Subdivision, early childhood education facility proposed in Highland Springs

Two Eastern Henrico development proposals, including more than 100 new homes and a school for children younger than five, will be reviewed by the Henrico Planning Commission at its Feb. 15 meeting.

The Maggie Walker Land Trust is proposing to redevelop almost seven acres in Highland Springs, at the intersection of East Washington Street and North Airport Drive (Route 156). The Trust would build 22 townhomes; a commercial building limited to office, daycare, recreational, or civic uses; an early childhood education facility; and two buildings with 45 apartments. These 45 apartments would be operated by the Richmond YWCA and the Children’s Home Society of Virginia. An playground also would be built next to the school.

The site would be accessible from East Washington and East Willow streets, and a bus stop is envisioned along North Airport Drive. The townhomes would face away from the existing homes in Fair Oaks Terrace, and the site would be required to coordinate installation of multiple security cameras with night vision with the Henrico Police.

Dorado Capital LLC, a private equity firm, is proposing 85 single-family homes in the Varina District. The 30-acre development (whose proposed layout is shown above) would sit north of Nine Mile Road and between Orams Lane and Westover Avenue, next to Robinson Park. The new neighborhood would be connected to all three roads and have walking trails into the park.

Also on the Feb. 15 agenda are plans from the owners of the Gateway apartment complex on North Parham Road (between Fargo Road and Quioccasin Road) in the Tuckahoe District for a new five-story building. It would contain 80 apartments and 14,500 square feet of commercial space on the first floor, which would face Parham. Twenty existing apartments would be eliminated, and the clubhouse and pool would be updated. The case was deferred from November to allow time for a parking study, which indicated that there will be 201 spaces, or 1.58 per unit, with the new apartments.

Planning staffers recommend approval of the proposal if:

• no three-bedroom apartments are built;
• a sidewalk (connected to internal sidewalks) and pedestrian lighting are built along Parham;
• certain uses are prohibited within the new commercial space, and that space is only open between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 a.m.;
• the owner conducts a security survey of the property with the Henrico Division of Police.