Henrico Planning Commission advances two proposals, including trucking compliance case
After three months of back-and-forth, the Henrico Planning Commission reached a tentative agreement with the owner of a contract trucking business in the Varina District to make a series of improvements that will bring his property (which also houses unused truck trailers) into compliance with the zoning code.
The agreed-upon changes including making improvements to the site, screening and buffering the parking area, and connecting sewer service across Darbytown Road.
The owner of DRB III Trucking LLC noted his willingness to work with the county but also cited the high cost of compliance — including $100,000 to connect utilities — and his need to make a profit in a time of rising fuel costs.
Varina Planning Commissioner William Mackey said that this agreement wouldn’t be enough to resolve all issues, but that the commission needed to move the case forward because it was the only way to make space for resolution. If the case was denied, then the owner wouldn’t be able to move to the plan of development stage, which has to happen before the site changes can be finalized.
“We never want to try and get in between somebody’s livelihood and the opportunity to earn a living,” said Mackey, “I’m certain that the board [of supervisors] will require you to do more than you’re offering right now. I don’t want to send it up with a recommendation of denial because that’ll be hard for you.”
The commission also recommended approval for a proposal to rezone the former DMV office at Brook Road and Magellan Parkway in Glen Allen to allow commercial access and certain commercial uses. The owner hopes to sell or lease the site for commercial uses that may have later hours than the original DMV office operated, requiring changes to how visitors would enter and exit the site.
Additionally, the commission deferred a proposal to rezone 73 acres on Pocahontas Parkway in Varina until its Sept. 10 meeting.
