Henrico to consider selling county water to Powhatan, Cumberland counties

Henrico County is reigniting talks with both Powhatan and Cumberland counties on a 2011 proposal that would allow Henrico to sell other localities water from the county's Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek in Cumberland. 

On Oct. 14, the Henrico Board of Supervisors authorized County Manager John Vithoulkas to revisit an agreement with Cumberland County that would allow Henrico to sell as much as to seven million gallons of water a day. The agreement initially was drafted in 2011 but never was implemented.

At its Nov. 13 meeting, the board of supervisors is scheduled to vote on another resolution that would authorize a similar water agreement with Powhatan County. Henrico has not yet established a formal agreement with either of the counties, said Henrico Public Utilities Director Bentley Chan, with the board’s approval simply reigniting regional discussions.

Cobbs Creek Reservoir, which holds nearly 15 billion gallons of water, was completed by Henrico County last year at a cost of $280 million. The county can withdraw up to 75 million gallons of water from the James River each day to serve the reservoir.

While Henrico is under an agreement to continue purchasing drinking water from Richmond until July 1, 2040, county officials have recently invested in other water sources, after Richmond’s water plant failure this past January caused 24,000 Henrico residents to lose water for several days. Last month, the board approved a $303-million water pipeline project that would allow Henrico to supply its own water throughout the county (reaching areas in Eastern and Northern Henrico County currently served by the City of Richmond's water treatment facility) by 2031.

A regional reservoir project first was proposed in 2002, and although both Cumberland and Powhatan initially were involved in discussions, Henrico became the sole owner of Cobbs Creek Reservoir in 2011. Both Henrico and Cumberland ended up not moving forward with a 2011 draft agreement that would have authorized Henrico to sell drinking water to Cumberland for a period of 60 years at rates set annually.

Vithoulkas told the board that while he has no set timeframe for any future agreements, he would not agree to a renewed proposal that would lock Henrico into a 60-year commitment.

Board scheduled to vote on proposals that would permit 281 new homes

At a 6 p.m. meeting on Nov. 13, the board of supervisors is scheduled to vote on five rezoning cases that, if approved, would make way for 281 new single-family homes. 

The Henrico Planning Commission recommended that the board grant the rezoning proposals (shown below) in the Fairfield, Three Chopt, and Tuckahoe districts, but recommended denial for the two rezoning cases in the Varina District:

• Fairfield District – approval would rezone about 8 acres of land northeast of the intersection between Woodman Road and Winfrey Road to construct 40 new single-family homes;

• Three Chopt District – approval would rezone about 47 acres of land southwest of the intersection between Pouncey Tract Road and Wyndham West Drive to construct 72 new single-family homes;

• Tuckahoe District – approval would rezone about 7 acres of land southwest of the intersection between Church Road and Covey Run Drive to construct 14 new single-family homes;

• Varina District – approval would rezone about 66 acres of land northeast of the intersection between North Washington Street and Delbert Drive to construct 95 new single-family homes;

• Varina District – approval would rezone about 18 acres of land northwest of the intersection between Nine Mile Road and Newbridge Road to construct 60 new single-family homes.

The Tuckahoe District rezoning case initially was scheduled for a vote during the board’s Oct. 14 meeting but was deferred for decision only by Tuckahoe supervisor Jody Rogish after several nearby residents raised concerns about the new development’s potential impact on neighborhood cohesion and school capacity. 

In October, the board of supervisors approved 251 new homes, including both single-family units and apartments, in the Tuckahoe and Fairfield districts.

At a 4:15 p.m. special meeting on Nov. 13, the board will also discuss updates on the Henrico Tomorrow program, which incentivizes office space in the county; and the Central Virginia Waste Management Association.

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.