Hull Street Rd. may get new traffic light at Lakepointe
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

A new traffic light may be installed across from the Lakepointe community on Hull Street Road at its intersection with Duck Ridge Boulevard. Another traffic light is already slated for the intersection of Hull Street Road and Ashlake Parkway.

The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors last week amended a 1995 zoning case to recommend a new traffic light in front of what will become the 550,000-square-foot Clover Hill Marketplace across from the Lakepointe community in the heavily traveled Route 360 corridor. Developer EDCO, LLC would pay for the light and another new light at the entrance to Ashbrook on Ashlake Parkway.

The board voted 2-0 with supervisors Dickie King and Kelly Miller abstaining. The future shopping center is in Matoaca Supervisor Renny Humphrey's district while Lakepointe is in Clover Hill Supervisor Art Warren's district. Both supported the case. Midlothian Supervisor Terri Beirne was absent.

When it comes to voting, the other supervisors usually vote the same as the supervisor in whose district the case is located.

Putting in a light was opposed by the Chesterfield Planning Department and strongly opposed by Transportation Director John McCracken, which is why King and Miller abstained. "VDOT shares our view of not having a light there," said McCracken.

In arguing for the light, Warren said, "VDOT is going to make the decision." But according to one source, legislative pressure has been put on higher-ups at VDOT to approve installing the light.

"You can't add 550,000 square feet of shopping and not have a traffic light there," development attorney Jim Theobald told the board. Last year, this newspaper reported that an upscale Wal-Mart will most likely be the major anchor of the center.

Restaurant rezoning denied

County critic Slugger Morrissette has another reason to be unhappy with the board. Last week, it turned down his request for rezoning 4.2 acres in the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Genito and Woolridge roads from residential to commercial. Years ago, the county wouldn't allow him to subdivide his large home site parcel on Beach Road.

The deciding issue in last week's case was road improvements and a median that the transportation department wanted installed on Woolridge next to the site, preventing direct access for left-hand turns into a boat storage area for the Greater Richmond Sailing Association. The board also took note of 117 letters and cards opposing the rezoning (largely from the nearby Edgewater community) while just 25 supported it. Both the planning commission and the planning department recommended denial.

The applicant envisioned a sit-down, waterfront restaurant backing up to the Swift Creek Reservoir. He proffered significant road improvements, no outdoor speakers and no access for boats from the reservoir.

Currently zoned residential, only eight homes could be built on the site. Humphrey said she doubted that few homes could afford the necessary road improvements and expected that a rezoning for lakefront condominiums would follow.

New townhouses

The board unanimously approved a 112- acre townhouse development in the northwest quadrant of Courthouse Road and Route 360. Charles and Robin Primm agreed to pay the maximum proffer of $15,600 for each of the 436 townhouses including road improvements. When completed, the development is expected to add 231 students to county schools.

More deputies

The supervisors authorized $250,000 to hire seven new deputies for the Sheriff's Office through next June. The money is coming from a fund collected from those arrested for DUIs, which takes in about that amount annually.

A staffing study indicated that another 21 deputies are needed to provide security for the county courthouse and new jail. To address the remaining staffing needs, the county is studying the funding question, including lobbying for state funds.

Pocahontas Parkway

The board was briefed by Michael Whelan, operations manager for Transurban, LLC, which took over the Pocahontas Parkway last June with funding of $611 million. Of that total, $487 million went to debt retirement. Traffic counts are half of what was projected.

Also known as I-895, the toll road runs from I-95 at Chippenham Parkway to I-295 with indirect access to Richmond International Airport. The toll one-way is $2.25 and 75 cents at the Laburnam Avenue exit.

On January 1, 2008, those tolls will increase to $2.75 and $1 respectively. The VDOT agreement limits the one-way toll to $4 in 2016.

Whelan said his company was proceeding to build a 1.58 mile, four-lane road directly to the back door of the airport. Assuming environmental approvals, he expected the $45 million project would be completed in 2009.

Police agreement

The board authorized a police mutual aid agreement among the counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Sussex, Prince George and Surry and the cities of Hopewell, Colonial Heights and Petersburg. It encourages support among the departments and makes each department responsible for its costs.

"There shall be no liability to any of the parties hereto for reimbursement for injuries to police, equipment, personnel occasioned by a response or police action..." reads the agreement.