The Chesterfield County Administration Building at 9901 Lori Road. (BizSense file photo)
Chesterfield supervisors reject proposal to loosen development rules in rural areas
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to reject a proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would have loosened residential development rules on properties zoned for agricultural uses.
The amendment, had it been approved, would have allowed county supervisors to consider zoning requests for new public roads to residential projects in areas with the agricultural (A) zoning designation.
Chesterfield’s zoning ordinance will continue to prohibit the creation or extension of roadway in agriculturally zoned areas for residential developments. Residential projects that would have been able to be considered under the exception policy would have been limited to lots no smaller than 5 acres in addition to other requirements.
“When you try to put a tool in place to help deal with and manage growth, you need to be very careful about how you do it,” Chairman Kevin Carroll said during the meeting. “I think the way it’s structured right now, it’s not ready for prime time. We have to go back and take a look at this and I really want to get more input from the community.”
Grant request advances for Short Pump I-64 interchange improvements
Improvements to the 64-Broad Street interchange would include eliminating the southeast quadrant onramp. (County documents)
At their meeting last week, Henrico supervisors approved a resolution authorizing staff to apply for a $50 million federal grant that would be put toward planned interchange and traffic improvements in the Short Pump area.
The funds would come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program for fiscal year 2023-24. The estimated cost for the planned projects totals $250 million.
Last month, county officials announced the Federal Highway Administration conditionally approved a diverging diamond design for a new North Gayton Road interchange and other plans to improve interstate safety and traffic flow in the area, including modifications to the West Broad Street interchange just west of Innsbrook.
The board also introduced an ordinance for a proposed special service district for Virginia Center Commons. An additional levy on property taxes within the district area, which would consist of commercial properties adjacent to the former mall’s ring road, would be used to fund streetlights in the district. The introduction sets a public hearing on the ordinance for the board’s Sept. 12 meeting.
City Council OK’s silos redevelopment, South Richmond apartments project
At its meeting last week, Richmond City Council approved a special-use request from Hourigan Development for the Southern States silos site at 2-4 Manchester Road, where the developer plans to raze the vacant silos to make way for a mixed-use development including a 20-story apartment tower and a six-story office building.
Crescent Development and Spy Rock Real Estate secured a rezoning for a residential development totaling 276 income-based apartments on 10 acres in the 4800 block of Walmsley Boulevard, just west of the Broad Rock Boulevard intersection.
Also approved on the consent agenda was D.C.-based Audeo Partners’ special-use request to build 26 townhomes at 219 S. Stafford Ave., part of a larger effort to redevelop Dominion Energy’s 5-acre assemblage south of the Fan.
Edwards named new Richmond police chief
Rick Edwards
Acting Chief Richard “Rick” Edwards was named Richmond’s new police chief after a nationwide search. Edwards has nearly 24 years of law enforcement experience with the Richmond Police Department.
Since being appointed interim chief last October, the city said in a release, Edwards has implemented new core values, updated policies and initiated a new body-worn camera release policy. His experience ranges from operational and administrative aspects of policing, including patrol operations, criminal investigations, developing strategies for crime reduction and community engagement, and responding to and addressing security threats, the release said.
“I am honored to be selected as the new police chief for” Richmond, Edwards said in the release. “Our goal will be to continue to make the city a safe place for our residents and visitors. I am committed to leading an efficient, well-managed department that is rooted in service to the Richmond community.”
The city in March engaged Washington, D.C.-based Polihire to lead the search. Edwards was selected among a field of 26 applicants who vied for the position.
Hanover public works chief retiring after nearly 30 years with county
Mike Flagg
Hanover County announced that Mike Flagg, its long-serving public works director, planned to retire today (Monday).
While with Hanover, Flagg led road construction projects like the extension of Telegraph Road; construction of roundabouts at the intersection of Rural Point and Studley roads as well as the intersection of the Creighton and Cold Harbor roads; and the paving of the gravel roads in Hanover, according to a county news release.
Flagg first joined Hanover 27 years ago in 1996. He became director of the public works department in 2006. Prior to working at Hanover, Flagg spent 8 years working with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Flagg is a Virginia Tech and Patrick Henry High School graduate.
The Chesterfield County Administration Building at 9901 Lori Road. (BizSense file photo)
Chesterfield supervisors reject proposal to loosen development rules in rural areas
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to reject a proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would have loosened residential development rules on properties zoned for agricultural uses.
The amendment, had it been approved, would have allowed county supervisors to consider zoning requests for new public roads to residential projects in areas with the agricultural (A) zoning designation.
Chesterfield’s zoning ordinance will continue to prohibit the creation or extension of roadway in agriculturally zoned areas for residential developments. Residential projects that would have been able to be considered under the exception policy would have been limited to lots no smaller than 5 acres in addition to other requirements.
“When you try to put a tool in place to help deal with and manage growth, you need to be very careful about how you do it,” Chairman Kevin Carroll said during the meeting. “I think the way it’s structured right now, it’s not ready for prime time. We have to go back and take a look at this and I really want to get more input from the community.”
Grant request advances for Short Pump I-64 interchange improvements
Improvements to the 64-Broad Street interchange would include eliminating the southeast quadrant onramp. (County documents)
At their meeting last week, Henrico supervisors approved a resolution authorizing staff to apply for a $50 million federal grant that would be put toward planned interchange and traffic improvements in the Short Pump area.
The funds would come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program for fiscal year 2023-24. The estimated cost for the planned projects totals $250 million.
Last month, county officials announced the Federal Highway Administration conditionally approved a diverging diamond design for a new North Gayton Road interchange and other plans to improve interstate safety and traffic flow in the area, including modifications to the West Broad Street interchange just west of Innsbrook.
The board also introduced an ordinance for a proposed special service district for Virginia Center Commons. An additional levy on property taxes within the district area, which would consist of commercial properties adjacent to the former mall’s ring road, would be used to fund streetlights in the district. The introduction sets a public hearing on the ordinance for the board’s Sept. 12 meeting.
City Council OK’s silos redevelopment, South Richmond apartments project
At its meeting last week, Richmond City Council approved a special-use request from Hourigan Development for the Southern States silos site at 2-4 Manchester Road, where the developer plans to raze the vacant silos to make way for a mixed-use development including a 20-story apartment tower and a six-story office building.
Crescent Development and Spy Rock Real Estate secured a rezoning for a residential development totaling 276 income-based apartments on 10 acres in the 4800 block of Walmsley Boulevard, just west of the Broad Rock Boulevard intersection.
Also approved on the consent agenda was D.C.-based Audeo Partners’ special-use request to build 26 townhomes at 219 S. Stafford Ave., part of a larger effort to redevelop Dominion Energy’s 5-acre assemblage south of the Fan.
Edwards named new Richmond police chief
Rick Edwards
Acting Chief Richard “Rick” Edwards was named Richmond’s new police chief after a nationwide search. Edwards has nearly 24 years of law enforcement experience with the Richmond Police Department.
Since being appointed interim chief last October, the city said in a release, Edwards has implemented new core values, updated policies and initiated a new body-worn camera release policy. His experience ranges from operational and administrative aspects of policing, including patrol operations, criminal investigations, developing strategies for crime reduction and community engagement, and responding to and addressing security threats, the release said.
“I am honored to be selected as the new police chief for” Richmond, Edwards said in the release. “Our goal will be to continue to make the city a safe place for our residents and visitors. I am committed to leading an efficient, well-managed department that is rooted in service to the Richmond community.”
The city in March engaged Washington, D.C.-based Polihire to lead the search. Edwards was selected among a field of 26 applicants who vied for the position.
Hanover public works chief retiring after nearly 30 years with county
Mike Flagg
Hanover County announced that Mike Flagg, its long-serving public works director, planned to retire today (Monday).
While with Hanover, Flagg led road construction projects like the extension of Telegraph Road; construction of roundabouts at the intersection of Rural Point and Studley roads as well as the intersection of the Creighton and Cold Harbor roads; and the paving of the gravel roads in Hanover, according to a county news release.
Flagg first joined Hanover 27 years ago in 1996. He became director of the public works department in 2006. Prior to working at Hanover, Flagg spent 8 years working with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Flagg is a Virginia Tech and Patrick Henry High School graduate.