Board of Supervisors okays church rezoning
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

The Chesterfield board last week approved a 30-acre rezoning for New Bethel Christian Fellowship Church despite a negative recommendation from the planning commission and the planning department because of the site's proximity to the Chesterfield County Airport. The airport manager and economic development director had previously spoken against the rezoning.

During questioning by Board Chairman Kelly Miller, who is an attorney, it was learned that the church bought the site on Belmont Road without legal counsel. The attorney at closing failed to inform New Bethel that it could not build a new church on the site because it's zoned industrial. The attorney was not named.

The church offered a letter promising not to object to future airport growth or noise, but the county attorney said the letter isn't legally enforceable. Miller cautioned that the approved rezoning "should not be considered as a precedence."

More multifamily

The board approved a 72-acre rezoning for condos and townhouses in the southeast quadrant of routes 288/360 partially behind Haley Toyota. The rezoning was recommended by the planning commission, but opposed by the planning staff because the land is designated for commercial zoning.

"There is not the demand for commercial development," development attorney Jim Theobald told the board. Two other quadrants of the intersection are heavily commercial.

360 Capital Partnership, LLC will build up to 575 units and pay $9 million in proffers. The development is expected to generate 306 students.