Henrico supervisors to consider $61.4M in road and trail contracts, affordable housing efforts Oct. 27

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors will consider awarding more than $61.4 million in construction contracts for road improvements and the Fall Line Trail during its Oct. 27 meeting, along with proposals to establish a local marijuana sales tax, restrict public marijuana consumption and support two affordable housing initiatives.

Supervisors also will hold a public hearing on a proposal to use eminent domain to acquire easements needed for another section of the Fall Line Trail.

The board's regular meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the board room at the Henrico County Government Center, 4301 East Parham Road.

More than $61 million in road and trail contracts

The largest proposed contract is a $45.53-million agreement with Shirley Contracting Company LLC for improvements to Three Chopt Road in the Three Chopt and Tuckahoe districts.

The project would improve Three Chopt Road between Barrington Hill Drive and a point approximately 1,000 feet east of Gaskins Road.

Improvements would include a four-lane roadway with curbs and gutters, either a shared center left-turn lane or raised median, four-foot sidewalks on both sides, drainage improvements, water and sewer infrastructure, signage and pavement markings.

Construction is expected to begin in November and take approximately three years.

Shirley Contracting submitted the lowest of three bids received by the county. The other bids were approximately $48.94 million from Branch Civil Inc. and $51.47 million from Sagres Construction Corporation.

Supervisors also will consider awarding a $15.92-million contract to Crowder Construction Company for four interconnected Fall Line Trail projects in the Fairfield District.

The projects include Lakeside Community Trail phases two and three, the Brook Road and Hilliard Road Trail, and Hilliard Road Safety and Mobility Improvements.

Together, the projects would create approximately 1.6 miles of 12-foot-wide shared-use trail between Dumbarton Road at Gillespie Avenue and Brook Road at Lakeside Avenue.

The work also would include approximately half a mile of bicycle lanes along Hilliard Road, pedestrian bridges and boardwalks, a pedestrian hybrid beacon on Dumbarton Road, a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon on Hilliard Road, accessibility ramps and stormwater infrastructure.

Construction is expected to begin in November and take approximately two years.

Crowder submitted the lowest of two bids for the project, substantially below the approximately $23.43-million proposal submitted by Sagres Construction Corporation.

The two proposed contracts total approximately $61.45 million. Both are structured as unit-price agreements, meaning final payments will depend on the quantities of work completed. Funding is available within the respective project budgets, according to county officials.

Marijuana tax and consumption restrictions

Supervisors will consider introducing an ordinance that would establish a 3.5% local sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products, consistent with state law.

Under the proposal, the tax rate would remain in effect for at least three years, as currently required by state law.

The board also will consider introducing a separate ordinance that would prohibit marijuana consumption or offering marijuana to others in public parks, playgrounds, public streets and sidewalks adjoining public streets.

The proposal also would prohibit marijuana possession or consumption on public school grounds and establish permitted sales hours for marijuana retailers and microbusinesses licensed by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority.

The board is not scheduled to adopt either ordinance Oct. 27; both would be scheduled for public hearings Nov. 10.

The proposals are separate from a package of marijuana-related zoning regulations that the Henrico Planning Commission recommended for approval Oct. 15. Those regulations, which would govern where various marijuana businesses could operate, also are scheduled for consideration by supervisors Nov. 10.

Affordable housing initiatives

Two additional proposals would support affordable housing efforts.

One would authorize an agreement with Housing Families First to establish a housing coaching and counseling pilot program for current residents of Glenwood Farms.

The program would fund a full-time staff position to assist residents as the community is transformed into a mixed-income development offering a variety of housing types.

According to county officials, the goal is to help existing residents remain in the community during and after its redevelopment.

The county's initial contribution would be $66,000.

A separate proposal would authorize an amended agreement with the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust involving 20 existing single-family homes in the Arcadia development in the Varina District.

The land trust plans to acquire the homes and make them available to qualifying purchasers earning no more than 115% of the Richmond metropolitan area's median income.

The county also proposes providing financial support to the land trust, which would seek at least $300,000 in matching donations.

Eminent domain proposal

Supervisors also will hold a public hearing on a proposal to authorize condemnation proceedings involving two properties at 1501 and 1519 Mountain Road in the Fairfield District.

The county seeks approximately 4,011 square feet of permanent joint-use utility easements needed for the Longdale phase of the Fall Line Trail.

The properties are owned by Ridge Homes LLC.

According to the county, officials offered $6,607 for the easements based on independent appraisals, but the parties have not reached an agreement.

The proposed resolution would authorize the county attorney to pursue condemnation proceedings while directing the county manager to continue seeking a voluntary agreement.

Afternoon work session

Before the regular meeting, supervisors will hold a special meeting beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the County Manager's Conference Room at the Henrico County Government Center.

The agenda includes an annual update from Richmond Region Tourism from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., a housing update from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a discussion of Opioid Abatement Authority grants from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents may attend the regular meeting in person or participate remotely through the county's online meeting system.