Staffing issues slow down Chesterfield zoning cases

A lack of staffing - particularly in the Chesterfield Transportation Department - is causing county rezoning cases to be delayed. Several representatives before the Chesterfield Planning Commission last week pressed publicly for shorter deferral periods for their clients.

"There are staffing issues in the transportation department," acknowledged Planning Commission Chairman Dan Gecker. "They're short of people."

Attorneys John Easter and Jim Theobald asked for shorter waiting periods but were denied. Dave Anderson, representing the 5,000-home Roseland development, was also told his project's traffic analysis will take longer to complete than his requested 60-day deferral.

Transportation Director John McCracken, who is well respected by commissioners and known for giving a straight answer, told commissioners his department needs more time. The planning department is also wrestling with the heavy caseload of rezonings.

Of the 32 cases scheduled to be heard at the commission's meeting last week, 22 were deferred, most at the request of the applicant. Gecker said the number of cases on the agenda represented a record. Late last year, the commission dropped the requirement that only 15 cases could be heard in one meeting, hoping to reduce the number of deferrals.

Two sources who declined to be identified believe developers would prefer to have their zoning cases heard by the existing board of supervisors instead of waiting until next year after the election when different supervisors might be ruling on their cases. Matoaca Supervisor Renny Humphrey, whose district includes many of the rezoning cases, has said she isn't running for re-election, and several interested candidates in that district have indicated, if elected, they will be tougher on zoning decisions. The board usually follows the lead of the supervisor in whose district the case is located.

Developers are also apprehensive that a newly-elected board majority could dramatically change direction, including raising proffers to $22,600 per residence as recommended last summer by County Administrator Lane Ramsey. The current maximum is $15,600.

Cases in the Upper Swift Creek Watershed are also expected to be impacted by the phosphorous runoff that drains to the Swift Creek Reservoir. With more runoff than the reservoir can now handle (see story on page 1), rezonings could be outright denied or reduced in size to the point where they are not financially feasible.

Bank site recommended

The commission unanimously recommended a 2.8-acre site in the southwest corner of Midlothian Turnpike and North Woolridge Road be rezoned for First Citizen Bank's first location in the county. Members of the Village of Midlothian Volunteer Coalition endorsed the rezoning and praised the bank for its cooperation. They see the bank as a "gateway to the village" of Midlothian.

Zoning violations

Peppy Jones, president of the Midlothian coalition, presented the commission with a list of alleged zoning violations on Midlothian Turnpike east of the village's entrance. According to Jones, car dealers on Midlothian Turnpike are placing their vehicles along the right-of-way with advertising signs to attract passing motorists, which is a zoning violation. The list will be given to the zoning department to investigate.