Commission endorses plans for Eastern Henrico solar farm, denies small residential proposal
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The Henrico Planning Commission Nov. 13 recommended approval of a proposal to build a solar farm on 57 acres in Eastern Henrico, adjacent to the Oakwood Cemetery on the site of a former landfill.
The farm would take shape at the intersection of Milburn Avenue and Voegier Road, adjacent to the interchange of I-64 and Nine Mile Road near the Richmond-Henrico line.
The facility is estimated to generate two megawatts of electricity a year, enough to power 2,200 homes. The land would be leased for 35 years before returning to the county’s control.
The commission also recommended denial of a proposal from Youngblood Properties LLC to build four single-family homes in the Brookland District, at the intersection of Tiller Road and Brennen Robert Place. The site already has one home on it and can hold only a few more homes due to a lack of sewer and some environmental constraints.
Multiple local residents spoke in opposition, raising particular concern about the state of the existing septic system with only one house. Some said it was already failing.
Brookland Commissioner Bob Witte said that he was concerned about the impact to future development of nearby properties, something that had already been called out by the planning department, and that the proposed zoning didn’t fit the area.
Brow Holdings LLC’s proposal to build a 103-home development in the Varina District – “Steeple Lane” – was deferred at the developer’s request to the commission’s Dec. 11 meeting. All other cases are scheduled to be considered by the Henrico Board of Supervisors at its Dec. 2 meeting.
