Henrico residents concerned about growth

By: MELODIE N. MARTIN TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER | Richmond Times Dispatch
Published: January 22, 2009

From the edge of Richmond to Short Pump, there are 110 acres of buildings but 1,440 acres of parking lots along West Broad Street in Henrico County.

That shows how space in already-developed areas of the county is not being used to its fullest potential, said Sheila Sheppard, coordinator of the Richmond-based Partnership for Smarter Growth.

"Given our current economic climate, to continue to sprawl outward is extremely costly. We can barely afford to fix our current roads, so expanding into new communities isn't something we can really afford right now," Sheppard said.

Sheppard has been working with Henrico residents concerned about the impact of a proposed land-use plan on the county's remaining farmland and open space and on their quality of life.

"We're concerned the plan opens up a vast amount of acreage in historically rural Varina to growth," Sheppard said.

Henrico Planning Director Joe Emerson disagrees with that assessment. He said only 7 percent, or about 5,000 acres, in the eastern end of Henrico is designated for more intense land uses.

The Henrico Planning Commission will hold a public hearing tonight on the draft Vision 2026 Comprehensive Plan, which will guide development in the county through 2026. The hearing begins at 6 p.m. in the Government Center Board Room, 4301 E. Parham Road.

The draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan has been several years in the making and close to 600 comments have been received thus far, but county planners still want to hear and address concerns before sending it on to the Board of Supervisors for final adoption, Emerson said.

"Unfortunately, you don't hear from a lot of people until development occurs right next door to them," Emerson said.

He said some changes have already been made as a result of public feedback, such as a section addressing bicycle and pedestrian facilities and the designation of three areas -- Marion Hill, the central West Broad Street corridor and the South Laburnum Avenue corridor -- for further, in-depth study.

For details about the draft comprehensive plan, visit www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan.htm. Written comments may be sent to the Henrico County Planning Department, P.O. Box 90775, Henrico, VA 23273-0775.

Contact Melodie N. Martin at (804) 649-6290 or mmartin@timesdispatch.com.