Henrico supervisors approve Saint Mary’s rooftop helipad and hospital addition after resident questions

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors on May 13 approved a provisional use permit allowing Saint Mary’s Hospital of Richmond to build a roughly eight‑story addition and relocate its helicopter landing facility to the roof of the new building.

The measure passed by voice vote after staff described the project as consistent with the county’s land‑use guidance and after the hospital and several nearby residents spoke during the public hearing. Board members said they supported the project for patient‑safety reasons but urged the hospital to maintain frequent communication with neighbors.

Staff told the board the addition would reconfigure surgical, intensive‑care and other medical space and would not increase the hospital’s total licensed bed count; staff also said the rooftop helipad relocation would free about 50 parking spaces and provide quicker access for medevac patients to critical care areas. The planning staff recommended approval “subject to the 10 conditions recommended in the staff report,” and the planning commission had recommended approval at its April meeting.

Residents who spoke at the hearing said they wanted more data and more notice about helipad operations. “I would like to know whether the board has been provided any past and current data regarding the use of the current helicopter landing facility and what any future projections for the anticipated use of the new helicopter landing facility and how that is going to affect the neighborhood going forward,” said Sarah Luddley, identifying herself as a resident on Bridal Road.

Robin Johnson, a Keystone Drive resident who said many neighbors were unaware of the proposal, urged the board to defer the helipad decision until alternatives and impacts could be studied. “I would like to defer decision on this portion of it,” she said.

Bridget Fitzpatrick, chief operating officer at Saint Mary’s, said the hospital had presented landing data to the planning commission and that operations in 2024 totaled “right under a 80.” She told the board the hospital did not expect a significant increase in flights because the project does not add beds and said rooftop placement is intended to improve patient access and safety. “One of the biggest opportunities and reasons that we wanna put the helipad on top of the building is for overall safety,” Fitzpatrick said. She also said the hospital held several community meetings and sent invitations to roughly 300 homeowners in Henrico and the City of Richmond.

Board members asked whether the board could revisit the permit if helicopter activity rose or if conditions were violated. County staff and the county attorney said the board could consider revoking or revisiting a provisional use permit if it found adverse impacts or violations of conditions; conditions also require design and operational standards to meet applicable FAA and county requirements.

Chair Daniel J. Schmidt moved to approve PUP 2025‑10253 for Saint Mary’s Hospital of Richmond, with the staff‑recommended conditions. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair Roscoe D. Cooper and passed by voice vote.

The board encouraged Saint Mary’s to continue frequent updates to neighbors and to maintain an online project timeline and construction notices, measures the hospital said it planned to provide.