn’t yet revealed the name of the grocery store operator that would anchor the development. Plans filed for the development reference a “first-to-market grocery store” as the project’s anchor.

The project site consists of 13 acres at 11706 and 11800 Midlothian Turnpike, 951 Alverser Drive and 11621 Old Buckingham Road, per a county staff report. SJC Ventures has the land under contract pending county approval of the project.

The land, which is largely undeveloped but also includes several buildings on Midlothian Turnpike, is valued at a total of $3.5 million, according to online county land records.

Roth Jackson attorneys Mark Kronenthal and Kim Lacy represent SJC Ventures in its rezoning request.

Genito/288 Special Focus Area Plan

The commission also voted to recommend approval of a proposed land-use plan to bring the county’s vision for future development of an area that includes River City Sportsplex and Southside Speedway closer to formal adoption.

genito288plan

The Genito/288 Special Focus Area Plan is a proposed land-use plan that would guide the future development of hundreds of acres at the Powhite Parkway and Route 288 interchange to make River City Sportsplex a more appealing venue for youth sports tournaments.

The proposed Genito/288 Special Focus Area Plan is intended to guide the growth of a 659-acre area with an eye toward development that makes the Sportsplex a more appealing place for organizers to hold their sporting events.

If approved, the land-use plan would be a factor in county staff’s considerations when they review rezonings in the area.

“This is the step before the rezoning. Regardless of what the plan calls for, every piece of land within this plan will still have to come before this commission and before the Board of Supervisors with a specific development proposal,” Planning Commissioner Frank Petroski said during the meeting.

A central part of the proposed plan is guidance on development of the Southside Speedway site, which is near the Sportsplex. A draft conceptual plan for the shuttered racetrack and immediate area includes sports entertainment uses like a sports stadium or racing facility, a hotel of about 100 rooms and restaurant and retail businesses.

“We want people coming to (River City Sportsplex) to have other things to do within the area, places for people to grab a bite to eat after a game or practice and places to hang out within the area. We think there’s a lot of potential in this area to build off the success of River City Sportsplex and keep some of those tourist dollars within the county,” Senior Planner Joanne Wieworka told commissioners during her presentation at last week’s meeting.

The proposed plan also suggests mixed-use alongside office and light industrial uses on the section of Genito Road included in the plan, as well as medium- to high-density residential development to the east of Oak Lake Business Park.

In addition to guidance for development, the plan also outlines new road infrastructure projects and bicycle-and-pedestrian projects.

About a half-dozen people spoke during the public hearing that preceded the commission’s vote on the draft plan. A common theme during the hearing, one that’s been a regular refrain received through community outreach efforts tied to the plan’s development, was support for racing to make a return to Southside Speedway.

Lin O’Neill, a local businessman associated with the Save Southside Speedway effort, said the racetrack’s decades-long history and capacity to be an economic driver are reasons that it should be preserved.

“It’s part of Chesterfield. It needs to stay,” he said.

As the draft land-use plan gets closer to full approval, talks continue between Chesterfield economic development staff and an unidentified developer who has expressed interest in building a mixed-use project that would feature a racing element on the Southside Speedway property.

“We are still in discussions with the developer that submitted a proposal that includes a speedway. There is no set timeline to complete these discussions or to determine the next steps to the development of the site at this time,” Economic Development Director Garrett Hart said in an email Tuesday.

The draft plan can be viewed on the county’s website here.

Both the request for the mixed-use development and proposed land-use plan are slated to come before the Board of Supervisors for final approval.

The Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend approval of each proposal. Commissioner Gloria Freye wasn’t present at the meeting.

depot1 1

The Chesterfield Planning Commission last week voted to recommend approval of Midlothian Depot, a mixed-use development that would feature a grocery store, 30,000 square feet of additional retail space and 350 apartments. (Images courtesy of Chesterfield County)

A bid to build a grocery-anchored retail center near Chesterfield Towne Center took a step forward last week, as did a draft plan to guide development of the area around River City Sportsplex.

The Chesterfield Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a rezoning and conditional-use request that would allow construction of a $175 million mixed-use development at the corner of Midlothian Turnpike and Alverser Drive.

The development by Atlanta-based SJC Ventures, known as Midlothian Depot, would be anchored by a 43,000-square-foot grocery store and would house an additional 30,000 square feet of retail space as well as 350 apartments.

The commercial area of the development would be built closer to the intersection. The apartments, which are planned to feature a pool, rooftop terrace and structured parking, would be built farther back.

SJC Ventures hopes to break ground early next year, assuming the Board of Supervisors gives the proposal a thumbs up at a future meeting. Atlanta-based Dynamik Design is the project’s architect.

depot2 1

Midlothian Depot, a $175 million project by Atlanta-based SJC Ventures, would be built on a site at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike and Alverser Drive.

SJC Ventures hasn’t yet revealed the name of the grocery store operator that would anchor the development. Plans filed for the development reference a “first-to-market grocery store” as the project’s anchor.

The project site consists of 13 acres at 11706 and 11800 Midlothian Turnpike, 951 Alverser Drive and 11621 Old Buckingham Road, per a county staff report. SJC Ventures has the land under contract pending county approval of the project.

The land, which is largely undeveloped but also includes several buildings on Midlothian Turnpike, is valued at a total of $3.5 million, according to online county land records.

Roth Jackson attorneys Mark Kronenthal and Kim Lacy represent SJC Ventures in its rezoning request.

Genito/288 Special Focus Area Plan

The commission also voted to recommend approval of a proposed land-use plan to bring the county’s vision for future development of an area that includes River City Sportsplex and Southside Speedway closer to formal adoption.

genito288plan

The Genito/288 Special Focus Area Plan is a proposed land-use plan that would guide the future development of hundreds of acres at the Powhite Parkway and Route 288 interchange to make River City Sportsplex a more appealing venue for youth sports tournaments.

The proposed Genito/288 Special Focus Area Plan is intended to guide the growth of a 659-acre area with an eye toward development that makes the Sportsplex a more appealing place for organizers to hold their sporting events.

If approved, the land-use plan would be a factor in county staff’s considerations when they review rezonings in the area.

“This is the step before the rezoning. Regardless of what the plan calls for, every piece of land within this plan will still have to come before this commission and before the Board of Supervisors with a specific development proposal,” Planning Commissioner Frank Petroski said during the meeting.

A central part of the proposed plan is guidance on development of the Southside Speedway site, which is near the Sportsplex. A draft conceptual plan for the shuttered racetrack and immediate area includes sports entertainment uses like a sports stadium or racing facility, a hotel of about 100 rooms and restaurant and retail businesses.

“We want people coming to (River City Sportsplex) to have other things to do within the area, places for people to grab a bite to eat after a game or practice and places to hang out within the area. We think there’s a lot of potential in this area to build off the success of River City Sportsplex and keep some of those tourist dollars within the county,” Senior Planner Joanne Wieworka told commissioners during her presentation at last week’s meeting.

The proposed plan also suggests mixed-use alongside office and light industrial uses on the section of Genito Road included in the plan, as well as medium- to high-density residential development to the east of Oak Lake Business Park.

In addition to guidance for development, the plan also outlines new road infrastructure projects and bicycle-and-pedestrian projects.

About a half-dozen people spoke during the public hearing that preceded the commission’s vote on the draft plan. A common theme during the hearing, one that’s been a regular refrain received through community outreach efforts tied to the plan’s development, was support for racing to make a return to Southside Speedway.

Lin O’Neill, a local businessman associated with the Save Southside Speedway effort, said the racetrack’s decades-long history and capacity to be an economic driver are reasons that it should be preserved.

“It’s part of Chesterfield. It needs to stay,” he said.

As the draft land-use plan gets closer to full approval, talks continue between Chesterfield economic development staff and an unidentified developer who has expressed interest in building a mixed-use project that would feature a racing element on the Southside Speedway property.

“We are still in discussions with the developer that submitted a proposal that includes a speedway. There is no set timeline to complete these discussions or to determine the next steps to the development of the site at this time,” Economic Development Director Garrett Hart said in an email Tuesday.

The draft plan can be viewed on the county’s website here.

Both the request for the mixed-use development and proposed land-use plan are slated to come before the Board of Supervisors for final approval.

The Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend approval of each proposal. Commissioner Gloria Freye wasn’t present at the meeting.

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Allan Taylor
Allan Taylor
1 year ago

Hearing this is likely a whole foods. Thoughts?

Last edited 1 year ago by Allan Taylor
SA Clee
SA Clee
1 year ago
Reply to  Allan Taylor

The developer said it is a “First-to-market” store. The rumor is Amazon Fresh. Harris Teeter does not make sense because Kroger is already established in this market. Lowes Foods does not make sense because they do not have a northward expansion focus. Sprouts Farmers Market and Earth Fare stores are typically closer to 25,000 SF, not 43,000 SF.