By a vote of 4-1 with Jim Ingle dissenting, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning for the Courthouse Landing mixed-use project last week.
The June 24 meeting was the first one in months since the COVID-19 virus hit that allowed residents to speak in person during public comment. A number availed themselves of the opportunity.
“This is an extremely solid project,” Dale District resident David Harris said. “It could fund schools and teacher raises” and add restaurants. “We need more jobs and tax money. We [have to]keep our teachers from leaving.”
Mike Uzel said that, although the 124 acres are being “downzoned” from C-5 to C-3 commercial, “half of it is being ‘upzoned’” from agricultural to commercial zoning.
“How can you put three things in an ‘upscale’ shopping center that are not ‘upscale?’” Phil Lohr asked. “A Sheetz gas station is a crime magnet,” he said, referring to crime surveys.
Board chair Leslie Haley asked about environmental concerns regarding stormwater retention and runoff.
Scott Smedley, the county’s director of environmental engineering, said the property contains “very many low-lying areas” and added that “fill” would be added, along with a significant storm sewer network.
In regard to the project, developer’s attorney Andrew Condlin said, “The only thing that’s guaranteed is the office and road improvements.”
Garrett Hart, the county’s Economic Development director, said he believes the development will include a medical office and hotel. “The Route 288 interchange offers opportunity for economic development on a regional scale,” he said.
During his comments, Ingle did not telegraph his vote but said many are in favor of the project and many are against it. “This was thoroughly vetted,” he said.
In response to complaints that citizens’ comments were not read aloud during previous virtual meetings, Matoaca District supervisor Kevin Carroll said he read “every single comment” that came before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
Although he supported the project, Carroll said, “I think there is some other traffic mitigation we may have to do.”
Dale District Supervisor Jim Holland, noting that in a letter about the project in January he asked that three areas be improved, said last week that the developer had addressed “three critical issues,” which were traffic and impact on schools and the county airport.
Holland called it “a great development” and motioned for the rezoning approval. Haley seconded it.
“I do believe we will get the medical [offices]and the hotel there, and that makes the difference for me,” Clover Hill District supervisor Chris Winslow said. He called the project “a net positive” and said “it just got over the line for me.”
Haley said the project will help meet a perceived need for housing for law enforcement officers and teachers.
Courthouse Landing Stats
DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS
- New 124-acre mixed-use development
- Excellent access and visibility at Route 288 and Iron Bridge Road
- Prime location at Chesterfield County Courthouse
- Two signalized access points
- Road widening
- Route 10 in design with VDOT
- Courthouse Road by developer — 5 lanes with 2 traffic signals
PROJECT DETAILS
- ± 300,000 square feet retail
- ± 100,000 square feet medical offices
- ± 300 units multifamily
- ± 290 units townhomes
- ± 130-room hotel
Other news
The supervisors also approved a project at 12208 Iron Bridge Road that would result in 50 senior apartments.
The developer, Carthan Currin, requested to rezone 4 acres from corporate office (O-2) and community business (C-3) to commercial business with a conditional use permit and conditional planned unit development to permit ordinance exceptions regarding buffers and setbacks.
A rezoning of 1 acre at 11701 N. Enon Church Road was approved for The Landings at Meadowville. Developer’s representative Kerry Hutcherson said the property is “kind of an in-fill piece” left over from when the adjacent property was rezoned some years ago. The owner of the 1-acre property had refused to sell but recently changed her mind, Hutcherson said.
Five applications were received for two seats on the Economic Development Authority board, but current members Harril Whitehurst and John Hughes were reappointed to four-year terms.
The supervisors’ next meeting is scheduled for July 22.
