Henrico supervisors to consider six development proposals, nearly $10 million in construction contracts Oct. 13

The Henrico Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider six development and land-use proposals as part of seven zoning and provisional-use-permit cases Oct. 13, including a mixed-use apartment project in the Westwood area, a 7 Brew drive-through coffee shop near Richmond International Airport, a DogServices kennel near West Broad Street and a nearly 74-acre industrial project in the Varina District.

The board also is scheduled to hold public hearings involving several county property transactions and condemnations associated with road projects, and to consider awarding nearly $9.7 million in construction contracts for five county projects.

The board's complete agenda is available online.

Westwood apartment project returns

Spy Rock Real Estate Group's proposal to build a 224-unit mixed-use apartment development at the southeast corner of Westmoreland and Jacque streets is scheduled to return to supervisors after being deferred from its Sept. 8 meeting.

The 1.86-acre property is zoned M-1 Light Industrial and is designated Heavy Industry in Henrico's comprehensive plan, but it also lies within the county's Westwood Redevelopment Overlay District.

Spy Rock is seeking a provisional use permit that would allow multifamily residential development as part of a mixed-use project. Plans call for 224 apartments, approximately 3,500 square feet of retail space and 303 dedicated off-street parking spaces.

Planning staff supports the proposal, and the Planning Commission recommended approval earlier this year.

7 Brew proposed near Richmond International Airport

Cornerstone Midlothian LLC is seeking to redevelop a 0.59-acre property at South Laburnum Avenue and Finlay Street with a 7 Brew drive-through coffee shop.

The applicant is seeking two separate approvals: a rezoning from O-2 Office to B-2C Business and a provisional use permit allowing extended operating hours.

The site contains a former granite showroom that would be demolished. Plans submitted to the county show a 510-square-foot coffee shop with two drive-through lanes, an exterior cooler, outdoor seating and a walk-up window. No indoor seating is proposed.

The applicant is seeking permission to begin operating at 5:30 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than normally permitted. Proposed hours are 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily.

Henrico's comprehensive plan recommends office use for the property, meaning the proposed commercial use is inconsistent with that designation.

Planning staff supports the project, though, citing surrounding commercial development and improvements offered by the applicant.

Recommended conditions for the extended hours include security-camera and lighting requirements. The county also could reconsider the permit if the extended hours resulted in documented problems involving traffic, noise, loitering, crime or other nuisances.

The Planning Commission recommended approval of both applications.

DogServices plans new location

A DogServices daycare and boarding operation also could be coming to Springfield Church Lane and Tom Leonard Drive in the Three Chopt District.

Dexstar LLC is seeking to rezone 1.03 acres from conditional B-2 business zoning to conditional B-3 zoning to permit the kennel.

DogServices previously operated on Pouncey Tract Road but closed that location to accommodate redevelopment. According to information submitted to Henrico, the former location typically served about 46 dogs per day.

The new kennel would operate from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. Veterinary and grooming services would not be offered.

The Planning Commission recommended approval.

Industrial development proposed on nearly 74 acres

Ace Investments LLC is seeking conditional industrial zoning for approximately 73.7 acres along the north side of Pocahontas Parkway, about 410 feet east of Monahan Road in Varina.

The applicant is seeking to rezone land currently designated A-1 Agricultural and M-2C General Industrial to conditional M-2C zoning.

The property would accommodate expansion of an existing hydroseeding supplies and equipment business, outdoor storage, offices and potentially other industrial tenants.

A conceptual plan includes a 16,000-square-foot office and maintenance building, a large gravel storage area and water tank. Overall building space on the property would be limited to 80,000 square feet.

The Planning Commission deferred the case in August at the applicant's request before recommending approval in September.

Former DMV site could be redeveloped

Imperial Investments Group LLC is seeking conditional B-3 business zoning for approximately 2.2 acres at Brook Road and Magellan Parkway, including a former Virginia DMV office that operated at the site from 1998 until April 2023.

The applicant proposes general retail use for the property, which currently includes land zoned R-6C General Residence and B-3 Business.

One issue involves access to the site. Construction of Magellan Parkway left the property's entrance crossing a small area of residentially zoned land, while Henrico's zoning ordinance generally prohibits access to nonresidential development through residentially zoned property.

A previous proposal to use the site for self-storage was withdrawn after the Planning Commission recommended denial.

For the current application, the owner has agreed to prohibit a number of uses, including gas stations, automobile sales and repair businesses, towing operations, hotels, car washes, convenience stores and recreational-substance retailers.

General business hours would be limited to 6 a.m. to midnight unless a separate provisional use permit were approved.

Supervisors deferred the case in September while seeking additional information about potential uses of the property. The applicant subsequently revised its proffers, and planning staff now supports the request.

The Planning Commission also has recommended approval.

Agricultural rezoning returns for decision only

Beckley Bluford Investment LLC's request to rezone 26.4 acres near Beckley Road from conservation to agricultural zoning also returns to the board.

The public hearing on the application already has been closed, meaning the case is scheduled Oct. 13 for a board decision only, rather than another public hearing.

No specific development currently is proposed.

The property previously was part of a larger unsuccessful residential rezoning application. For the new request, the owner worked with Henrico Public Works to establish that the portion proposed for rezoning is outside the floodplain.

County planning staff reported no identified historical impacts from the proposal but noted that the property is within areas associated with the Seven Pines and Garnett's and Golding's Farm Civil War battlefields and contains two previously identified archaeological sites.

Public utilities also present challenges. Extending public water to the property would require approximately 5,100 feet of new infrastructure. A 30-inch sewer line is located near the property's western boundary, while an existing 20-inch force main and county utility access road also cross portions of the property.

The case has been deferred several times. The Planning Commission recommended approval.

Nearly $10 million in construction contracts proposed

Supervisors also are scheduled to consider awarding five construction contracts totaling approximately $9.7 million for transportation, utility and government facility improvements.

The largest is a $3.73-million contract with Sagres Construction Corporation for the Libbie Avenue Road Diet project.

The project would include a roughly 725-foot shared-use path between West Broad Street and Libbie Mill West Boulevard, approximately 1,580 feet of two-way bicycle lanes extending to Bethlehem Road, parallel parking, pedestrian crossings, accessible ramps and storm sewer improvements.

Construction is expected to begin in November and take approximately 450 days.

The board also will consider a $1.04-million contract with Webb Development LLC for the first phase of the Lakeside Community Trail. That project would construct a roughly 3,500-foot-long, 12-foot-wide shared-use path from Spring Park, near Park Street, to the intersection of Dumbarton Road and Gillespie Avenue.

Construction is expected to begin in November and take approximately one year.

Another proposed contract would award nearly $1.99 million to M & F Concrete Inc. for sidewalks along Laburnum Avenue, including approximately 2,500 feet on the north side between Audubon Drive and Williamsburg Road and approximately 4,200 feet on the south side extending toward Williamsburg Road.

That project is expected to begin in December and take approximately 340 days.

The board also will consider a $1.67-million contract with J. Sanders Construction Co. for the Fruehauf Road Relief Sewer project, which would install approximately 850 feet of sewer pipes and replace sewer laterals, and a $1.27-million contract with Virtexco Corporation to modernize four elevators in the Western Government Center's courthouse and jail buildings.

Supervisors also are scheduled to consider two lease amendments involving county office space at 2010 Bremo Road and 3001 Hungary Spring Road.

The board's public meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 in the Board Room at the Henrico County Government Center, 4301 East Parham Road.

The board also has scheduled a special meeting beginning at 3:30 p.m. that day to discuss Down Syndrome Awareness Month, receive an update about automated external defibrillators and hold a closed session involving economic development and real estate negotiations.

The regular meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed. Residents may participate in public hearings and the general public-comment period either in person or remotely. Advanced registration is available but is not required; residents who register in advance will speak first.