Just passing through

Two cases decided by the Goochland County Board of Supervisors at its Wednesday, March 4 meeting illustrate the heartburn of local roads overburdened with vehicles just passing through.

In the first instance, the Board adopted a through truck traffic restriction for a portion of Davis Mill Road near Georges Tavern in the western end of the county. This case was deferred from November to gather more information. The approximately one mile of road in question runs between Hadensville-Fife Road and River Road West (Rt. 6).  About three tenths of a mile would be added to a through truck trip using an alternate route. This would not apply to public safety vehicles including fire trucks and ambulances.

People—approximately 21 residents—who live along this stretch of Davis Mill requested the action, contending that the roadway is narrow, and was not built to withstand repeated pavement degradation caused by heavy truck traffic. They all signed a petition in support of the restriction.

One speaker contended that the influx of heavy through truck traffic may be caused by the construction of Cobbs Creek Reservoir, which Henrico County is building in Cumberland County, and could be temporary. He also suggested that the truckers use Davis Mill to avoid the intersection of Hadensville-Fife Road and River Road West, which he contended is a sharp turn on a slanted grade that could shift heavy loads, increase the chances of rollovers and make an already congested intersection worse.

A resident of David Mill Road said that he is a truck driver and sees no issues with using the Hadensville-Fife Road/River Road West intersection.

Other speakers said that if a proposed landfill in Cumberland is built, the large truck traffic in the area will not abate.

A representative of the Virginia Loggers’ Association opposed the restriction contending that it would negatively impact the transport of forest and agriculture products.

Board Chair Susan Lascolette, District 1 said that she has been working with VDOT to study traffic in the entire Georges Tavern area.

The board unanimously approved a resolution supporting restricting through truck traffic. The matter now goes to VDOT, which will conduct its own investigation before any restriction can be put in place.

An amendment to the county zoning ordinance to increase the maximum building size allowed in the residential office (R-O) zoning district from 5,000 square feet to 7,500 square feet was unanimously approved. The amendment was proposed by the supervisors to bring the ordinance, crafted decades ago, more into line with more contemporary space requirements. This will affect all property in Goochland County currently zoned R-O.

The board then turned its attention to a proffer amendment application for 8.056 acres on the north side of Rt. 6 just west of its intersection with West Creek Parkway. The subject property was rezoned R-O in 2002 in conjunction with the residential rezoning case that created Creekmore Park, an upscale enclave of custom homes. The R-O envisioned then was for, if memory serves, low profile office buildings in a “California” style to complement the homes. That R-O was for two parcels, with one access point on Creekmore Road, which is the main access for the homes, and another on Rt. 6.

People bought homes in Creekmore Park with full knowledge of the possibility of R-O at the southern edge of the community. For whatever reason, a plan of development was never filed for that land. Fast forward to 2017, when a proposal to build a two story 48,000 square foot self-storage facility on the subject property was met with strong opposition from the Creekmore Park homeowners that it was recommended for denial at the planning commission phase and withdrawn. 

In 2014, the supervisors rejected a rezoning application for retail use on the east side of Creekmore Road agreeing with Creekmore Park residents that retail operations were not compatible with their community. Triplex dwelling units have been built there.

In 2019, a client that needed a building of at least 7,500 square feet expressed interest in the R-O property. An application to rezone the property from R-O to B-2, business limited, was filed, and denied recommendation for approval by the planning commission. Creekmore Park residents once again vigorously opposed this rezoning contending that it would open the floodgates for  commercial uses along Rt. 6 that would change the character of the area and devalue their homes. They supported retention of the R-O zoning, which led to the ordinance amendment.

After a great deal of discussion involving the developer, home owners, and county staff, a final R-O was presented with proffer amendments to make the final product as mutually acceptable as possible. Six residential scale buildings with a total of approximately 37,500 square feet; parking moved to the front of the site; retention of an 80 foot deep vegetative buffer between the project and rear of the parcels; and a right only turn lane onto Creekmore Road with signage restricting use during afternoon rush hour were among the approved features.

During the final public hearing, Creekmore Park homeowners contended that the final R-O proposal was an improvement to previous iterations, but objected strenuously to the access on Creekmore Road, even if it is a right turn only. The spokesperson for the applicant contended that a second access point for the project is required for public safety purposes.

The fly in the ointment is traffic, especially afternoon rush hour. If you have never had the opportunity to experience Rt. 6 west of Rt. 288 between 4 and 7 p.m., do so at your own peril. Thanks to overflow traffic from Rt. 288, which had not been built when Creekmore Park was approved in 2002, it is a nightmare.

Home owners also raised concerns about turning left from Creekmore Road through a median break to travel east on Rt. 6. Several serous accidents have occurred there. Once again, VDOT—the state agency whose motto is “Oops!”—has determined that a no U turn sign to prevent commuters from heading west on Rt. 6 to make a U turn in front of Creekmore to access southbound Rt. 288 is not warranted.

Rush hour 288 traffic, some generated as far away as Innsbrook, is a huge problem that inundates Rt. 6 and local roads to its west making late afternoon travel treacherous. Action needs to replace discussion about using shoulders to add traffic lanes to 288 during peak hours and reduce congestion.

Kudos to the Davis Mill Road and Creekmore Park residents for engaging with local government.