Planning Commission approves exception to add access drive onto River Road West after debate over floodplain and notice

The Goochland County Planning Commission voted 5-0 on Feb. 27 to approve an exception that allows an additional access drive onto River Road West for a minor subdivision in District 2.

The request, filed by TREK Properties LLC as an exception under Article 6 (Minor Subdivision), would allow a fourth access point onto River Road West for the parcel identified in staff materials as tax map number 4242020. Ben Ellis, a county planner, told commissioners the parcel is part of a four-lot minor subdivision and is zoned R-3 (Residential General) and A-2 (Agricultural Limited). He said the parcel ‘‘features significant topographical features’’ and that elevation falls roughly 100 feet from the north to the south of the property, with flood-hazard areas at the southern edge.

The county’s major thoroughfare plan and the comprehensive plan were cited in staff remarks as recommending minimized access points on public roads. Ellis said the request is not consistent with the comprehensive plan but presented recommended conditions if the commission approved the exception, including a note on the final plat, prohibition of access onto Maiden’s Loop for the subject lot, and a requirement that each lot demonstrate access to River Road West for building-permit purposes.

During discussion commissioners pressed staff on driveway length, prior access easements, floodplain exposure and whether Fire and Rescue had commented. Ellis said staff had routed the plan through regular development review; he reported he had received no substantive comments from Fire and Rescue and described their official comment as ‘‘no comment.’’ He told the commission he had driven by the area during high water and observed that some portions were ‘‘close’’ to cresting but that he was not aware of an overtopping event.

At the start of the meeting a resident who had spoken during the citizen comment period urged the commission to defer a District 2 subdivision ordinance amendment so the public could be better informed. Linda Moore of Prophet Road told commissioners, ‘‘I am asking you to please defer it until further information can be ... gathered. I just, nobody knows about—I barely found out about it a week ago.’’ Her public-comment remarks were made before the TREK Properties action item and the commission did not take a separate deferral on the subdivision ordinance at this meeting.

Commissioners also clarified that the subject lot would be limited to one single-family dwelling under the current zoning and that other lots created in 2023–2024 use the remaining permitted River Road access points. Staff said the lot currently accesses Maiden’s Loop by an existing easement; under the recommended conditions the subject lot would be prohibited from using Maiden’s Loop while other properties retaining the easement would continue to use it.

A commissioner moved to approve the exception ‘‘to allow an additional access drive onto River Road West at tax map number 4242020’’ with the conditions recommended by staff; the second indicated the conditions were included. Roll call votes were recorded as aye from Mr. Kimberly, Ms. Kawalski, Mr. Petuk, Mr. Cosby and Mr. McLaughlin. The motion passed 5-0.

The commission’s decision on this exception is final and will not be heard by the Board of Supervisors, per staff. The planning staff record and the final plat note will document the conditions the commission adopted.

Details: the staff presentation noted (1) the parcel is part of a four-lot minor subdivision, (2) minor subdivisions are generally limited to two access points onto a specific road and (3) the property contains roughly three flood-hazard locations along its southern edge. Staff recommended three conditions: add a note to the final plat recording the commission’s action, prohibit access to Maiden’s Loop from the subject lot (while preserving existing easement use by the other property), and require each lot to demonstrate access to River Road West for any building permit submittal.

The planning commission’s minutes show the motion passed on a five-zero vote.