Henrico Planning Commission recommends approval of 3 residential developments, denial of 1

The Henrico Planning Commission Sept. 11 recommended approval of three proposals for residential developments but denial of one other. If ultimately approved by the Henrico Board of Supervisors, the former group would bring a total of 201 new residential units to the county.

The first proposal, from Koontz, Bryant, Johnson, Williams Inc., is for a mixed-use development with two five-story buildings containing 132 apartments plus offices. It would be located in Tuckahoe on Patterson Avenue, west of its intersection with Pump Road (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.

Development would happen in phases. The first phase would be one five-story building with 8,450 square feet of office space and 68 residential units. A second five-story building containing 64 residential units and parking would be built later.

Tuckahoe Commissioner Brian Winterhoff brought up a recent VDOT study of Patterson Avenue that has recommended safety improvements to the entire stretch of the road in that area. The changes would be designed to reduce the risk of accidents and also address residents’ concerns about adding more vehicles to the area.

A Henrico Schools planner also spoke to the potential for overcrowding, as Maybeury Elementary and Freeman High have been at or above capacity for several years. The school system is considering redistricting the site into a different school zone in 2026 after public hearing and comment.

The commission also endorsed a proposal for a 57-townhome development at the corner of Mountain Road and Woodman Road in Fairfield. The eight-acre site is currently vacant with a stream and its floodplain on the western side. The plan includes townhomes, a park at the corner of Mountain and Woodman, and a sidewalk along the south side of Mountain.

Based upon feedback from area residents the developer, HHHunt Land LLC, has added a proposed pedestrian path connecting the development to the Townes at Woodman, if the Townes HOA approves it, and agreed to preserve more of the existing trees along the southern side of the development as well as at the corner of Mountain and Woodman. The stream and floodplain would be left undeveloped.

The developer also agreed, during the meeting, to move the start of construction back from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. during the week.

In addition, the commission recommended approval of a proposal for a single row of 14-single family homes in Tuckahoe at the intersection of Church Road and Covey Run Drive, next to the Covey Run subdivision.

Henrico planners had suggested that the developer link Covey Run, which is currently a cul-de-sac, and Browerton Road to reduce traffic. Multiple Covey Run subdivision residents spoke in opposition to any road linkage, saying it would bring more traffic and noise and make the streets less safe for children.

At the same time, several praised the developer, Main Street Homes of Va. Inc., for its willingness to modify the original proposal based upon resident feedback.

Some residents also noted that the amount of development in the area raised risks of school overcrowding and expressed frustration that they might lose access to the school their children attend to make space for new development.

The planners' staff report indicated that Pocahontas Middle School and Godwin High School are not at danger of going over capacity in the next five years. Gayton Elementary School, on the other hand, has reached capacity more than once during the past five years and may become overcrowded in the next five.

“We actually got into a massive bidding war — eight bids for a home that was on the market for like three days to get into that school. So if we’re going to get into that bidding war, drive up the home values, and then find out that we get redistricted or the school is over capacity, it completely undermines the entire point that we moved out here,” said Covey Run resident Jonathan Rose.

The commission also recommended denial of a proposal from Elderhomes Corp. for 60 small-lot single-family detached homes on 17 acres in the Varina District at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Newbridge Road. The site is currently wooded with a floodplain on the western portion and wetlands on the western portion. Access points would be a right turn lane on Nine Mile Road and a connection onto Robin Road.

One area resident, who owns a neighboring business, pointed out that the lack of a left turn option on Nine Mile Road may lead to an increase in U-turns to enter the property, which would raise the risk of traffic accidents. He also noted that there’s an existing issue with flooding during storms.

Henrico Planning Director Joe Emerson added that several attempts to develop that site had failed because of drainage issues.

Varina Commissioner William said that while those issues could be resolved before the proposal reaches the board of supervisors, the commission would recommend denial.

The board of supervisors is scheduled to hear all four cases at its Tuesday, Oct. 14 meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administration Building at the Henrico County Government Center, located at Parham and Hungary Spring Roads.

Members of the public who wish to attend in person or via livestream can find more information on the Henrico County website.