Henrico supervisors approve affordable housing plans in Varina District, study of possible second Tuckahoe Creek Park boardwalk

Development proposals took up most of the Henrico Board of Supervisors’ March 12 meeting.

First, the board approved a mixed-use complex in Highland Springs that includes a community center/early childhood education center, 22 townhomes, an office building, a playground, and two buildings with 45 apartments. It will sit on seven acres at the intersection of East Washington Street and North Airport Drive (Route 156), and a bus stop will be installed along North Airport Drive. The townhomes will face away from the existing homes in Fair Oaks Terrace, and there will be a 35-foot planted buffer to further protect their privacy.

The complex will be owned by the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust and the townhomes will be sold to qualifying low and moderate-income owners. The apartments will be operated by the Richmond YWCA and the Children’s Home Society of Virginia. The office building will be used by programs providing services to youngsters existing foster care as well as the YWCA’s Safe Harbor Program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking.

“We’ve been working on this for the better part of two years,” said Cari Tretina, chief of staff to Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas. “We need ownership and we need deeply affordable homes for those trying to build back up their lives from traumas and other unfortunate life events. Child care is also a big need, especially with certain federal funding drying up.”

She explained that the county’s support allows this consortium of nonprofits to devote more of their limited funding to their vitally needed programs.

“I’m honored that this is in my district,” said Varina Supervisor Tyrone Nelson, “You’re going to continue to hear efforts that this county is going to be undertaking to make housing affordable over the next year or so.”

Supervisor Nelson also sounded the only note of concern: “I don’t like the elevations, but I don’t want to hold the case up.”

Planning Director Joe Emerson explained that the specific elevations of buildings could be adjusted when plans of development are submitted for different phases of the project. Nelson also asked about a second entrance aside from one on East Washington Street, and Jeff Geiger of Hirschler Fleischer, speaking on behalf of the trust, explained the developer is trying to get access rights from the property to the south to allow for a second entrance

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Next, the board approved a Henrico Planning Commission study that could potentially lead to the expansion of the Tuckahoe Creek Park trail network through the addition of another boardwalk. The site to be studied is south of the Lakewood Manor retirement community and near the intersection of West Creek Parkway and Patterson Avenue.

Henrico County Attorney Andrew Newby explained that such a study is required by state law when a proposed piece of infrastructure isn’t already on the county’s 2026 Comprehensive Plan, which was originally drafted in 2009.

“It’s frankly routine,” he said. “It’s just one step in the process and doesn’t signify approval, or funding, or anything of that nature. It just allows a project to potentially proceed.”

Some residents in attendance expressed opposition to any development on the site, saying that construction, foot traffic, and trash wiped disturb the natural state of the area (which is designated for environmental protection) and drive away wildlife.

Some also noted that flooding already has increased and construction may raise that risk further. Residents were concerned that a boardwalk would bring noise, additional traffic and parked cars, and, potentially, crime.

“We bought this property because we knew it was protected land and it was never going to be touched,” said one resident. Tuckahoe Supervisor Jody Rogish noted that several more residents had contacted him in opposition.

“We have zero plans to do anything until the community meeting on the 17th, if we do anything,” Rogish said.

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Additionally, the Board approved an 85-home subdivision in the Varina District, north of Nine Mile Road (Route 33) between Orams Lane and Westover Avenue, next to Robinson Park. The new neighborhood will be connected to all three roads and have walking trails into the park. Sidewalks and planted buffer zones will run along Orams and Westover and a buffer will also face the under-construction Newbridge Firehouse at Westover and Nine Mile Road.

Nelson raised concerns from neighboring residents that Orams Lane wasn’t wide enough. Emerson noted that the developer would be widening Orams at its intersections with internal roads, but said that obligation stopped at the property line.

Henrico Public Works Director Terrell Hughes explained that speed cushions — rubber humps with a gap that allows larger or emergency vehicles to pass unhindered — will be installed to reduce traffic speed and that he was considering a new paving technique to widen the road to 22 feet.

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The board also set a public hearing for its April 9 meeting on a series of changes to county rules governing water and sewer services. The changes would increase water and sewer utility charges and also make other changes to bring the ordinances into compliance with state law.

“The total increase for the median user, who uses about 75,000 gallons every two months, will be approximately $6.95, or $0.11 a day,” said Henrico Public Utilities Director Bentley Chan. “For context, we charge about half a cent a gallon for water.”

These changes, if approved, would become effective July 1.