The graying of Goochland

Goochland County already has one of the oldest populations in central Virginia. Looks like we’re going to get a lot grayer. At its May 1 meeting, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution recognizing May as “Older Americans Month.” While they’re at it, maybe they could add a new slogan “Goochland is for geezers” as well.

Last month, the supervisors approved a rezoning application for more than 500 homes in an age restricted community, named Mosaic, just east of Hockett Road. 

This week, Erickson Properties II, LLC received approval from the county planning commission on its plan of development for a continuing care senior community in West Creek, roughly south of the apartment complex  opposite the Wawa on Broad Street Road.

The project, still in  a conceptual stage, will have approximately 1,450 homes comprised of independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing units. There will be 14 four to five story buildings in the complex. The 87 acre site will also have approximately 120,000 square feet of community space and a 5,000 square foot sales and marketing center. Contemplated on site amenities include  restaurants, stores, a fitness center, and medical facility. Access will be via Wilkes Ridge Parkway. (See the planning commission packet for May 3 on the county website  goochlandva.us for details)

The Erickson project is still nameless. Please, no more Tuckahoe or Manakin somethings. It’s too confusing, especially when lots of people believe that Centerville is Manakin. The property is in the Dover magisterial district,  maybe they could build on that.

The POD review before the planning commission was the only public  appearance of the project as “homes for the aged”  area by right use in West Creek. All other approvals will be handled by staff.

Meanwhile, the folks who received POD approval last July for an upscale assisted living facility in part of the Erickson location—with the unfortunate moniker of Tuckahoe Pines—are petitioning for a rezoning to build on the north side of Patterson Avenue, just west of the Henrico County line instead.

Tuckahoe Pines was described as an all-inclusive resort-style community exclusively for persons 55 or older. The building would consist of 130 living suites and extensive common areas. The suites will be one, two, or three bedroom units with full kitchens, washer/dryer, designed to serve senior residents with special consideration given to lighting, wider doorways, grab bars in showers. On site amenities include live-in managers, meals, housekeepers, and entertainment. The common areas include a dining room, fitness center, full-size theater, bank, pharmacy, beauty salon, and a game room.

A memory care facility on the south side of Broad Street Road just inside the Goochland line was approved a few years ago.

All of these enclaves are in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District and have no impact on county aquifers. They will place no children in the school system and the traffic impact will be far less than other residential uses.

Property values will increase dramatically, which will help both the TCSD debt service and county bottom line. Though not mentioned, all of these projects will bring a variety of  new jobs to Goochland.

Investment the Erickson project is estimated at $200 million, far above the current assessed valuation of the land.

All of these new senior communities are in the “designated growth area” of the county—the 15 percent of Goochland that will not remain rural. Once they are up and running, which will not happen overnight, people who live west of Manakin Road will  probably notice little change in their daily lives.

Older people tend to travel in the middle of the day, so traffic should be less than many folks predict. Given their proximity to the delights of Short Pump, buses might transport residents to shopping and medical appointments. Twenty seniors in a bus rather than 20 cars on the road is a good trade-off.

All of the planned senior enclaves are of the upscale variety and may bring higher end cars to the county. In recent years, personal property tax levied on vehicles has come in above estimates, enhancing county revenue without raising real property tax rates. Retirement communities grow the tax base, bring jobs, and do not overwhelm our schools.

Goochland must ensure that there will be adequate fire-rescue providers and deputies to serve these new residents, who may bring higher expectations of response than may currently exist here.

Though not the kind of industry envisioned for West Creek at its inception, senior living is a far more graceful and sustainable industry than a computer chip plant, and its jobs cannot be exported.