A house that stands in the way of the Gayton Road extension has an unlikely new tenant: Henrico County. By paying $1,400 a month to rent the house at 12520 Bacova Drive, the county keeps from paying to relocate anyone else who might rent it. “This is a fairly large house, seven rooms and a two-car garage,“ said Jon B. Tracy, director of real property for the county. “There could be all sorts of things we would have to move. In addition, we’re trying to negotiate with an owner in acquisition of real property. We don’t want to delay it in any possible way. We have a time schedule. They want to start moving earth as soon as possible.“

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.

Despite corporate bankruptcies, high unemployment rates and home foreclosures, Henrico County property owners are paying their real estate taxes on time. Supervisor Patricia S. O’Bannon asked about the issue last night as the board voted to approve appropriations of $1.15 billion in the county operating budget and $53 million in the capital budget for the 2010 fiscal year.