Planning Commission recommends approval of Mosaic tentative plat, several CUPs and a rezoning; cases to go to Board on April 15

The Goochland County Planning Commission on Feb. 27 recommended approval of multiple land-use applications and a rezoning, forwarding each case with unanimous 5-0 votes and staff conditions where noted. Most items are scheduled for public hearing before the Board of Supervisors on April 15, 2025, subject to change.

A revised tentative plat for Mosaic at West Creek (MAJT-2025-1), presented by Ray Cash, Assistant Director of Community Development, was approved subject to standard tentative-plat conditions and a correction to the staff report wording on sidewalk requirements. Cash said the revision updates lot acreage, lot count and open-space calculations for a development now showing 500 approved lots across the tentative plat and a site area reported as 207.839 acres. A motion to approve the tentative plat ‘‘subject to the conditions presented’’ carried 5-0.

The commission recommended approval of an amendment to a conditional use permit for Strickland Manufacturing (CU2024—listed on staff materials as CU2024‑twenty 4), which removes boat and RV storage from the approved uses and amends the conceptual plan to add a commercial building on 4.03 acres at 1090 Merchants Lane. Planner John Michael Whelan said the updated conceptual plan places a new office building on site, clarifies where outdoor storage is allowed and extends the CUP expiration to March 2030. Sean O’Reilly, representing Strickland, told the commission the company ‘‘has done a lot of work with the County over the past 3 years’’ and expressed support for moving forward. The motion to recommend approval passed 5-0; staff noted the case will go to the Board of Supervisors with the planning commission’s recommendation.

The commission also recommended approval of a 10‑ to 15‑year renewal of an existing conditional use permit for retail display and sale of utility trailers, sheds and travel trailers on Broad Street Road (application CU2024‑four‑twenty3, applicant Rodney Harrison). Staff said no substantive changes were proposed and that condition language was updated; a community meeting held in November 2024 had no public attendees. The recommendation passed 5-0 and is slated for the April Board hearing.

A conditional use permit amendment filed by Columbia Gas Transmission LLC (CU2024‑22 in staff materials) to add a new office building on an existing compressor-station parcel at 1436 Hermitage Road was recommended for approval 5-0. Planner Whelan told commissioners the site has operated as a compressor station for about 54 years and that the amendment would add one building, maintain a previously installed buffer on Hunting Ridge Road, and would not allow use of the new facility until a revised plan of development is approved and improvements are installed. Staff reported the CUP would expire in November 2029 under the amended conditions.

In District 5 the commission recommended approval of rezoning application RZ‑20251, filed by Janine and John Corey Hoffer, to rezone 2.002 acres from R‑3 (Residential General) to RO (Residential Office) with proffers for professional office use at 12900 Patterson Avenue. Attorney Jennifer Mullen (Roth Jackson) and engineer Brett Hammonds described the proposal: demolition of one dwelling in poor condition, renovation and expansion of another dwelling for office use, closing one of two existing driveways, and new perimeter evergreen screening. Mullen said the applicants’ business currently employs seven people and that outdoor lighting would be residential in scale; residents attending the meeting asked for robust plant sizes and a detailed lighting plan. The commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval; that case also is expected to appear before the Board on April 15, 2025.

Votes at a glance (Planning Commission, Feb. 27, 2025): - MAJT‑2025‑1 Mosaic at West Creek (tentative plat, ~207.839 acres / 500 lots): recommended approval, vote 5-0. - CU (Strickland Manufacturing amendment), 1090 Merchants Lane (4.03 acres): recommended approval, vote 5-0; CUP expiration extended to March 2030 per staff conditions. - CU (Rodney Harrison renewal), Broad Street Road retail/display: recommended approval, vote 5-0. - CU (Columbia Gas Transmission amendment), 1436 Hermitage Road (29.6 acres): recommended approval, vote 5-0; CUP expiration referenced as November 2029. - RZ‑20251 (Janine and John Corey Hoffer), 12900 Patterson Ave. (2.002 acres to RO): recommended approval, vote 5-0.

Several items drew public comment about landscaping and lighting rather than objections to use. For the Hoffer rezoning, Creekmore Park neighbors asked the applicants to ensure larger planting sizes and a detailed lighting plan; the applicants’ attorney said evergreens would be planted at approximately 4 feet and existing mature vegetation would be maintained. Staff and applicants noted that final landscaping and lighting details will be reviewed at the plan-of-development and permit stage.

Most of the approved items are recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and will be scheduled for public hearings on or about April 15, 2025; dates are subject to change. Director of Community Development Jamie Sherry provided a director’s update at the meeting with upcoming town-hall dates, Park and Recreation master-plan outreach and other scheduling notes.