A rendering of the three-story apartment buildings planned for the Snead Road site. (City documents)
180-unit apartment development in Piney Knolls area on city planning agenda
The Richmond Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. Full agenda here.
On the consent agenda is a conditional-use request for Scotty’s Taphouse, an arcade bar planned at the former Slingshot Social Game Club space at 1304 MacTavish Ave. Behind Scotty’s is Chris Farag, whose ownership group also owns Southern Railway Taphouse in Shockoe Slip.
Also on the consent agenda is a conceptual location, character and extent review for the planned Mayo Island Park and a final such review for a Brown’s Island improvement plan.
On the regular agenda is an ordinance to direct the conveyance of city-owned land at 1501 Fendall Ave. to nonprofit Eden Village of Richmond for development of 30-40 affordable housing units for renters with annual incomes between 30-80% of the area median income. The properties are among those included in the city’s latest surplus property disposition plan.
Deferred from March is a special-use request for The Lawson Cos.’ plan for 180 income-restricted apartments on a 10-acre site at 5015 Snead Road in the Piney Knolls area.
Chesterfield seeking public input on Route 10 land-use plan
The development node recommended near the Chesterfield airport and Daniel Park. (Courtesy Chesterfield County)
A community meeting is scheduled this week to gather input that would inform a new land-use plan for the Route 10 corridor north of Chesterfield’s courthouse area.
County officials recently unveiled the proposed Northern Route 10 Corridor Plan, which would be used to guide development of a 3.5-mile stretch of Iron Bridge Road between the county airport and Chippenham Parkway.
The 858-acre area includes the Austin Woods and Meridian Watermark residential developments, the Food Lion-anchored Irongate Shopping Center and surrounding areas.
On Tuesday, a public open house meeting will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Beulah Recreation Center, 6901 Hopkins Road. Members of the public can learn about the draft proposal and share feedback on it.
The draft plan would guide future rezonings and land-use decisions. It features recommendations for design standards, infrastructure, pedestrian access and other topics. If adopted, the plan wouldn’t change the zoning of parcels in the area or tee up development projects.
The county is also running an online survey where people can weigh in on the project until 4:30 p.m. on May 23.
Steve Rodriguez
New IT director named for Hanover County
Hanover announced last week that Steve Rodriguez will be the county’s new information technology director effective July 1.
Rodriguez has spent nearly two decades working in local government, most recently as assistant director of administrative services for Livermore, California.
While in that role, he increased cybersecurity protections and introduced digital tools for the city’s employees and residents, according to a Hanover news release.
Powhatan supervisors approve FY26 budget
The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget.
The approved operating budget totals about $124 million. Some areas of the county’s operating budget saw increases over last year, such as a 2% increase in its school operating fund to $62.6 million for FY26, and a 6.4% increase in the public safety budget to $14.7 million.
The capital projects budget saw a dive, with a 20.6% decrease from FY25, bringing it to $3.5 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
The full budget and additional documents can be viewed on the county’s website.
Divided Hopewell council fires city manager, hires former Petersburg CFO as replacement
Hopewell City Council voted 4-3 last week to fire its city manager and clerk and the following day announced the hiring of a new city manager.
Michael Rogers, a former COO and CFO for Petersburg and most recently interim city manager for Charlottesville, was announced as Hopewell’s new city manager. Rogers also has held leadership roles with Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States, University of the District of Columbia and DC Healthcare Systems, and was a deputy mayor/city administrator for Washington, D.C.
The announcement came a day after the divided council vote to dismiss Concetta Manker, who had been city manager for two years, and city clerk Brittani Williams, according to news reports. The council had also considered firing Manker earlier this year, but that February vote ended in a tie.
The vote, which caused controversy in the meeting room, was split among racial lines. The four councilors who voted to remove Manker are white, while the three councilors who voted to keep her are black. Manker, Williams and Rogers are black. The councilors who voted to remove Manker and Williams did not explain their rationale at the meeting, according to a Times-Dispatch report.
In a statement, Hopewell Mayor Johnny Partin said Rogers was instrumental in restoring Petersburg’s financial structure and has worked in a national setting with one of the largest health care providers in the U.S. “We are fortunate to be able to work with him and learn from him,” Partin said.
Deputy City Clerk Sade’ Allen is serving as city clerk until a replacement is hired.
A rendering of the three-story apartment buildings planned for the Snead Road site. (City documents)
180-unit apartment development in Piney Knolls area on city planning agenda
The Richmond Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. Full agenda here.
On the consent agenda is a conditional-use request for Scotty’s Taphouse, an arcade bar planned at the former Slingshot Social Game Club space at 1304 MacTavish Ave. Behind Scotty’s is Chris Farag, whose ownership group also owns Southern Railway Taphouse in Shockoe Slip.
Also on the consent agenda is a conceptual location, character and extent review for the planned Mayo Island Park and a final such review for a Brown’s Island improvement plan.
On the regular agenda is an ordinance to direct the conveyance of city-owned land at 1501 Fendall Ave. to nonprofit Eden Village of Richmond for development of 30-40 affordable housing units for renters with annual incomes between 30-80% of the area median income. The properties are among those included in the city’s latest surplus property disposition plan.
Deferred from March is a special-use request for The Lawson Cos.’ plan for 180 income-restricted apartments on a 10-acre site at 5015 Snead Road in the Piney Knolls area.
Chesterfield seeking public input on Route 10 land-use plan
The development node recommended near the Chesterfield airport and Daniel Park. (Courtesy Chesterfield County)
A community meeting is scheduled this week to gather input that would inform a new land-use plan for the Route 10 corridor north of Chesterfield’s courthouse area.
County officials recently unveiled the proposed Northern Route 10 Corridor Plan, which would be used to guide development of a 3.5-mile stretch of Iron Bridge Road between the county airport and Chippenham Parkway.
The 858-acre area includes the Austin Woods and Meridian Watermark residential developments, the Food Lion-anchored Irongate Shopping Center and surrounding areas.
On Tuesday, a public open house meeting will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Beulah Recreation Center, 6901 Hopkins Road. Members of the public can learn about the draft proposal and share feedback on it.
The draft plan would guide future rezonings and land-use decisions. It features recommendations for design standards, infrastructure, pedestrian access and other topics. If adopted, the plan wouldn’t change the zoning of parcels in the area or tee up development projects.
The county is also running an online survey where people can weigh in on the project until 4:30 p.m. on May 23.
Steve Rodriguez
New IT director named for Hanover County
Hanover announced last week that Steve Rodriguez will be the county’s new information technology director effective July 1.
Rodriguez has spent nearly two decades working in local government, most recently as assistant director of administrative services for Livermore, California.
While in that role, he increased cybersecurity protections and introduced digital tools for the city’s employees and residents, according to a Hanover news release.
Powhatan supervisors approve FY26 budget
The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget.
The approved operating budget totals about $124 million. Some areas of the county’s operating budget saw increases over last year, such as a 2% increase in its school operating fund to $62.6 million for FY26, and a 6.4% increase in the public safety budget to $14.7 million.
The capital projects budget saw a dive, with a 20.6% decrease from FY25, bringing it to $3.5 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
The full budget and additional documents can be viewed on the county’s website.
Divided Hopewell council fires city manager, hires former Petersburg CFO as replacement
Hopewell City Council voted 4-3 last week to fire its city manager and clerk and the following day announced the hiring of a new city manager.
Michael Rogers, a former COO and CFO for Petersburg and most recently interim city manager for Charlottesville, was announced as Hopewell’s new city manager. Rogers also has held leadership roles with Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States, University of the District of Columbia and DC Healthcare Systems, and was a deputy mayor/city administrator for Washington, D.C.
The announcement came a day after the divided council vote to dismiss Concetta Manker, who had been city manager for two years, and city clerk Brittani Williams, according to news reports. The council had also considered firing Manker earlier this year, but that February vote ended in a tie.
The vote, which caused controversy in the meeting room, was split among racial lines. The four councilors who voted to remove Manker are white, while the three councilors who voted to keep her are black. Manker, Williams and Rogers are black. The councilors who voted to remove Manker and Williams did not explain their rationale at the meeting, according to a Times-Dispatch report.
In a statement, Hopewell Mayor Johnny Partin said Rogers was instrumental in restoring Petersburg’s financial structure and has worked in a national setting with one of the largest health care providers in the U.S. “We are fortunate to be able to work with him and learn from him,” Partin said.
Deputy City Clerk Sade’ Allen is serving as city clerk until a replacement is hired.