Henrico Board of Supervisors denies plans for 49-home subdivision in Highland Springs

Henrico’s Board of Supervisors Sept. 9 unanimously voted against a rezoning case that would have brought 49 new single-family homes to the Highland Springs area.

The controversial case has seen both support and opposition from Varina residents. Several residents living nearby the proposed site spoke out about how the development would bring density and safety issues, while other Eastern Henrico residents said that more housing, particularly affordable housing, is desperately needed in the area.

Varina District supervisor Tyrone Nelson, who made the motion for the denial, said that the decision was difficult for him to make, but that he ultimately decided against it after talking more with concerned residents.

“It’s a hard case that I have wrestled with, going back and forth about it. It’s been tough, honestly. I feel like either way, there’s a case that has been made,” he said. “On one hand, you have the community. The community doesn’t want it. They feel it’s unsafe, there’s going to be a lot of traffic. Some of them want to keep their quiet neighborhood.”

Nelson initially moved to defer the case at an Aug. 12 meeting, after hearing from about a dozen community members. The case would have rezoned about 36 acres of land northeast of the intersection between North Airport Drive and North Washington Street, preserving about 19 acres as conservation land. 

Following community opposition, developer Dorado Capital, LLC had reduced the initial proposal of over 100 homes – a mix of single-family and townhouses – down to 80 single-family homes, and then further reduced the proposed development to 49 single-family homes.

Many residents who opposed the case also stand against a similar 95-home housing development proposed near the same neighborhood on a 66-acre parcel northeast of the intersection between North Washington Street and Delbert Drive. A rezoning case that would allow for this development to be built will be heard by the Board of Supervisors later this year.

Nelson said that rather than looking at each rezoning case individually, he wants to weigh both cases together. However, he did not indicate whether he would also vote against the upcoming rezoning case for the proposed 95-home development.

Nelson also said that more affordable housing opportunities could be made available for Henrico residents through the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust.

Another rezoning case, which would allow a housing development of up to 32 single-family homes to be built in Fairfield, was deferred to an Oct. 14 meeting.

Residents voice concerns about new addiction recovery center, proposed Hanover data center

At Tuesday’s meeting, several Tuckahoe residents gathered to speak out against a new addiction recovery center, Sobright Recovery, that was established this past spring within a home on Turnbull Avenue, not far from the intersection of Parham Road and Patterson Avenue in the West End. The center is privately-owned and treats individuals with substance use disorders.

Thomas Rogers, who lives with his wife and two children just across the street from the new center, said that he and many other neighbors are very concerned, especially because the facility currently houses a registered tier three sex offender.

“We are left with a continuous cycle of recovering addicts and violent sex offenders constantly in and out. All it takes is for one of these individuals, who we know nothing about, to slip up,” Rogers said. “My wife and I no longer feel safe in a home and county we once loved. My neighbors, many of whom are with me tonight, are outraged. . . This is a dangerous, poorly managed business playing with our safety.”

Rogers also said that neighbors were never notified about the new center moving into their neighborhood.

Tuckahoe District supervisor Jody Rogish said that he was unaware of the facility until recently, and promised that the county will immediately investigate the situation.

“I had no idea what was going on over there,” Rogish said. “We do have new tools, I think, in the toolbox to potentially address some of this.”

Another Henrico resident, Jonathan Ward, who lives in the Wyndham community, spoke out to the board about a proposed data center that would be located on a 400-acre parcel near the neighborhood, but in Hanover County. The site would be just a mile away from Shady Grove Elementary School.

“Our children should not be collateral damage in this situation against the ambient air pollution from a data center across the Chickahominy [River],” he said. “Hanover collects the tax revenue. Henrico absorbs the pollution, the traffic and property value decline.”

Three Chopt District supervisor Misty Roundtree said that she only learned about the proposal this past Friday after being contacted by a journalist. She said that Henrico supervisors are intent on being part of future conversations with Hanover County about the data center.

“It is very early in the process, but we do intend to engage in conversations,” she said. “We can’t tell Hanover what to do, but we can certainly have robust discussions and call upon good faith discussions about how this does impact Henrico residents, as well as Hanover residents.”

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.