The proposed South Creek Village project in Powhatan County would feature more than 90 single-family homes and commercial space on a nearly 30-acre property. (County documents)
90-home subdivision proposed near Flat Rock Elementary in Powhatan
The Powhatan Planning Commission is slated Tuesday to vote on whether to recommend approval of a residential subdivision that would be built next to Flat Rock Elementary School.
Midlothian-based TC Development LLC is seeking zoning approval for a project with more than 90 residential units that would rise on a nearly 30-acre site at 2206 Batterson Road between the elementary school and South Creek Shopping Center.
The project also envisions a potential commercial area with 5,000 to 10,000 square feet of retail space on Batterson Road. That area could alternatively be developed with a handful of additional homes instead, which would bring the property to 99 lots, per a staff report.
The single-family homes would be cluster-style lots, according to a document included in the case materials.
The project, dubbed South Creek Village, would also feature 9.5 acres of open space that would include a dog park, walking trails and community garden.
TC Development seeks to rezone the project site to Village Center Planned Development (VC-PD). The site is mostly Agricultural 10 (A-10), with a nearly 3-acre portion zoned Heavy Industrial (I-2), and the industrial zoning would be retained. The project site is largely undeveloped except for a single-family home and accessory structures.
There is a concurrent request to change the project site’s designation on the county’s comprehensive plan to Neighborhood Residential in order to make the project adhere to the plan, which currently classifies the project site as Gateway Business.
The Board of Supervisors would provide a final verdict on the requests at a future meeting. The full Planning Commission agenda can be found here.
18-home subdivision beside Belmont Golf Course on Henrico planning agenda
The Henrico County Planning Commission meets Thursday at 6 p.m.
Business includes a request from The Kittrell Co. to rezone 8.4 acres on Hilliard Road across from the Belmont Golf Course clubhouse for an 18-home subdivision. DRC Properties LLC seeks to rezone 1.8 acres on the south side of Quioccasin Road east of Pemberton Road to convert a former Jiffy Lube location into a drive-thru Dunkin’ restaurant and to build an office building.
The full agenda can be viewed here.
Henrico marks completion of $16M Creighton Road improvement project
A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the Creighton Road project’s completion last month. (Henrico County photo)
Henrico County officials celebrated the completion of a roughly $16 million project to widen and realign Creighton Road.
At a Dec. 19 ribbon-cutting, Varina District Supervisor and Board Chair Tyrone E. Nelson and Fairfield District Supervisor Roscoe D. Cooper III cut the ribbon together, as the road serves as a boundary between their districts.
“This is truly a project that bridges both communities,” Nelson said.
The project broke ground in March 2023 and finished ahead of its initial scheduled completion in 2025, according to an announcement. The formerly two-lane Creighton is now a four-lane divided roadway between Sandy Lane and North Laburnum Avenue. The improvements are aimed at allowing safer travel by motorists between the two roads.
Four-story building at Patterson and Libbie on city planning agenda
The top floor of the building would be office space with an outdoor terrace. (City documents)
The Richmond Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. Full agenda here.
Business includes a special-use request for a four-story commercial building planned to replace the Westhampton Pastry Shop building at 5728 Patterson Ave. The building at the corner of Patterson and Libbie avenues also houses gift shops Gild and Ash and Relics to Rhinestones.
The new structure would include three stories of office space above ground-floor retail space. The 74-year-old bakery is likely to be part of the new project and continue to operate there. Planning the project are the building’s landlord, the Robins family, and Tyler Currie, a local real estate investor.
Also on the agenda is a special-use request for a restaurant at 3401 Patterson Ave. in the Museum District. Plans show a restaurant called “Antonelli’s Deli” would use the former dry cleaners building, which previously had been floated for a PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans location.
Cynthia Newbille
Newbille, Jordan to lead Richmond City Council in 2025
Richmond City Council elected Cynthia Newbille as president and Katherine Jordan as vice president for 2025.
They replace former president Kristen Nye, who did not seek re-election, and Ann-Frances Lambert, who was not re-elected.
Newbille represents the Seventh District and previously served as president from 2019 to 2022. She has served on council since 2009.
Jordan represents the Second District and has served on council since 2021.
Richmond fire chief retires; interim chief appointed
Melvin Carter
Richmond Fire Chief Melvin Carter announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, 2024. Assistant Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal was appointed interim chief.
Carter was the first black Richmond native to serve as fire chief and served the department for 37 years, the last seven as chief.
In a statement, Carter thanked former mayor Levar Stoney “for entrusting me with the leadership of the Richmond Fire Department during his tenure.”
“It has been an honor to serve in this role,” Carter said.
The city said it will conduct a national search for a chief to lead the Richmond Fire Department in coming weeks.