Kroger to anchor new Chippenham Place
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Late next year, Kroger will open an 83,000- square-foot store to anchor what will become Chippenham Place, following the demolition of Cloverleaf Mall. The county board unanimously approved the new mixed-use development last week, which will be built by Crosland LLC of Charlotte, N.C.

The store will include a pharmacy and be almost 50 percent larger than a typical Kroger. Larger Kroger stores usually carry more promotional items, a larger selection of international and nutritional foods and have a wine steward.

As reported earlier in the Chesterfield Observer, Crosland is buying 37 acres from the county for $9.2 million. The county is expected to purchase another 46 acres to complete the project, which Crosland will then repurchase from the county. The agreement calls for Crosland to submit a detailed redevelopment plan by Mar. 1 with county approval slated for April. Build-out is expected to take four years.

Chesterfield will continue to provide financial assistance for the development through an economic incentive package that guarantees a financial return to Crosland. County officials have acknowledged that Chesterfield paid more than market value to secure the site at Midlothian Turnpike and Chippenham Parkway as a gateway to the county.

The agreement last week called for about 200,000 square feet of commercial development including retail and office space plus townhouses, apartments and single-family detached homes totaling "in excess of 500 residences."

Over time, the residential component of Chippenham Place has grown larger while the amount of office and retail has declined. Last November, the residential component included 382 units in addition to 195,000 square feet of retail and 120,000 square feet of office space. Several supervisors are concerned about the growing number of homes.

Last week at the board meeting, Bermuda Supervisor Dickie King asked about the retail commitment from Crosland because the county wants to regain some of its lost tax base. "We are pursuing the retail component if the market will support it," replied Crosland VP James Downs. The county began searching for a developer in 2004, and one leader said Chesterfield has "few options."

Residential usually sells faster than retail development, which leases faster than office space.

Students living at Chippenham Place would have some of the longest bus rides in the county, particularly to high school.

To help anchor the community, Chesterfield is talking about locating a library, police station and some sort of park there, but no funding has been allocated. The existing Firestone and Bank of America locations fronting on Midlothian Turnpike would remain.

There are about 180,000 residents within a five mile radius of the intersection, which includes many inside the city of Richmond who have few grocery shopping choices. Kroger is also opening new Chesterfield stores at the Ivymont Shopping Center in Midlothian in March and Breckenridge Shopping Center in April.

Two goats too many

Following the recommendations of approval from the planning commission and planning staff, the Chesterfield board unanimously approved a conditional use permit to operate a residential stock farm in the Plantation Trace neighborhood off Riverway Road. Oliver Pearly and Susan Smith wanted to keep nine horses and three goats on the 16-acre residential property.

Matoaca Supervisor Renny Humphrey talked the applicants into just one goat.

The proffer requires the applicants to keep the stables and pastures "clean and free of waste" and "eliminate any odor problems," although Board Chairman Kelly Miller wondered how the county was going to monitor those requirements.

Restaurant approved

The board also approved a conditional use permit for a restaurant of up to 8,000 square feet in a small shopping center on four acres in the northwest quadrant of North Woolridge Road and Watermill Parkway. John Nolde agreed not to allow a drive-thru window in the restaurant, but carryout is permitted.

"The applicant is really requesting very little above what the property is zoned for," said Midlothian Supervisor Don Sowder.

The planning commission denied the request twice while the planning staff also opposed it. They wanted the restaurant to be for neighboring communities and not attract customers from further away. Some residents of Edgewater at the Reservoir also opposed it for the same reason.