Planning commission recommends gas processing facility, commercial/residential development
0The Chesterfield County Planning Commission on Sept. 21 recommended approval of a methane gas processing facility on the Shoosmith Bros., Inc. property and a commercial and residential development nearby on Ironbridge Road. The proposals were on the commission’s consent agenda and had no public opposition. The gas processing facility would be built on 10.3 acres south of Ironbridge Road and would process methane from Phase 1 of the landfill but not Phase 2. Two people spoke during public comment in favor of the proposal, but Renee Eldred said she preferred that the company — which is joining with Swift Creek…
School bus drivers, masks key topics at school board meeting
0An effort to hire more bus drivers has begun to pay off, according to Chesterfield County Public School officials. As a result of recently increasing the hourly pay for drivers to $20.21 an hour, the school system has over 350 new applicants. During the board’s Sept. 14 afternoon work session, transportation director James C. Frye said the pay rate was increased to $14.84 in September 2019 and then raised to $15.59 in December 2019. This year, it was increased to $17.21 in August and again in September. “We’re very excited about the increase in driver pay,” Frye said. “Chesterfield County…
Chesterfield’s population rises 15%, school board requires masks, approves transgender policy
0Chesterfield County grew 15.3 percent from 2010 to 2020 according to preliminary figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. Chesterfield’s growth rate topped Richmond (11) and Henrico (6), but trailed some fast-growing Northern Virginia counties such as Loudoun (34.8), Stafford (21) and Prince William (20). In fact, Loudoun grew so fast it overtook Chesterfield as the state’s fourth-largest locality, behind Fairfax, Prince William and Virginia Beach. The population growth in Northern and Central Virginia will result in a shift of state representation from Southwestern and Southern Virginia. The 16-person independent redistricting commission is working on redrawing boundaries that will go into…
Aird, Chase named most liberal, conservative legislators; Coyner the most moderate
0The area has the most liberal House member and most conservative Senate member in Virginia, according to rankings of the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions compiled by a statistics major at Yale University. Armin Thomas compiled the maps based on an algorithm developed by two political scientists in the 1980s. In the results, Del. Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg) was the most liberal House member and Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) was the most conservative Senate member. Aird’s district includes southwestern Chesterfield County. Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield) was the most moderate member of either legislative body, and the only one out of 100…
Supervisors get update on economic development; A number of projects are underway or in planning
0The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors heard an update from the Economic Development Department during their July 28 meeting. Economic Development Director Garrett Hart noted that the county’s unemployment rate has fallen from a recent high of 10.7 percent in April 2020 to 3.7 percent this past April. There were 7,799 open employee positions advertised as of July 28, Hart said. Capital One is expanding by 200,000 square feet in the Meadowville development, Jake Elder, the department’s small business assistant, said. In addition, Red Rock Developments of Columbia, S.C., recently began building a 353,044-square-foot speculative building in Meadowville Technology Park,…
McShay’s 20-home development, Royal Farms recommended by Planning Commission
0Despite complaints from area residents about a proposed development running through a cul de sac, the Chesterfield County Planning Commission on July 20 recommended approval of a rezone for McShay Communities. McShay, which was represented by local land use attorney Jack Wilson, offered a proffer to limit all construction traffic to an entry/exit on Kingsland Road, which was approved. Planning staff noted that the developer originally didn’t want to use Kingsland Road as an additional access, but it was required by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Several residents of Excalibur Place — which was required as an access by state…
Morrissey talks Aug. 2 special session, November state House races
0The No. 1 topic that will be decided during a special session of the General Assembly that begins Aug. 2 is spending $4.3 billion of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan. State Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) said that various cities and counties are vying for money for capital projects. He said that the second biggest item would be appointing members to the state court of appeals. Recent legislation expanded the court from 11 to 17 members, but there have also been two retirements, Morrissey said, so legislators will have to appoint a total of eight new members. The legislation,…
County set to buy Southside Speedway; Jeff Davis Hwy to be renamed
0On June 23, the Chesterfield County supervisors authorized the county’s purchase of the 47-acre Southside Speedway. The motion was for authorization to spend up to $5 million for the three parcels, but Economic Development Director Garrett Hart said the actual price is $4.5 million plus $270,000 for a 6 percent real estate commission. The purchase will enable the county to decide what goes on the properties near 12800 Genito Road, Hart said. The county will begin putting together a plan of development, he said, noting that the public will be part of the process. “There is nothing in this purchase…