Commercial development still strong
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

A hotelier is seeking approval to build a Sleep Inn next to the new Arby's on Hull Street Road near Harbour Pointe.

Though the Real Estate Assessor's Office is only projecting new commercial development to grow at half of last year's 2.6 percent rate, after the first quarter of this year, the growth rate is only slightly behind 2007. That's good news for creating jobs and increasing the tax base but not so good news for roads and congestion.

"It's still very active," said Planning Administrator Greg Allen. "We're a tiny bit behind last year."

Hotels are coming

One trend is an increase in hotels with a La Quinta Inn (three stories and 28,000 square feet) and a Days Inn (three stories and 27,594 square feet) going in on Woods Edge Road off Interstate 95 north of Colonial Heights. Two additional hotels are in the preliminary stages of planning for Route 10 near River's Bend and Interstate 295, but the county declined to identify them by name because site plans haven't been submitted yet.

Hotelier Bob Patel is also requesting administrative approval of a plan to build a 32,000-square-foot, three-story Sleep Inn on Hull Street Road next to the new Arby's restaurant.

There are plans to extend Village Square Parkway in Woodlake to Otterdale Road to ease traffic on Hull Street Road.

Road extensions

A second trend is road extensions paid for by developers. "There are a number of roadways which tells us there is pending development," explained Allen.

Village Square Parkway in Woodlake is being extended west from Cosby High School to Otterdale Road by Terra Forge Communities. According to Senior Planner Jeff Lamson, zoning has already been approved near Otterdale Road for a multifamily development on the north side with retail, office and multifamily on the south side.

Watermark Partners LLC is extending Kingsland Glen Drive within Watermark Town Center. Wintervest LLC wants administrative approval of a site plan for road and access improvements along Midlothian Turnpike west of Winterfield Road.

New Costco questionable

One potential bad piece of news is the Costco near Chesterfield Towne Center might not be built. In October 2006, this newspaper reported a 160,000-square-foot store would anchor a 360,000-square-foot shopping center on 70 acres when Mall Drive is extended to Robious Road by Continental Properties.

"Costco has been back and forth," said Allen. "They want to do a metal building, and the county took exception…because in 20 years the metal building will look dull and faded…compared to some type of masonry."

One commercial real estate source said if the Costco is built, the existing Costco off Hull Street Road will close. That store is too small in general, and the deli area is jammed with customers during peak periods.

Other commercial projects

Other commercial site plans under consideration include:

• A new Tripps restaurant of 6,000-squarefeet is scheduled for Hull Street Road next to the Deer Run community. Two old homes on the site will be taken down first to make room for two retail buildings of 14,000 and 20,000 square feet.

• Harbourside Centre LLC is requesting administrative approval for an office building of approximately 8,000 square feet located in the southwest corner of Hull Street Road and Mockingbird Lane.

• Virginia Credit Union wants to build a 4,000-square-foot building on Jefferson Davis Highway south of Weir Road.

• Yukon Associates/Colonial Marble is planning an approximately 60,000-squarefoot manufacturing facility at the northeast terminus of Port Walthall Drive.

• Chesterfield County Public Schools seeks approval for a site plan for renovations and an approximately 16,000-square-foot, two-story building addition located at Falling Creek Middle School.

• EH20 LLC and Uppy's Convenience Stores have filed for administrative approval of a site plan for three retail buildings and one convenience store totaling approximately 28,000 square feet located in the southeast corner of the intersection of Watermill Parkway and North Woolridge Road.

• Catherine Street Associates LLC wants administrative approval for an approximately 9,200-square-foot building addition located east of Powhite Parkway along the west line of Gateway Centre Parkway for an addition to ITT Technical Institute.

• In the community of Tarrington, S & S Properties has filed plans to build a riverfront park to include a boat ramp, boat dock, boat storage, gazebo and deck, and numerous pedestrian paths located along the south bank of the James River and abutting the north line of Seaford Crossing Drive.

• T& S Developers plans to build two office/ warehouse buildings totaling approximately 16,800 square feet located at 2540 Paradise Cove Rd.