Sending a message
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Watkins

Chesterfield County sent another message to the General Assembly and the development community at last week's planning commission meeting: don't mess with our revenue.

The commission was the latest to discuss legislation proposed by State Sen. John Watkins that would do away with proffers and replace them with impact fees of $7,500 per new home. The county's current maximum proffer is $15,600, though the county staff is set to propose an increase of about $7,000 later this year. Proffers are the fees developers pay to offset the costs of providing roads, schools and other services for new residents.

The commission unanimously voted to defer the massive 5,500-home rezoning of Roseland until its Mar. 18 meeting. In making his motion, Matoaca Planning Commissioner Wayne Bass said he wanted to see the outcome of Watkins' legislation, known as SB768, before recommending action on the case. The General Assembly session ends Mar. 8, but published reports indicate the bill is likely to be carried over to next year.

Roseland's developer has pledged to pay the maximum proffer per home, meaning the county could lose much of $85 million if SB768 is approved by the General Assembly. As proposed under SB768, impact fees would generate less than half of that.

The change could prompt county leaders to deny Roseland on the grounds that it "would negatively impact the health, safety and welfare" of citizens, said Chairman Russ Gulley - one of the legal reasons for denying a rezoning.

The Roseland rezoning was sent back to the commission for further study by the county board last month, prior to board members learning about the Watkins legislation. At the time, some county leaders and staff were leaning favorably toward the 1,395-acre rezoning at the intersection of Route 288 and Woolridge Road because it utilizes smart growth principles and includes 1.5 million square feet of commercial development.

Roseland recently agreed to one of the few remaining sticking points: paying proffers on 400 smaller carriage homes. The carriage homes would be situated on lots with larger homes and could be used as rentals or separate homes for aging parents, older children or guests.

Earlier this month, the supervisors and the school board wrote letters in opposition to SB768, and the county government is lobbying its delegation and other General Assembly members to defeat the bill or defer it to next year.

New CVS store

New commission members received their first taste of angry citizens last week when 26 residents from the Winterpock/Beach roads area turned out to protest a CVS drug store that's proposed for that intersection. Rebkee Co. is seeking rezoning for 8.7 acres across from Crump's Store for the CVS in the southeast quadrant.

The commission deferred the matter until May 20, but residents even opposed the deferral. "Put an end to this tonight," several speakers demanded. Because of outbursts, Gulley twice reminded citizens to be orderly so the commission could follow procedures.

The citizens oppose retail in their residential neighborhood and promised future e-mails and faxes to generate an even larger crowd at the next public hearing.

"[Their reaction] is a surprise to us," commented Andy Scherzer with Balzer and Associates, which represents the developer. Scherzer met with 15 residents during an earlier community meeting.

Bass requested at least one more community meeting before May 20.

Though the proposed development conforms to the Southern and Western Area Plan, county planners are recommending denial due to issues with "design and architectural features" and transportation.

Cloverleaf Mall

The finishing touches are being put on the case for the redevelopment of Cloverleaf Mall, causing the matter to be deferred yet again to Mar. 18. "The commission wanted to be sure it had its financial package in order," said Planning Director Kirk Turner.

The county has agreed in principle to help fund roads with a Community Development Authority.

During the public hearing on the deferral, commercial developer Jay Lafler, who once served as the mall's manager, asked the commission to "cease the deferrals" and expressed concerns "about losing Crosland," the company that's agreed to take on the redevelopment project. As president of the Gateway Association, he is concerned that Crosland is "getting antsy."

James Downs, Crosland's vice president, said his company wants "the opportunity to move the project forward."

As proposed, Crosland would tear down the mall and replace it with Chippenham Place, a mixed-use project with around 540 homes - most multifamily - and at least 200,000 square feet of retail anchored by a new Kroger on the 83-acre site.