4 residential developments proposed in Varina, Tuckahoe, and Fairfield

Four new residential developments are being proposed across Henrico County, which if approved would result in the construction of 247 residential units. These proposals, and others, will to be reviewed by the Henrico Planning Commission at its Sept. 11 meeting.

The first and largest proposal is in the Tuckahoe District from Wilton Commercial II, LLC It’s for a mixed-use development to be known as Wilton Canterbury Green, which would include two five-story buildings containing apartments and offices on Patterson Avenue, west of its intersection with Pump Road.

Development would happen in phases to allow the existing offices’ and childcare facility’s leases to expire. The first phase would build a five-story building on the unoccupied portion, with 8,450 square feet of office space and 68 residential units ranging from studios to three bedrooms. Only 10 units would have three bedrooms.

The second phase would replace the existing buildings with a second five-story building containing one and two-bedroom residential units and parking. Neither building would be taller than 80 feet.

The land is across the street from the Canterbury Shopping District and next to the Canterbury Square Apartments; the site has two access points on Patterson and one on Pump Road that also connects to the retail and office space to the east.

Maybeury Elementary and Freeman High, which would serve the new residential units, have been at or above capacity for several years, so additional students could trigger the need for additional relief measures at both schools.

Henrico planners have indicated they would support the request if the proposal contained more details about the parking and landscape buffers, if the developer agreed to build a sidewalk along Patterson, and if construction hours were limited on Saturdays.

Elderhomes Corp. wants to build 60 small-lot single-family homes at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Street in the Varina District. (Courtesy Henrico County/Elderhomes Corp.)

The second proposal new proposal is in the Varina District, from Elderhomes Corp. It’s for 60 small lot single-family detached homes on 17 acres at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Street. The site is currently wooded and has contains a floodplain and wetlands area.

Along with the homes, the developer has offered to build two amenities. The proposal again utilizes the new R-5 zoning district to allow denser construction, which county officials hope will result in more affordable residential options.

The proposal follows on the heels of another such development that received a unanimous recommendation of approval from the commission in August. Access points would be a right turn lane on Nine Mile Road and a connection onto Robin Avenue.

County planners said they would be supportive of the proposal if it included a sidewalk and landscaping improvements along the entirety of Nine Mile Road. This development may also push Highland Springs High School over capacity, according to planners.

The River Mill subdivision in Glen Allen would expand if this 39-single-family-home development proposal ultimately earns county approval. (Courtesy Henrico County)

The third proposal is in Glen Allen, for 39 single-family homes on seven acres at the intersection of Winfrey Road and Woodman Road to become part of the existing River Mill development. The site currently is an empty field. This development also plans to utilize the new R-5 zoning district allowing smaller lots, making it the third development proposal in two months to do so.

The site is next to the location of a future portion of the Fall Line Trail and that portion of Woodman Road also is planned for expansion to four lanes. The lots would be accessed from a network of alleys, with parking located on the eastern side of the development. There also would be central greenspace called “The Mews” for residents to use and gather on.

Planners suggested the developer add more details about street parking, pedestrian amenities and specifics of the vegetation to be planted. Were that to happen, they would support the proposal, conditional upon any feedback the developer may have received at its community meeting held Sept. 2.

Planners did note that the community would feed to Glen Allen High School, which has been pushing its capacity in recent years.

A developer wants to build a row of 14 single-family homes on 7 acres at the intersection of Church Road and Covey Run Drive in Henrico's Far West End. (Courtesy Henrico County)

Other proposals to be considered include:

• two cases deferred from the commission's August meeting, including a proposal for a data center in the Varina District and a 57-unit townhouse development in Glen Allen;

• Tuckahoe: A single row of 14-single family homes on 7 acres at the intersection of Church Road and Covey Run Drive, accessed from Covey Run Drive;

• Brookland: A two-acre conservation area on the west side of Staples Mill Road, south of its intersection with Bremner Boulevard;

• Three Chopt: An office building/warehouse on Mayland Drive, south of its intersection with Parham Road;

• Tuckahoe: A permit for a snooker hall at the intersection of Old Parham Road and Blankenship Road.

The meeting will take place Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administration Building at the Western Government Center (4301 E. Parham Rd.) Members of the public who want to attend in person or via livestream can find details online.