Henrico supervisors split on multiple rezoning requests; board denies two, defers two and approves River Mill and other proposals

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 12 heard hours of testimony on multiple rezoning applications, denying two contested proposals, deferring two and approving others after conditions and proffers.

The board voted to deny a conditional rezoning by Markel Eagle Advisors for approximately 65.95 acres that staff said could support up to 95 detached homes (roughly 1.44 units per acre). Planning staff described proffers intended to protect environmental features and reserve at least 10 units for households at 80% of area median income, and the applicant emphasized a private stream-restoration project that it said had preliminary approval from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Neighbors and civic speakers repeatedly raised concerns about school capacity, traffic and flooding. Dennis Furman said, “This project will put 2 of our 3 schools into trailers,” citing local school impacts and roughly “nearly 800 trips every weekday” the development would add. After extended public comment and board discussion, Supervisor Rountree moved to deny the rezoning; the motion carried by voice vote.

A separate Jim Capital rezoning on adjacent/nearby acreage seeking a similar single-family subdivision was also denied following resident testimony that cited floodplain, environmental and compatibility issues. The applicant, including environmental consultant John Brooks, said the plan included a private stream-restoration nutrient-credit bank that would “reduce the amount of pollution currently flowing into the Chickahominy River” and that the development would generate nutrient benefits exceeding impacts. Neighbors and some supervisors remained unconvinced the drainage and outfall issues had been fully resolved.

Not ev…