GENERAL COMMENTS SUMMARY II General Comments This section presents the 27 comments received from the public regarding various aspects of the Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan since the original General Comments Manual was published in November 2008. These comments have been received through a variety of means including, but not limited to, direct mail, e-mail, and submissions to the County’s website for the Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan. While later sections of this document present more specific comments regarding the Draft 2026 Future Land Use Plan Map and Draft 2026 Major Thoroughfare Plan Map, the comments in this section are more general and have been organized by magisterial district. In some cases, comments contained specific questions, which warranted an immediate response. Those responses made by staff are shown along with the respective comments. We would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to all those who took the time to forward us their comments regarding the various parts of the Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan. 240 2026 Comprehensive Plan General Comments – Part II – Fairfield Submittal Type: Mail Comment Response Mr. Emerson: Dear Mr. and Mrs. Davidson: We are writing to you about a parcel of property that we currently own, I am responding to your October 9, 2008 letter regarding the which is located at 2104 Cool Lane, Richmond, Virginia 23223. The recommended designation of the Tax Parcel 800-726-1663 in the Draft Tax Parcel I.D. number for this property is 800-726-1663, and it is 2026 Comprehensive Plan. The property is generally located in the zoned R-4, one family residence district. northeast quadrant of Cool Lane and 21st Street in the Fairfield Magisterial District. Our reason for writing to you is because we are concerned about possible changes to this parcel's current land use designation. We As you are aware, the Planning Department is in the process of updating have recently contracted with Virginia Real Estate & Development to the County's existing 2010 Land Use Plan. Along with the proposed explore the various development possibilities of this property, and they Future Land Use maps, staff has posted all of the draft chapters on our in turn have contacted Ms. Rosemary Deemer-Planner 4, Mr. Roy website and continues to solicit input on the information. Props, as well as Mr. Livingston Lewis, all with Henrico County Planning. As noted in your letter, this property is being recommended for Suburban Residential 2 (SR2), which recommends single-family development with Per their phone conversations with these folks, it is our understanding a density of 2.4 - 3.4 units per acre in the Draft 2026 Comprehensive that according to the current Henrico County Comprehensive Plan Plan. This would be a change from the designation in the 2010 Land Use 2010, that this parcel's current land use designation is (UR), Urban Plan, which recommends Urban Residential (UR) with a density range of Residential. However in the Henrico County Comprehensive Plan 3.4-6.8 units/acre. The subject property is zoned R-4, One- Family 2026, this parcel's land use designation is slated to be changed to Residence District which allows a minimum lot size of 8,000 square feet. (SR2), Suburban Residential 2. In consideration of the recommended land use for this property, staff evaluated existing zoning and development trends in the area. The Because we would like to develop this parcel into a single family property abuts single-family uses with a density range consistent with the condominium, or townhouse community in the very near future, we recommended SR2 designation and believes single- family use would be sincerely feel that the highest and best use for this property would be to compatible with adjoining development. More intensive development maintain it's current land use designation of (UR), Urban Residential. could be evaluated via rezoning requests in the future. Other reasons that we feel this way are because the property across the street, to the South, an apartment complex is designated as multi- As the Planning Staff continues to work with the Board of Supervisors family residential, and to the West is an existing single-family and Planning Commission it is anticipated that a public hearing for public subdivision. The land to the north and east is a public school. comment will be held during the first several months of 2009. I encourage you to continue visiting the Planning Department's website for We understand that there have already been six public meetings updates on the Comprehensive Plan. You can find more information concerning the Comprehensive Plan 2026, and also that a window of about the Comprehensive Plan update at the following website: Friday, May 15, 2009 241 opportunity still exists to make such a request to the Comprehensive http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan.htm. Plan 2026. Our contact person(s) with Virginia Real Estate and Development are Mr. Rick Sanders, agent and Mr. Mike Pintz, Principal Thank you for taking the time to review the draft land use maps; we need Broker. They can be reached at either (804) 798-2440, or 1 (800) 550- input such as yours for the process to work as intended. If you have any 2440. Thank you for your attention to this matter. questions or need additional information about the Comprehensive Plan Update process, please contact Jean Moore, Assistant Director of Sincerely, Planning, at 501-4602. Ken and Sharon Davidson Sincerely, R. J. Emerson, Jr., AICP NOTE: Additional comments regarding this request can be found in the “Proposals for Revisions II” section of this document. See page 330 for more information. Friday, May 15, 2009 242 Submittal Type: Mail Comment Response Dear Mr. Emerson: Mr. Tingley: We have reviewed the proposed 2026 Comprehensive Plan map and I am responding on behalf of Mr. Joe Emerson, Director of Planning, to request that the above captioned parcels (812-726-0522, 812-725- your March 18, 2009 email. You have requested a change in the Draft 4066, 811-725-7591) be designated in the 2026 Comprehensive Plan 2026 Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Map for properties located as "Multi-Family Residential.” along Cedar Fork Road. Adjacent land uses make the property unsuitable for single family As you are aware, the Planning Department is in the process of updating residential: The adjacent property on the southwest is designated and the County’s Comprehensive Plan and at their public meeting on March developed as multi-family. The property on the east is designated 12, 2009, the Henrico County Planning Commission recommended the commercial and a portion of it is already developed as commercial. To Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan to the Board of Supervisors for the north is a swath of property owned in fee simple by Virginia Power adoption. Staff continues to compile comments and proposals for land that includes a major substation and overhead transmission lines. This use changes. The information included in your email has been added to gives an industrial feel to the area that negatively affects the the list of proposals for land use and textual changes to the Draft Plan. marketability and possible future value of single family homes. Your request will be reviewed by the Planning Department and the Board We have been marketing the subject property for sale for several years of Supervisors at an upcoming work session. The date for the work as single family residential. These adjacent features are the most often session has not yet been set so I encourage you to visit the Department's cited reasons for a lack of interest in the property and have significantly website at http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan.htm for contributed to the difficulty in marketing and selling the property as it is updates on the Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan and future meeting dates. currently zoned. Thank you for taking the time to review the Draft 2026 Comprehensive There is adequate access to the property. We have obtained the Plan; we need input such as yours for the process to work as intended. If necessary right of way to provide an entrance into the property along you have any questions or need additional information about the Old Cedar Fork Road directly into the property from Nine Mile Road. Comprehensive Plan Update process, please contact me at 501-4488. Rezoning will provide adequate protections. Designation of a land use in the Comprehensive Plan is only a guide. As we work to make use of Sincerely, this property, any different use of the property will require that the Rosemary D. Deemer property be rezoned. At that time, we will work with the county to insure that adequate protections are in place to insure a high quality community on this site. We urge your favorable consideration of this request. Sincerely, Clement “Kim” Tingley Friday, May 15, 2009 243 Submittal Type: E-mail Comment Response Henrico County Planning Department: Mr. Adams: I am writing on behalf of Windsor Business Park, located on East I am responding to your February 18, 2009 email. You have requested a Parham Road and Magellan Parkway. I have reviewed the 2026 change in the Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Map Future Land Use Plan for the area that has been previously studied in for properties located in the Scott Road area. the “Scott Road, small area study” and would like to make the following comments. As you are aware, the Planning Department is in the process of updating the County’s Comprehensive Plan and at their public meeting on March Other than Windsor Business Park and Park Central, the 2026 Plan 12, 2009, the Henrico County Planning Commission recommended the proposes that all of the remaining land in the Scott Road area become Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan to the Board of Supervisors for an “Urban Mixed Use”.