The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors was scheduled to hear zoning cases 21SN0675 and 21SN0676, commonly referred to as Upper Magnolia Green East & West, on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the Chesterfield Public Meeting Room, 10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832. Speakers were each given three minutes. The property is not located in the Midlothian district, but MBA President Chris Jenkins encouraged members to voice their opinion on the case.
At a glance
What: Board of Supervisors hearing on zoning cases 21SN0675 and 21SN0676, Upper Magnolia Green East & West
Who: Chesterfield Board of Supervisors; MBA President Chris Jenkins
When: Thursday, May 26, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Chesterfield Public Meeting Room, 10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832
What the case proposed
The case proposed multiple uses on the property, including a technology village, multiple county schools and a residential community. The MBA wrote that each addressed an immediate need: a shortage of available existing commercial space and of developable land adequately zoned for industrial and business use; schools at or over capacity; and a housing market in Chesterfield with very limited supply and extraordinary demand. The case would also give Powhite Parkway, long planned to connect from its current terminus to Hull Street Road, a viable plan to be built.
The MBA's argument
The MBA argued that land zoned for industrial and business purposes benefits the County, its constituents and existing businesses. It noted that Virginia competes nationally to attract new investment through economic development, that Richmond benefits from a pro-business state that has invested significantly in infrastructure like the Port of Virginia, and that with I-95, I-64, I-85 and other highways running through the region, Chesterfield continues to build on its workforce as more students graduate each year. The MBA called the technology village the highest and best use of the Upper Magnolia land, targeting uses and industries such as limited advanced manufacturing, research and development, and office uses that provide high-paying jobs, leverage other local businesses and provide significant tax revenue back to the County.
Members were pointed to three ways to get involved: attending the hearing, contacting the Chesterfield Supervisors — Leslie Haley (Midlothian), Chris Winslow (Clover Hill), Kevin Carroll (Matoaca), Jim Holland (Dale) and Jim Ingle (Bermuda) — and submitting a comment on the County's online public comments portal.