Citizens oppose Beach Road development
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Despite the rain and being scheduled on election night, about 150 citizens turned out at Spring Run Elementary School to voice their concerns about a proposed 53.7-acre rezoning located west 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 single-family homes called Greenacres. Last September, the Chesterfield Planning Commission deferred the rezoning until Jan. 16, in part, because not enough neighbors had been contacted for an earlier community meeting. Only three neighbors attended that meeting.

At the community meeting held earlier this month, Matoaca Planning Commissioner Wayne Bass congratulated the residents for "the best turnout I've seen since being on the planning commission." The citizen effort was led by resident Rick Brindle.

The Greenacres rezoning request is adjacent to another 290 acres connected to Beach Road, which was rezoned to singlefamily in 1987 and 1989 prior to the county enacting the proffer system that requires developers to pay for the impact on county services.

Thus far, the planning commission has focused on the road system within the parcels since many commissioners believe the rezoning will receive board approval whatever the commission recommends.

Existing residents were primarily concerned about the new community's impact on roads and schools. Some residents of Donegal Glen, adjacent to the north of the proposed community, didn't want traffic cutting through their neighborhood. But a county policy addressing connectivity requires at least two entrances to a community of 50 or more homes for safety reasons.

The planning department has 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.

The rezoning case lies in the Matoaca District where numerous residential rezonings in recent years have angered local residents. All supervisor seats are open for election next year, and one declared newcomer - Kevin Salminen - was passing out bumper stickers for his candidacy at the community meeting. He is a member of the Chesterfield Republican Committee, but sources say party regulars are lining up behind former Fire Chief Steve Elswick.