Chesterfield approves developments for 400+ homes at Board of Supervisors meeting

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Two residential developments are on track to begin work, offering more than 400 homes in Chesterfield County, following rezoning approvals this week.

On Wednesday, June 25, the county’s Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning of 2201 Wonderview Drive and Beulah Road Cluster Lots -- two residential developments -- which would allow for changes to roadways, recreation and more.

Wonderveiw Drive would affect the Bellmeade area, with an addition of up to 275 single-family and townhouse units with amenities, along with road and sidewalk improvements.

The site at Beulah Road is currently occupied by residential homes and associated structures. But during the Board of Supervisors meeting, they approved additional corporate offices, research development and light industrial, made for light manufacturing, research and laboratories. It aims to create up to 166 single-family cluster-style homes at this address near some of Route 10.

Approved development of Beulah Road Cluster Lots (Photo: Chesterfield County)

It aims to create interconnected roadways, trees at porches or stoops and a common area, as well as a community garden and pedestrian path at Beulah Elementary School.

"The county right now is spending a lot of money building sidewalks for those kids that go to Jacobs Road [Elementary] School," a man who did not give his name said during the meeting. "Y'all have got to stop letting these developers say, 'we're building sideways, but they're on our property.' They're not on our property."

Anne Miller, a planner representing the concept plan, said there will be access points to the subdivision on Beulah Road and Kingsland Road, with road improvements on those roads. This would include turn lanes and sidewalk connections by the entrances.

Another speaker, Renee Eldridge, said this will be a positive change for the community, but emphasized getting out of Wonderview Drive and onto Route 1.

Two community members expressed concern about it being blocked due to the new redevelopment plans.

Jeffrey Geiger, the agent representing the applicant on this case, said that they intend to put private pavement -- not maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) -- to get back to Buena Vista Blvd. Geiger said they would implement a gate for fire access.

"We are not doing anything to block access, we are not doing anything to inhibit their use of Buena," he said. "The area we're dealing [with]; it's not developed. We have an opportunity to create some new housing, create some new opportunities and bring a little bit more life to this area."