Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Meeting – October 28, 2026

The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors held its scheduled evening session on October 28, 2026, at the Public Meeting Room, 10001 Iron Bridge Road. The agenda also listed a 2 p.m. work session; no minutes for that session were provided, and the available transcript begins with the 6 p.m. evening session. The evening session opened with invocations by Supervisor Hylton and Supervisor Schneider and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Deputy County Administrator Matt Harris. The board approved employee retirement resolutions, appointments, a consent agenda, four zoning cases, and five public hearing items, and heard ten citizen comments.

Resolutions and Special Recognitions

• Recognized Corporal John C. Stone Jr. (Police Department) upon his retirement after 25 years of service, effective October 1, 2026. The resolution detailed his roles, including field training officer, school resource officer, drug court officer, and special response unit member, and his life-saving award in 2002. He received a commemorative brick, and board members thanked his family.
• Recognized Firefighter Robert L. Trimmer (Fire and EMS) upon his retirement after 41 years of service, effective September 1, 2026. The resolution highlighted his work as a flight medic, EMS specialist, hazardous materials specialist, infection control officer, and equipment purchaser for more than 80 ambulances. He also received a commemorative brick.

Consent Calendar

• Approved appointments to the Board of Building and Fire Code Appeals.
• Approved the consent agenda with no items removed. It included retirement resolutions for Corporal Matthew L. Jeffries, Corporal Jennifer S. Samuels, Lieutenant David R. Samuels, Donald Andrews, Corporal Michael J. Mellina, W. Craig Condrey, Firefighter Joseph M. Coleman, and Captain Jason M. Namola; recognition of the Village of Bon Air and Hazen Memorial Library anniversaries; approval of Mare Transportation, Inc. to operate non-emergency ambulance service; real property requests including land acceptances and a quitclaim to Converge Church Inc.; acceptance of state roads; adoption of the 2027 Legislative Program; additional funding for the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School; a National Park Service agreement with the Police Department; authorization for a VDOT easement for the Fall Line Trail southern section; and setting public hearings for November 18, 2026, and December 16, 2026 (PlanMod).

Public Comments & Testimony

First citizen comment period:

• Amy Beth Mullen expressed concern about data centers and AI, citing Virginia’s 680 data centers and environmental incidents involving Google, including a reported 29.45 acres of protected wetland damage at Project Peanut and delayed self-reporting. She called for a moratorium and a community “make it right” campaign.
• Lisa Thompson said opposition arose late because the projects were developed for almost seven years under the names Lock, Peanut, and Sky before Google’s role was publicly announced in late August 2025. She cited JLARC’s projection of 183% more energy demand by 2040 and argued data centers impose financial and environmental costs on residents.
• Catherine McMahon said the county should stop asking residents “where were you before” and should adopt formal, enforceable measures to halt further data center development and strengthen oversight of existing facilities.
• Thomas Carroll, speaking for Chesterfield Citizens for Responsible Government, requested a full public accounting of the Timmins/Springline lease and related EDA expenditures, including final lease terms, a forensic audit, an executed CETA controls MOU, and release of withheld FOIA documents by the end of 2026.
• Mike Yuzell opposed the proposed 1% sales tax referendum, citing a 24-cent data center equipment tax rate compared to a $3.35 state average, roughly $700,000 in reported Timmins lease overpayments, and infrastructure strain from new housing.

Second citizen comment period:

• Kyle Woods described a FOIA request to the EDA that he said drew a response only at the legal deadline and a $2,000 fee, even after narrowing the scope. He said the community feels “managed, not represented.”
• David Pattison, a retired teacher, said a former student died from an asthma attack and that diesel backup generators worsen asthma. He cited Chesterfield’s third-highest asthma hospitalization rate in Virginia and proposed solar-plus-battery backup, cleaner tier-four generators, and tier-two diesel only as a last resort, along with a data center moratorium and retrofits.
• Evelyn Tucker, a Bermuda Hundred resident, described the village’s long residential history and said the Allied Chemical plant and later Kepone disaster were mistakes; she urged the board to acknowledge mistakes and avoid incompatible industrial uses in residential communities.
• Katie Sitterson, with RVA Indivisible, said the Department of General Services policy 05-09 barred nonpartisan groups, including the NAACP, from poll greeting events while allowing political parties. She asked the board to require DGS to amend the policy to align with Virginia Code.
• Vanessa Castro raised concerns about Project Peanut, citing a Google data center in New Albany, Ohio, that used over one billion gallons of water, health impacts of fossil-fuel pollution, a 22% rise in Ohio electricity bills, and Project Peanut’s ties to an ARC nuclear fusion project not expected to be active until 2030. She asked for a stop-work order or delay until air permits are adjusted.

Zoning Requests

• 25SN1330 Ramos Goodes Bridge Rezoning and Adjustments (Midlothian) – approved. The 4.31-acre property at 2611 Goodes Bridge Road was rezoned to CC with a conditional use for a contractor’s services business with outside storage and fleet parking, along with adjustments to parking, landscaping, buffering, and setbacks. No speakers.
• 26SN2080 Charleston Landing Rezoning (Matoaca) – approved. The 60.2-acre property at 6700 Magnolia Green Parkway was rezoned to SU for a maximum of 90 single-family dwellings. Applicant Jeff Geiger described updated plans, including a dog park and a 200-foot buffer from the future Powhite Parkway. Jerry Turner spoke against densities above one unit per acre; another speaker asked about proximity to data centers.
• 26SN2113 Weatherford Clay Point Road Rezoning (Matoaca) – approved. The 41.48-acre property at 620 Clay Point Road was rezoned to Agricultural A for a farm and animal keeping, consolidating a parcel lacking road frontage. Jerry Turner supported the request.
• 26SN2144 Rountrey Phase 5 Lot Coverage Modification and Amendment (Clover Hill) – approved. The 51.11-acre property at 3101 Otterdale Road received an increase in the lot coverage limit from 30% to 50% for larger homes without increasing density, while keeping 30% coverage along Otterdale Road and adding right-of-way for the Swift Creek crossing.

Public Hearings

• Melinda Rothhaar surplus tax sale funds – approved. A 2021 tax sale produced $83,092.04 in surplus; because the owner did not claim it within two years, it passed to the county. Staff recommended returning the funds after paying delinquent taxes and utility bills; the agenda item listed amounts of $438.21, $1,225.90, and $1,431.52, plus any accrued interest. Rothhaar’s attorney, Lenny Brew, appeared pro bono and said she is a widow living on Social Security and veterans benefits. Jerry Turner objected to the board acting before the final amounts were known. The board approved returning the money in accordance with the agenda item.
• Powhite Parkway Extension Phase 1 eminent domain – approved. Staff requested authorization to exercise eminent domain for nine parcels owned by three parties. Two owners were cooperative or near settlement; the Grove Apartments parcel was in opposition. Jerry Turner and Renee Aldred supported eminent domain for the apartment parcel, and a representative of one property owner spoke in favor of the project. The board approved the request.
• Street naming ordinance amendments – approved. The Chapter 16 and 17.1 amendments transfer street-name approval from Environmental Engineering to Planning/Geospatial Services, clarify unique and intuitive addressing, align with USPS guidelines, and address vacant and landlocked parcels. No speakers; board members discussed the public safety need to avoid duplicate street names.
• Vacation of drainage and general easements across Lot 13, Bexley East Section 2 – approved. The 16-foot drainage easement and 8-foot general easement are no longer needed, and vacating them improves lot functionality. No speakers.
• Underground easements to Virginia Electric and Power Company – approved. The easements support Dominion’s Strategic Underground Program along Conifer Road and unimproved streets; the county retains prior rights in unimproved rights-of-way. Amy Beth Mullen asked for an explanation; Supervisor Hylton spoke in support, noting frequent outages and vulnerable residents in the Dale District.

Key Outcomes

• All motions before the board were approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.
• The board approved the consent agenda, appointments, four zoning cases, and all five public hearing items.
• There were no deferred items from previous meetings.
• The board acknowledged upcoming events: the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce annual legislative reception on November 5 at 5 p.m., Supervisor Hylton’s swearing-in ceremony on November 16 at 3 p.m., and the next Board of Supervisors meeting on November 18 at 2 p.m., before adjourning.