Planning Commission gives nod to Courthouse Village proposal

 

At a special called meeting on May 22, the Goochland Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of changes to the county comprehensive land use plan, resulting from the small area  study began in early 2022. The supervisors will hold a public hearing on June before taking a vote.

The draft plan as presented by a representative of Timmons Group, which was retained by the county earlier this year to distill the work of the first consultant hired in 2022 into a useful document, was clearer than earlier versions, but little changed. Features included suggestions for denser residential development in the village core, improving and expanding existing sidewalks, and using flood plains for greenway trails to enhance pedestrian movement through the village.

The small area plan project has cost the county upwards of $200k.

The plan encourages residential and commercial growth, both of which will bring more people to Courthouse Village. No expansion of the few existing two-lane roads that access the area was recommended. However, putting Rt. 6 through the core in front of the courthouse green on a “road diet,” to narrow the road and add on street parking, was part of the plan.

Few people spoke during the public hearing. Their comments included asking if the sheriff or Circuit Court Judge had been consulted about the road diet; contending that allowing buildings higher than two stories is needed for significant growth; and advocating for higher density to allow “affordable housing” for those that work in the county.

Housing options for teachers, deputies, fire-rescue folk, and other county employees are badly needed. However, the reality of the situation is that whenever a developer secures rezoning for higher density to allegedly build accessibly priced housing, the end product is different. For example, Swanns Inn was first rezoned for about 15 lots. When public sewer became available, the developer requested and received approval for twice as many lots contending, that smaller lots would reduce the cost making the homes more affordable. Home prices there are well north of half a million dollars.

Deputies, fire-rescue folk, teachers, and county employees who want to live in the county, please weigh in via anonymous comment with what home price point you could afford. Developers often seem to pull numbers out of thin air to justify their rezoning applications. We need some real feedback.

Perhaps the county could work with the state to use some of the open land on the Reynolds Community College campus for multifamily housing. The community college formerly known as John Tyler did this with some of its property.

The plan has lots of verbiage about preserving the historical and cultural character of Courthouse Village, details to be addressed in amended zoning ordinances, overlay district standards, and so forth. Retaining the small town feel of Courthouse Village will be vital to its success The huge sterile generic multifamily enclaves oozing westward on Broad Street like a malignant fungus have no place in Courthouse Village. Smaller scale buildings, like two, no more than three, story structures with several flats could be tucked into vacant parcels on River Road West could fit well.

Recruitment and retention of small businesses to Courthouse Village will not be practical without more people living in the area to support them. Dwelling units on River Road West that once used for business purposes, have either reverted to residential use or are vacant.

Encouraging private investment here is necessary and challenging.

Here’s hoping that the new, improved, even though it doesn’t seem all that different from the old plan, will enhance the charm of Courthouse Village.