Chesterfield County adopted a new special area plan for the north Jefferson Davis Highway Area last week.
The supervisors approved the plan 4-0 with Supervisor Chris Winslow absent. The plan replaces one that was approved in 1993.
The plan – which covers the Bellwood, Bensley and Ampthill areas – includes over 13 square miles and some 12,000 residents and 12,000 jobs, county planning director Andrew Gillies said. He noted that the county began working on the revised plan in 2015 and said that more than 96 community meetings were held.
Among the plan’s goals are enhancing the area’s gateways, pedestrian and bicycle access and building a regional activity center. That latter would be a “walkable” mixed-use development.
Ree Hart, a representative of the Ampthill Civic Association, said that many improvements were made as a result of the old plan but more than a third of its recommendations were never realized.
“We need a more defined strategy and dedicated funding [source],” she said. “Much of what was accomplished was with federal funds.”
Jefferson Davis Association representative Kim Marble asked for funding for a streetscape design pilot project.
Matoaca District Supervisor Steve Elswick said the county should consider funding for the plan in the next bond referendum. He noted that one in Ettrick also needs funding.
Dale District Supervisor Jim Holland asked county staff to give the supervisors annual progress reports on implementation of the plan.
Project manager Jimmy Bowling said a steering committee will make recommendations based on the plan.
