Commission defers decision for new design practices
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Bass

With three new members attending their first meeting last week, the Chesterfield Planning Commission deferred making recommendations for low impact development (LID) practices in the Upper Swift Creek watershed until Apr. 15. LID practices reduce the impact of water runoff by limiting the number of impervious surfaces like driveways, parking lots and roads that allow precipitation to drain to the reservoir instead of being absorbed into the ground.

Only one citizen and three persons from the development community spoke during the public hearing, and there was general agreement in their positions of support for the proposed changes.

LID practices include more natural yards instead of grass and natural ditches along neighborhood streets in lieu of curbs, gutters and sidewalks. Gutter downspouts would redirect rainwater away from streets to areas where it could penetrate the soil.

Returning commissioners Russ Gulley and Wayne Bass have said prior revisions to the Upper Swift Creek Plan approved by the 2007 board of supervisors are not stringent enough to protect the reservoir as a drinking source. The planning department and majorities for both the board of supervisors and the commission want extensive changes made to county ordinances to require developers to use LID practices. Chesterfield's environmental engineering department has held several meetings with developers, builders, engineers, community groups and members of county departments to get their input.

Gulley

Environmental Engineering Director Dick McElfesh acknowledged that "it might be too early to consider" adding LID amendments to the county code.

A few developers are already voluntarily using LID practices to limit the impact of development on the reservoir. "We'll be using LID techniques in Roseland," offered developer Casey Sowers.

Gulley had a laundry list of concerns related to buffers and ditches. He said grass ditches in residential developments in lieu of curb and gutter "would only produce minuscule results. The citizens and VDOT [Virginia Department of Transportation] prefer curb and gutter."

Dale Commissioner Bill Brown wanted "less restrictive requirements and leaving options to developers."

Years ago, said Director of Utilities Roy Covington, the reservoir could hold 5.2 billion gallons of water, but sediment runoff into the reservoir has slightly reduced its capacity.

The reservoir was created in 1965. Covington estimated reservoirs can typically be used for drinking water for around 60 years. The reservoir has never had any safe water violations.

Elections

Commissioners chose Gulley to be chairman with his 16 years of experience on the commission. Bass, who is serving his second term, was elected vice chairman. Representatives from the Clover Hill District are now chairing the county board, school board and commission.

In prepared remarks, Gulley said the commission "was taking a new direction enhancing responsible growth" with a focus on roads and schools because of last November's supervisor elections. He promised the commission "would operate as a team."

Procedures

Gulley also announced a new policy that will no longer allow major changes to cases heard on the day of commission meetings. He said they "taxed staff resources" and are not fair to citizens who may want to comment on the changes.

Like the county board last week, the commission added a second citizen comment period for cases and matters not before the commission that evening. The 15-minute comment periods are near the beginning and at the end of meetings. Citizens are asked to limit their comments to three minutes each.