Two pending zoning requests seek to increase the size of the Astoria residential development in Chesterfield. (County documents)
Chesterfield Planning Commission to weigh proposed expansion of 669-unit Astoria project
The Chesterfield Planning Commission is due to consider on Tuesday a pair of zoning requests that seek to increase the size of a previously approved residential development that’s to the south of Swift Creek Reservoir.
HHHunt Communities has filed zoning requests seeking approval of an expanded project that would add nearly 300 new residential units to the Astoria development. The developer is working with homebuilder Schell Brothers on the project.
The new sections along Winterpock Road would add about 82 acres to Astoria, which in 2021 was approved for up to 669 residential units (split among apartments, single-family homes and townhouses) on 250 acres off Bethia Road and between Harpers Mill and Collington.
The zoning request tied to what’s referred to as Astoria North would add up to 199 single-family and townhome units on a 44-acres site at 8110 Bethia Road. The request associated with what’s called Astoria South would add up to 88 single-family lots on a 38-acre site at 8550 Bethia Road.
Commissioners will vote on whether to recommend approval of the project, which will be considered by the Board of Supervisors for a final verdict at a later date.
The Planning Commission’s full agenda can be found here.
Data center project comes before Ashland Town Council, Hanover Planning Commission
A conceptual plan of the data center campus proposed on the Ashland-Hanover line. (Town documents)
A data center project that straddles the Ashland-Hanover line is due for reviews this week
On Tuesday, Ashland Town Council is expected to vote on approval of the portion of the Iron Horse Business Park project in its jurisdiction. And then on Thursday, the Hanover Planning Commission is set to review the proposal as well.
Proposed by West Dulles Properties, the Iron Horse development is primarily a data center campus, but the zoning request also includes a proposal to build a 49-lot subdivision on a portion of the project site situated in Hanover.
The project site consists of more than 230 acres, with about 131 acres in Hanover and 102 acres in Ashland.
The developer had previously been considering either an industrial park or a data center campus for the project, but now is proposing a data center project for the site.
Town Council’s vote will be Ashland’s final verdict on the zoning request. Hanover planning commissioners will decide whether to recommend the county Board of Supervisors approve the project.
The agenda for the Hanover Planning Commission meeting this week can be found here. The agenda for Ashland Town Council’s meeting can be found here.
Real estate tax rate, rebate proposals back on City Council agenda
The vacant building at 2310 W. Cary St. is planned to house a new pet adoption center for Richmond Animal Care & Control. (BizSense file photo)
Richmond City Council meets Tuesday this week due to the Columbus Day holiday on Monday.
On the agenda for the 6 p.m. regular meeting are competing proposals to decrease or maintain the city’s real estate tax rate. Councilmember Reva Trammell is proposing reducing the rate to $1.16 per $100 of assessed value, while President Kristen Nye is proposing maintaining the rate at $1.20 as part of a plan that would include a 4-cent tax rebate for all property owners and other tax relief programs.
Trammell’s proposal aims to address increased real estate property assessments since the rate was last adjusted in 2009. Both proposals are triggered by a state law requiring a real estate tax rollback and resetting of the tax rate due to assessment increases for the city’s overall real estate tax base.
On the consent agenda is a proposal by Councilmember Andreas Addison to increase the exemption threshold for the city’s Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax from $250,000 to $500,000. The BPOL exemption was last increased from $100,000 in 2022.
Property owner Daniil Kleyman seeks a conditional-use request for an expansion of Metzger Bar & Butchery into an adjacent space at 801 N. 23rd St. The expansion would accommodate a cocktail bar called Pink Room.
Eagle Construction of VA seeks an amendment to a special-use permit to allow for a fourth story on units facing Cary Street at its Foushee Mews townhome development. The Cary-facing units were previously approved for three stories.
Also on the agenda are two ordinances to allow the city to re-allocate $2 million in funds for the purchase of a building and warehouse at 2310 W. Cary St. and 2311 Herbert Hamlet Alley for a new pet adoption center for Richmond Animal Care & Control.
The full agenda for the meeting can be found here.