Transportation concerns defer Matoaca rezoning
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

The Chesterfield Planning Commission has deferred a 53.7-acre residential rezoning request until January to see if future road issues can resolved. The property is located east of Pocahontas State Park and south of Hensley Road. Owners Yi Nan Chou and Wan Fen Chou are seeking the rezoning for a new development of singlefamily homes situated on lots that are at least one acre.

Some commissioners expressed interest in tying approval of the project to road access to an adjacent parcel to the south, which is similarly owned.

That 250-acre parcel was rezoned residential in October 1990 before cash proffers went into effect. The commissioners seemed reluctant to allow road access through a stub road into the Donegal Glen neighborhood to the north. That could force expensive road building in order to access Beach Road to the south.

Area citizens applauded Matoaca Planning Commissioner Wayne Bass when he was critical of the Chous for "getting property zoned and selling to a developer."

Midlothian Planning Commissioner Dan Gecker said out loud what other commissioners may have been thinking: whatever action the commission takes, the Board of Supervisors is likely to approve the rezoning. Dale Planning Commissioner Sherman Litton wanted a "master zoning that guarantees [solutions to] transportation issues" before passing the case to the county board for a final decision.

The commission stopped short of criticizing attorney Carrie Coyner, who represents the Chous. While dozens of area residents showed up for last Wednesday's public hearing, none indicated they had been notified about an earlier community meeting to discuss the rezoning. Only three persons were present at that community meeting, but the notification process was complicated by the neighbors not being represented by a community association.

The Planning Department recommended approval of the rezoning with qualifications. The development would pay almost $470,000 in proffers and add another 16 children to public schools. The minimum one acre lot size would have public water, but private septic systems.

Special events

The commission also deferred for 60 days a proposed bed, breakfast and special events business that is located in a residential neighborhood on Happy Hill Road at the intersection of Tarris Road. The nine-acre site is east of Harrowgate Road in southern Chesterfield.

Neighbors objected to the two-year conditional use permit requested by Neal and Rosemary Hager, a retired couple who had already made improvements to their property in anticipation of county approval. One speaker alleged that an Aug. 13 wedding had already violated zoning restrictions, but the Hager's attorney said it was a family event.

Commissioners were shown a photo of a sign already up on the property that read, "Weddings and Special Events." Planning Director Kirk Turner said, "The sign was larger than the one that would be permitted [if the use permit was granted]."

Bass noted that one proffer specified "no exterior additions or alterations to existing structures" would be made, but accommodations for the handicapped had not provided for.

Planning Commission Chairman Jack Wilson wanted sound testing performed at night on the property since noise was cited as a problem by neighbors. Several other special events businesses have conducted noise testing to gain board approval. One of the proffered conditions limits noise to 50 decibels at the property's perimeter.

Neo-traditional development

The commission unanimously recommended a 29-acre site adjacent to Amberleigh for a maximum of 121 two-story, detached single-family residences. With a minimum of 2,000 square feet throughout the development, some homes may have a partial third story.

Blue Stone Real Estate LLC will pay the maximum proffer of $15,600 per home for county services. The development is expected to add 64 more children to county classrooms. Residents were primarily concerned about traffic congestion and access off Route 360.

Brandermill condos

The Brandermill County Club withdrew its proposal to replace 12 of its tennis courts with 45 condos. Midlothian Tennis Club has signed a letter of intent to enclose four tennis courts and operate the remaining courts for the country club.

Turner said enclosing the tennis courts would not violate the master plan of Brandermill, which sets a minimum requirement for open space. Tennis courts - whether enclosed or not - qualify as open space.

Swift Creek Watershed

At the commission's work session, the Environmental Engineering Department updated the commission on the progress of the Swift Creek Reservoir Watershed Master Plan and its maintenance program. The plan ensures that the reservoir continues to be a source of county drinking water.

Previously, Chesterfield had to scrap a regional pond system when it was rejected by the Army Corps of Engineers. The plan returns the responsibility for meeting water runoff standards to individual developers.

The county is also determining which properties would be subject to higher standards and which would be vested in the earlier regional plan. Chesterfield planners expect the state will lower the level of phosphorous runoff permitted from .05 milligrams per liter to .04 milligrams next year.

Previously, several commissioners had expressed their impatience in delays of the department's plan, but last week the tone changed. "I'm pleased with the way the program is laying out," said Clover Hill Planning Commissioner Russ Gulley. "It's very comprehensive."

Though controlling runoff from development would revert back to individual property owners under the new plan, "There

may be places for a regional approach [by property owners]," said Water Quality Manager Scott Flanigan.

Part of the Swift Creek watershed is in Powhatan County, and there have been questions about water sediment there flowing to the reservoir. Since the county board recently allowed Powhatan to buy 500,000 gallons a day from Chesterfield, Deputy County Administrator Pete Stith surmised that "we could negotiate new standards if Powhatan asks for more water."