Comprehensive Plan 2007 Update Overview, Myth vs. Fact

Overview

• Board of Supervisors approved the update on March 28, 2007
• More revenue opportunities from business development
• Enables the County to keep your taxes low
• Business growth provides job opportunities for Hanoverians
• Plan follows smart growth policies that hold down sprawl

During the public process of updating the plan, some inaccuracies have been placed in the public domain which are in need of clarification, such as:

Myth 1: 2007 update adds 30,000 acres to the Suburban Service Area (SSA).
Fact - The update adds 14,236 acres to the SSA.  This acreage is designated Business Park/Industrial 7,983 acres and Residential 6.253 acres.  These figures are included in item 2 listed below.

Myth 2: 2007 update adds 15,000 acres to SSA in Beaverdam District.
Fact – 2007 update adds 3,381 acre Business Park along I-95 northeast of Ashland, 1,145 acre Industrial Park in Doswell area and 1,114 acres on western edge of Ashland, total 5,640 acres rather than 15,000.

Myth 3: 2007 update 1,780 houses designated for Haw Property, Henry District
Fact – The Haw Tract is 445 acres designated for 675 dwellings

Myth 4: 2007 update provides for widening Ashland Road to 6 lanes between Rte. 33 and Hylas.
Fact – Ashland Road remains 2 lanes between Rte. 33 and Hylas.

Myth 5: 2007 update provided for 2,100 homes next to Cold Harbor National Battlefield Park.
Fact – 2007 update provides for 800 homes near Cold Harbor National Battlefield Park.

Myth 6: 2007 update provides for building new roads or widening existing roads that will be 4 or 6 lanes with the insinuation that construction will start soon.
Fact - Designation of 100’ Right of Way is done to ensure that if a zoning   change occurs the ROW will be protected to provide for long-term road needs.  In almost all cases road building or expansion of existing roads takes decades.  Example:   a section of Atlee Station Road was just reworked and continues to be a two-lane road.

Myth 7: 2007 update opens up 2,400 acres NW of Ashland that would result in 4,800 dwellings.
Fact - 2007 update provides for 1,052 acres NW with a density of one dwelling per acre, 1,052 dwellings.

Myth 8: 2007 update provides for no green infrastructure planning within the current SSA.
Fact - The RS zoning ordinance provides a minimum 15% open space for all densities above 1.25 units per acre.

Myth 9: There is 6,500 acres available for Business/Industrial development.
Fact - There are less than 2,000 acres available for Business/Industrial development and much of that does not have utilities available.

Myth 10: 2007 update was done to help pay for the Totopotomoy Sewer Plant.
Fact - The Totopotomoy Sewer Plant has been paid for in full and there is no debt.

A major objective of periodically updating the 20-Year Comprehensive Plan is to adapt County planning policy to current and foreseen future circumstances while preserving the quality of life we all enjoy. This year’s update balanced the desire to maintain approximately 73% of the County rural with that of increasing revenue through thoughtful business development to help offset the cost of providing county services without raising your taxes. The update focused on ways to provide more area for business growth along established corridors. Generally, this additional area is along the already established southern border of I-295 and extends along I-95 north to the Doswell area. Future Boards can modify the plan, but I would not expect there would be major changes.

Our inventory of land available for business is very inadequate and we are close to becoming a bedroom community. This plan corrects that situation.  It is very important to provide balance to our residential growth to keep our taxes down while sustaining services that Hanover residents need and demand.  It is also good policy to provide jobs for citizens so they can live closer to their work.