Goochland planning staff lists technology overlay district and multiple October/November public hearings

Goochland County planning staff on Oct. 16 announced a slate of upcoming public hearings and community meetings, and previewed a countywide comprehensive-plan and zoning amendment to establish a "technology overlay district." The director's report listed public hearings before the Board of Supervisors in November, planning commission hearings in November, and community meetings through the end of October.

The county's director of planning, Jamie Sherry, told the commission the Board of Supervisors meeting normally held on the first Tuesday was moved to Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, and that one of the November board public hearings will be held at Goochland County High School beginning at 6:30 p.m. She said the planning commission will hold two public hearings on Nov. 20 in the county building at 6 p.m.

Sherry described the proposed technology overlay district as covering countywide amendments to the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance. The draft ordinance, she said, would include reduced parking requirements and additional standards for certain utility-scale uses; she specifically referenced "small nuclear reactors," natural-gas peaking plants and utility generation in the ordinance language staff is revising. Staff is updating application materials and said it would notify prior participants by email and run social media posts, a news flash and a QR-code link to make application materials available online.

Sherry also gave dates and locations for several community meetings: Oct. 20 (on-site) for a rezoning request by BJS Hauling LLC for property on TTT Lane; Oct. 22 for a conditional-use request for an accessory detached family housing unit at 2050 Hawktown Road (staff subsequently corrected that meeting date on the record to Wednesday, Oct. 22); Oct. 27 for an amendment request by SP Real Estate Holdings related to a car wash at the new Honda dealership on Broad Street Road; Oct. 29 for a residential subdivision request along Maidens Road; and Oct. 30 for a conditional-use request by Virginia Sports Park and Training Center at Goochland LLC for a proposed shooting range on Walton Road. Sherry said meeting times and rooms are posted on the county website and on the meeting video screen.

Why it matters: The technology overlay district would change zoning standards across the county and adds explicit new categories of infrastructure uses to the ordinance language. Staff emphasized that the change is an ordinance and plan amendment subject to future public hearings and Board of Supervisors approval.