Following almost three hours of public comment and
deliberation, the Goochland Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a proffer
amendment and rezoning application at its October 2 meeting.
The applications were file by Markel/Eagle Advisors to amend
the proffers and expand Parkside
Village, a residential enclave in the northeastern corner of the county behind
the Aw Shucks complex.
A conceptual layout that was part of the application approved
in 2013, included a central boulevard between Pouncey Tract and Ashland Roads,
creating an alternative to negotiating the
cramped intersection of these two roads. Only two homes on that iteration
backed up to the boulevard, with all other lots fronting cul-de-sacs accessed
from the boulevard
Parkside Village, however, was not built out that way.
According to comments from some homeowners, they were never informed about the required
connector between the two major roads, and were also unaware of the community’s
proximity to a rock quarry, whose blasting shakes their houses. However,
looking at the way that Park Village Boulevard was built, it is hard to
understand why residents thought it would not connect with Ashland Road.
During a series of well-attended community meetings earlier
this year, Parkside Village residents made their objections to the connector
road, which, under the ordinance that created Parkside Village, the developer was
required to build. Given the number of
large dump trucks and other heavy vehicles that travel the Ashland/Pouncey Tract corridor, objections to a cut through
in Parkside Village seem reasonable.
An alternative to the road through a residential enclave,
including one whose Ashland Road access was via an electronically controlled
gate limited to EMS vehicles, was preferred by residents.
After a tie vote at the August Planning Commission, the application
was deferred for 30 days to allow those involved to devise a better solution.
The resulting version, which does connect to Ashland Road via several difficult
turns, replaces part of the boulevard with a greenway and only impacts a few
houses, which is small comfort to those who live there. The developer proffered
installation of lots of landscaping to soften blow. The rezoning also requires the
developer to disclose to all buyers the proximity of the quarry; that the
property is part of the TCSD, and landowners pay an additional ad valorem tax;
and that adjacent property fronting on Ashland Road is zoned B-1.
Fire-Rescue Chief Bill MacKay said that the approved version
will help to reduce EMS response times.
Manuel Alvarez, Jr., District 2, pointed out that without
the Ashland Road access, Parkside Village is a Henrico subdivision. He also
explained that the Planning Commission is an advisory body, with final land use
decisions made by the supervisors.
“This is very troubling to me,” said Susan Lascolette,
District 1. “This is not the first time that people found out after purchasing
homes that they live on private roads or must pay an ad valorem tax.”
Bob Minnick, District 4, who made the motion to approve,
observed that there are other residential enclaves that have de facto cut throughs
and that the convoluted route would discourage some through traffic.
It is easy to see why the residents of Parkside Village do
not want motorists cutting through their neighborhood to avoid a congested intersection.
It is harder to understand why they were unaware that the connector road was part
of the community since its inception. A quick peek at Google Earth makes it very clear where Park Village Boulevard was
headed. The approved road through the new
section includes sharp turns and is somewhat confusing.
Disclosure requirements imposed in the new proffers are a good
thing. It’s hard to determine if the lack of communication between home buyers
in Parkside Village and realtors was due to ignorance on both sides or a lapse
in ethics. Did no one wonder about the
origin of the large trucks in the area? There
is no excuse for failure to mention the additional ad valorem tax on property
in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District.
This land use case was a knotty matter with no happy ending
for some of those involved. It illustrates the need to ask lots of questions and
confirm the answers before signing on the dotted line. Perhaps the county needs
to include disclosure requirements in rezoning proffers.
2 comments:
Avoiding the road problems - require the road infrastructure be completed minus final paving before any houses are built. That could also be a safety factor should any fires occur, as they sometimes do, during construction.
Ms. Warick, This is in reference to the Goochland County Board of Supervisors meeting, October 2, 2018, regarding the Parkside Village rezoning application. As one of the residents opposing the connector from Ashland Rd to Pouncey Tract Rd., I would like to point out the proposed pedestrian walkway, replacing the connector, is a requirement imposed on the developer. The developer is required to maintain 30% green space for the newly constructed Phase 4. Otherwise, the developer would need to proffer additional lots to satisfy this requirement. This is a much anticipated feature by the residents in Phases 1-3. This green way will serve as a resource for the residents to gather socially, exercise and walk their pets. My concern is one of safety with traffic allowed to "cut through" a 55 plus community. This connection is seen as a connivence to some residents and a hazard to others. We are transplants form MD, settling in this quiet community and would like to maintain this tranquility. Yes, shame on us, for being unaware of the explosions from the nearby quarry and heavy industrial truck traffic. Our first impression of this area was the drive from Ashland, on Ashland Rd, which we thought was beautiful "horse country", not an industrial zone. Does Goochland County want more residential communities or more commercial development?
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