Henrico Planning Commission recommends approval of Reynolds Crossing redevelopment, new master plan for parks

The Henrico Planning Commission Sept. 12 recommended approval of a plan to convert the Reynolds Crossing office park, located at the intersection of West Broad Street and Forest Avenue, to an urban mixed-use development zoning district. During the next 20 years, this new Reynolds Crossing would shift to a mixture of residential and commercial space while retaining most of its existing office space and the Westin hotel, making it one of several new mixed-use developments being proposed or built in the area over the next decade.

The proposal from Forest Avenue LLC, a holding company for Reynolds Development, next will be heard by the Henrico Board of Supervisors Sept. 24.

The development would proceed in six phases over a period of 15 to 20 years, and the commission would review plans of development before each phase begins.

Phase 1 would replace the existing parking lot on Forest opposite Crestview Elementary School with a purely residential building. Phase 2A would replace the Plaza Azteca and its parking lot at the corner of West Broad and Forest with a 12-story mixed-use building and a “town center” gathering and event space. Phase 2B would replace the office building facing W. Broad with a 10-story mixed use building.

In Phase 3, the developer would replace a central parking lot with a 10-story residential building and a one-story retail building. Phase 4 would include the replacement of another central parking lot with a six-story residential building and four-story condos/townhomes.

In Phase 5, a two-story office building and surrounding parking lot would be replaced by a nine-story building. And in Phase 6, parking in the northwest corner of the site would be replaced by a pocket park and open space.

The proposal, however, is flexible and the developer could change the ratio of types of residential space or between residential and commercial space up to certain pre-set approved amounts. As part of the plan, Henrico County also would take over the section of Forest Avenue running adjacent to Reynolds Crossing, which is currently a private road, and a traffic signal would be installed at the Forest Avenue entrance to the community.

Parks and Open Space Master Plan endorsed

The Commission also recommended approval to the board of supervisors of the first new Henrico Parks and Open Space Master Plan in 25 years.

“The [Plan] has outlived its life expectancy and is no longer relevant in terms of citizen feedback and in terms of what they’d like to see in our park system,” said Henrico Recreation and Parks Director John Zannino.

Among other things, the plan calls for Henrico, over the next five years, to:

• improve stormwater management, shade, and signage at existing parks;

• add park access points and improve linkages to surrounding neighborhoods;

• perform feasibility assessments and identify one or two recreation/community centers to expand.

Commission recommends approval of other proposals

Separately, the commission also recommended approval for proposals to:

• build five new homes at the northeast intersection of Edinburgh Road and Glasgow Road in the Three Chopt District;

• create a four-acre conservation district in two pieces bordering the Chickahominy YMCA at the southeast intersection of East Williamsburg Road (Route 60) and Whiteside Road in Sandston.

• expand the daycare at the northeast intersection of Wilkinson Road and Upham Drive in the Fairfield District to allow for children's events and receptions to be hosted there;

• allow a Planet Fitness proposed for the Burlington/Office Max shopping center at the intersection of West Broad Street and Horsepen Road to operate 24 hours a day.

The latter three development proposals are scheduled to be heard at the board of supervisors' Sept. 24 meeting.