OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Chesterfield County, Virginia/Planning Commission
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Chesterfield County Planning Commission Meeting - July 21, 2026

Planning Commission — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
BodyChesterfield County, Virginia
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, July 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:30:19

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:07

To the two the two

Speaker 2

0:17

mic

Speaker 1

0:22

all right with that note, welcome to the 3 p.m.

0:26

uh work session at the Chesterfield County Planning Commission.

0:30

Our first order of business is the election of officers.

0:35

I will ask for a nomination uh for chair of the planning commission for the remainder of 2026.

Speaker 3

0:42

I will proudly make a nomination for Commissioner Hardin, who I know will be a fantastic leader for this group.

Speaker 1

0:51

Thank you.

0:51

Is there a second?

Speaker 3

0:53

I'll second that.

Speaker 1

0:54

Do we have any other nominations?

0:57

All right.

0:58

Uh Madam Clerk, we take the vote.

1:01

Ms.

1:01

Harden.

1:02

Aye.

1:03

Mr.

1:03

Petroski.

Speaker 4

1:04

Aye.

1:04

Mr.

1:05

Sloan.

1:05

Aye.

1:06

Ms.

1:06

Richardson.

1:07

Aye.

1:07

Madam Chair, the vote is unanimous.

1:08

The motion passes.

Speaker 1

1:10

Thank you all very much.

1:11

I appreciate

Unassigned speaker

1:12

it.

Speaker 1

1:12

Uh next, uh we will be electing vice chair of the planning commission for the remainder of 2026.

1:21

I would like to nominate uh Commissioner Petrosky.

1:25

Second.

Unassigned speaker

1:26

Thank

Speaker 1

1:27

you.

1:27

Do we have any other nominations for vice chair?

1:30

Madam Clerk, would you take the vote?

Unassigned speaker

1:33

Ms.

Speaker 4

1:33

Harden.

1:34

Aye.

1:34

Mr.

1:35

Petroski.

1:36

Aye.

1:36

Mr.

1:36

Sloan?

1:37

Aye.

1:37

Ms.

1:38

Richardson.

1:39

Aye.

1:39

Madam Chair, the vote is unanimous.

1:40

The motion passes.

Speaker 1

1:42

Thank you.

1:43

Thank you.

1:44

Congrats.

1:45

Thank you and congrats to you too.

1:48

All right.

1:48

Next on the agenda, our request to postpone action, emergency additions, changes in the order of presentation.

2:00

None there.

2:01

All right.

2:02

And it looks like I need to make a motion to add an item to the agenda as item 5B, initiation of the subdivision ordinance amendment relative to chapter 17.1-90.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use████████████████████████████████32%
Land Use Policy█████████████████████21%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Procedural█████████9%
Personnel Matters█████████9%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Environmental Protection███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Active Transportation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Chesterfield County Planning Commission Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Chesterfield County Planning Commission held a work session at 3 p.m. and a public hearing at 6 p.m. on July 21, 2026. The meeting included election of officers, a major update on the Comprehensive Plan Modernization (PlanMod) project, initiation of a subdivision ordinance amendment, recognition of outgoing Planning Director Andy Gillies, and public hearings on multiple zoning and land use cases.

Consent Calendar

  • Election of Officers: Commissioner Hardin was unanimously elected Chair, and Commissioner Petroski was unanimously elected Vice Chair for the remainder of 2026.
  • Addition to Agenda: Item 5B (Initiation of Subdivision Ordinance Amendment relative to Chapter 17.1-90) was added by unanimous vote.
  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from June 16, 2026 were unanimously approved.
  • Initiation of Subdivision Ordinance Amendment: The Commission initiated the amendment and set the public hearing for the 6 p.m. session (unanimous).
  • Historic Preservation Cases (26HP2157 & 26HP2168): Both cases requested removal of historic landmark designation from parcels while maintaining designation on the houses (George Perdue House and Perdue-Mitchell House). Staff recommended approval; the Commission voted unanimously to approve.
  • Consent Agenda Cases (after moving cases to discussion): The following cases were approved unanimously subject to staff conditions:
    • 24SN1350: East Hundred Road Self-Storage (conditional use for self-storage facility)
    • 26SN2068: 7-11 Convenience Store Amendment (modify permitted uses for gasoline sales)
    • 26SN2080: Charleston Landing Rezoning (rezoning to SU for 90 dwelling units)
    • 26SN2088: Womack Road Rezoning (rezoning to SU for 1 dwelling unit)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Work Session: No public comments on unscheduled matters.
  • Public Hearing (Citizen Comment Period): One portal comment was received regarding control of data centers; no one spoke in person.
  • Consent Agenda Public Hearing: Several citizens spoke requesting certain cases be moved to the discussion agenda:
    • Jerry Charmar expressed general opposition to lumping cases together on consent.
    • Robert Brown (2208 Point of Rocks Road) opposed the Elder Property Rezoning (25SN1354) citing infrastructure and traffic concerns; the case was moved to discussion.
    • A citizen spoke on Dominion Sycamore Springs Switching Station (26SN2139), noting community understanding of the need but questions about transformers and noise; the case was moved to discussion.
    • Another citizen clarified the status of Spring Creek Baptist Church case (already moved by Commissioner Sloan).
  • Spring Creek Baptist Church (25SN1184) Public Hearing: Three citizens spoke in opposition:
    • Ed Baumgartner (5501 Grandin Ave) cited construction traffic concerns, drainage impacts on wetlands, architectural inconsistency with existing neighborhood, and strain on HOA amenities.
    • Chris Bobber (Hidden Falls Drive) expressed concerns about the buffer being potentially clear-cut and requested preservation of trees.
    • Mark Staver (Winding Waters Drive) raised issues about property value impact, construction traffic routing, retention pond maintenance, buffer width, and lack of enforcement of construction restrictions.

Discussion Items

  • Comprehensive Plan Modernization (PlanMod) Update (26PJ0006): Staff presented Draft One of the updated comprehensive plan. Key points included:
    • Consolidation of chapters (from 16 to 13), including merging transportation and bikeways into one chapter.
    • Proposed 9.6% decrease in residential density countywide, especially south and west of Route 288 to preserve rural character.
    • Updated transportation thoroughfare plan: elimination of several new road alignments and downgrading of many arterials to collectors due to reduced traffic projections from lower residential densities.
    • Updated bikeways and trails plan with a 500-mile vision network and prioritization framework.
    • Land use plan changes: 10 major focus areas, including reductions in regional mixed-use designations, adjustments to preserve rural character, and new plan notes (e.g., encouraging mixed-use in Roseland overlay).
    • Interactive Story Map tool for public engagement, allowing residents to view proposed changes and submit location-specific comments.
    • Community engagement schedule: library office hours (July 30–Sep 1), virtual and in-person community meetings, billboard advertising, and displays at libraries.
    • Timeline: public engagement through August, Commission work session in September, public hearing in October, Board of Supervisors hearing in December 2026.
  • Subdivision Ordinance Amendment (Chapter 17.1-90): Initiated to align street naming authority from Environmental Engineering to Planning Department, in conjunction with a Chapter 16 amendment. Unanimously initiated and public hearing held later.
  • Work Program Update: Steve Hosh reported on upcoming code amendments (housekeeping items, second round of ZOMOD amendments, Chapter 16/17 amendments).
  • Recognition of Director Andy Gillies: The Commission adopted a resolution recognizing Mr. Gillies' 9 years of service (2017–2026), during which he presided over 112 meetings and guided 780 zoning cases. Commissioners and staff praised his leadership, team culture, and achievements (ZOMOD, PlanMod). The resolution passed unanimously.
  • Spring Creek Baptist Church Rezoning (25SN1184): Staff recommended approval. Applicant Dave Anderson (Timmins Group) presented the proposal for 12 homes on 7.45 acres, emphasizing infill development, construction access restrictions, and design compatibility. The public hearing was held with opposition; the transcript ends before a vote, so the Commission's decision is not recorded in the available material.

Key Outcomes

  • Elections: Chair (Hardin) and Vice Chair (Petroski) elected unanimously.
  • PlanMod Update: Staff presented Draft One; public engagement begins July 30. Commission will reconvene in September to review feedback.
  • Subdivision Ordinance Amendment: Initiated and public hearing held; awaiting further Board action.
  • Historic Preservation Cases: Approved unanimously.
  • Consent Agenda: Four cases approved unanimously after three cases were moved to discussion.
  • Recognition of Andy Gillies: Resolution adopted unanimously.
  • Spring Creek Baptist Church: Public hearing held; vote not recorded in available transcript. The case remains pending from this meeting.

Meeting Transcript

To the two the two mic all right with that note, welcome to the 3 p.m. uh work session at the Chesterfield County Planning Commission. Our first order of business is the election of officers. I will ask for a nomination uh for chair of the planning commission for the remainder of 2026. I will proudly make a nomination for Commissioner Hardin, who I know will be a fantastic leader for this group. Thank you. Is there a second? I'll second that. Do we have any other nominations? All right. Uh Madam Clerk, we take the vote. Ms. Harden. Aye. Mr. Petroski. Aye. Mr. Sloan. Aye. Ms. Richardson. Aye. Madam Chair, the vote is unanimous. The motion passes. Thank you all very much. I appreciate it. Uh next, uh we will be electing vice chair of the planning commission for the remainder of 2026. I would like to nominate uh Commissioner Petrosky. Second. Thank you. Do we have any other nominations for vice chair? Madam Clerk, would you take the vote? Ms. Harden. Aye. Mr. Petroski. Aye. Mr. Sloan? Aye. Ms. Richardson. Aye. Madam Chair, the vote is unanimous.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com