Goochland planning commission recommends denial of Highfield rezoning after safety and infrastructure concerns

The Goochland County Planning Commission on May 15 recommended denial of a rezoning request for a 138‑lot subdivision called Highfield, citing longstanding safety concerns on Rockville Road, questions about emergency response capacity and unresolved right‑of‑way and proffer conditions.

The motion to recommend denial of RZ‑2024‑00011 passed 5–0 after more than two hours of staff presentation, applicant testimony and extended public comment. Chair Mr. Cosby moved the denial and the commission voted to forward that recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which is scheduled to hear the case on July 1, 2025.

Why it mattered: residents and public‑safety officials said Rockville Road already has a history of serious crashes, and they argued adding the traffic generated by 138 new homes would worsen risks to drivers and first responders. Fire Rescue Chief Eddie Ferguson submitted a letter to the commission and said the road’s condition and the alignment of proposed entrances raise community‑safety and operational concerns.

“While the most recent tragedy occurred over 10 years ago, accidents continue to happen on Rockville Road,” applicant representative Natalie Croft acknowledged in her presentation while…