Henrico County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Henrico County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Backyard hens in Winterberry
A resident of Keelwood Court asked to keep two hens in the rear yard of an R-3C zoned home, a use requiring a conditional use permit.
Accessory dwelling units in Tuckahoe and Brookland
Three separate cases asked to create small second dwellings — a garage conversion, a pool house conversion, and a proposed detached unit. ADUs are a growing tool for housing aging parents or adding rental capacity, and all three sat in single-family districts.
Surveillance Technology
Richmond is dropping its controversial Flock surveillance cameras once the current contract expires, though the incoming mayor is already eyeing alternative tech replacements. If you care about privacy versus public safety on city streets, you'll want to watch what kind of tracking tools they bring in next.
Community Forum
Henrico County is hosting a one-stop community forum where residents can learn about the local budget, register to vote, and check out senior resources. It’s an easy, all-in-one spot to get your civic questions answered and plug into what's happening locally.
Constituent Meeting
Henrico County's Fairfield District is hosting an upcoming community meeting on October 15. It's a quick way to learn about older adult resources, register to vote, and figure out where your tax dollars actually go.
Energy Conservation
AI data centers are gobbling up so much electricity that Henrico County is asking schools and local businesses to dial back their power use. If you live here, expect a heavier strain on the local grid and likely higher monthly utility bills.
Data Center Energy Impact
Henrico brought in a bunch of data centers, but now the local schools are dimming their lights just to pay the massive electricity bills. It's a classic case of tech boom perks coming with unexpected neighborhood pain.
Vacuum leaf collection fees
The county is moving to set fees for its vacuum leaf collection service through an amendment to Section 17-59 of the Code. Residents who use the service would pay a defined fee.
Kingsland Road battlefield land acquisition
The county was set to buy three parcels at 2550 and 2570 Kingsland Road from the American Battlefield Trust for $445,000 for conservation and possibly a future park — preserving open land in Varina.
Winter Storm Fern emergency declaration ending
The county was set to formally close out the local emergency declared January 23 in response to Winter Storm Fern, wrapping up the storm response.
Highway Expansion
Good news if you hate sitting in traffic: the state is planning to widen I-64 between Henrico and James City County to speed up your daily drive. This project aims to cut down on congestion along a heavily traveled regional corridor.
Second Amendment sanctuary
Henrico County leaders are currently debating whether to jump on the bandwagon and declare the county a Second Amendment sanctuary, joining a broader statewide trend. If passed, it's mostly a symbolic stance, but it's got the local community buzzing about gun rights and state laws.