After decades as the Richmond-area’s fastest-growing localities, Chesterfield and Henrico counties are seeing development interest wane. Chesterfield, the region’s largest bedroom community, has received only five residential rezoning requests so far this year, and Henrico just seven. Meanwhile, much smaller Hanover County has received 21, possibly because of lower land values.

Chesterfield County residents want to see growth directed north, toward Richmond, with a focus on compact, walkable communities that offer businesses. They also want the southern and western portions of the county left largely untouched. Those were among the findings of a recent series of resident input meetings, the results of which will shape the county’s new comprehensive plan—the first attempt to address countywide growth and infrastructure since the 1980s.

A series of public workshops on Chesterfield County’s under-construction comprehensive plan will kick off this week. The sessions will run through Oct. 6 in each of the county’s five magisterial districts. The input collected will be incorporated into the plan, which will be shaped by a 34-member residents steering committee, county staff and a team of planners.

Henrico’s path to the future will not follow Interstate 295 south to the James River with suburban development. The comprehensive plan adopted last night was amended to address the concerns of Varina residents.

When Nelda Snyder grew up near the James River in eastern Henrico County in the 1940s, going to the city meant a long trip through the country on roads so narrow that cars almost scraped sides when they passed. She still lives at Arrahatteck, named for the Indians who lived there before the first English settlers arrived in the early 1600s, but at age 73 she finds her idyllic slice of woodland situated between an interstate and a toll road.

Henrico County’s 2026 Comprehensive Plan will offer more support for agriculture and open space, if supervisors follow the latest staff recommendations. County Planning Director Joe Emerson suggested the revisions during last week’s Board of Supervisors work session, based on public comments during the June meeting. Most of the comments came from Varina residents, with variations on the theme of “Don’t turn Varina into another Short Pump.“ Supervisors will vote on the comprehensive plan next month.

Quigley Harton Chesterfield County resident-watchdogs have come together with the goal of keeping residents better informed. Midlothian resident Lisa Quigley recently read an op-ed piece by Mike Harton, an education consultant, in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on the topic of school leadership in Chesterfield. She liked his message and decided to shoot him an e-mail.

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.

Henrico County’s 2026 Comprehensive Plan covers the entire county, but Varina was the only area worth talking about for most of the speakers at last night’s public hearing. From the Varina Beautification Committee to a tree farmer who lives on the border with New Kent County, speakers asked the county Board of Supervisors not to turn Varina into another Short Pump.

The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Thursday to approve an $869,920 contract with a Florida-based planning group to form a new guideline for county growth. Renaissance Planning Group has been selected to lead the overhaul of the county’s comprehensive plan, which will shape future development in Chesterfield.