Chesterfield starts growth-plan process

Creating Chesterfield County's future will take 18 months, 32 citizen leaders, plenty of public input and a little short of $1 million.

Last night, the county's comprehensive plan steering committee -- a mix of environmentalists, homebuilders, homemakers, real estate agents, teachers, developers and even a Richmonder or two -- kicked off the process of developing a long-range guideline for growth.

It will be the first detailed approach at shaping countywide development and infrastructure in the history of what is now Virginia's fourth-largest locality, replacing the county's current 21 individual area plans.

Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors approved an $869,920 contract with Florida-based Renaissance Planning Group to mold the plan with the help of the 32 steering committee members and the public at large.

"This really does represent a new beginning for Chesterfield," said planning director Kirkland A. Turner.

"I think the folks in the community . . . feel like we can be better than we have [been] in the past, and this is the route that we can take to get there," he said.

Joan Girone, a former Midlothian District supervisor and current member of the steering committee, echoed Turner's enthusiasm.

"I can't remember ever being so excited for a meeting," she said, stressing regional cooperation and transportation needs. "For the first time, transportation is going to be incorporated into our land-use plan, and we'll be incorporating what the rest of the region is planning."

Turner said he hoped the 18-month timeframe and citizen involvement from the outset would keep the process from dragging on.

Vlad Gavrilovic, a planner with the Renaissance Group, said the timeline was tight and the scope of work large, but he was confident the process would be productive.

"This is a very ambitious but very important project," he said.

A countywide public workshop will be held July 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Eanes-Pittman Building, 6610 Public Safety Way. Five district workshops will be held in the fall.

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or .