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Planning commission recommends denial of left-turn waiver for River Road subdivision; forwards case to supervisors
Summary
After testimony from staff, the county engineer and the developer, the Goochland County Planning Commission voted against a motion to recommend approval of a left-turn lane waiver for a 14-lot subdivision on River Road and will forward the case to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of denial for a public hearing on Aug. 6, 2024.
The Goochland County Planning Commission on June 18 declined a developer'requested waiver of the county's left-turn lane requirement for a proposed 14-lot subdivision on River Road and forwarded the matter to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of denial.
Ray Cash, assistant director of community development, told the commission staff and county engineers visited the site and that sight distance and roadway geometry appeared adequate. County engineer Austin Goin said his analysis of VDOT standards and on-site observations indicated that approving the waiver would not compromise safety or operations. Staff provided traffic estimates for peak hours (about 18 total trips generated by the 14 homes at PM peak) and noted that available sight distances (approx. 2,200 feet west, 1,200 feet east) met industry standards.
Applicant counsel Andy Conlon and the developer argued that the subdivision's traffic impacts were modest and that existing corridor subdivisions operate without left-turn lanes; Conlon said engineering constraints (underground utilities and drainage/stormwater needs) make it impractical to add a left-turn lane without substantial additional work and cost. Several nearby residents, including George Mahoney and Ted Lindhardt, urged denial, citing safety concerns tied to school-related traffic, athletic-field traffic and near-collision history along River Road.
Following public comment the commission held a roll-call vote on a motion to recommend approval; the motion was defeated and the commission recorded a recommendation of denial and scheduled the item for the Board of Supervisors public hearing on Aug. 6, 2024.
The transcript shows the commission weighed both technical analysis (sight distance, traffic-generation estimates and VDOT warrant criteria) and neighborhood safety concerns before the vote. The Board of Supervisors will now receive the commission's recommendation and the compiled staff analysis for its Aug. 6 hearing.
