Henrico County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Henrico County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Affordable homes through Maggie Walker Community Land Trust
A $500,000 county grant would help the land trust buy 20 Arcadia homes and sell them to buyers earning up to 115% of area median income.
Opioid abatement funding
The Board was scheduled to consider joining combined settlements of opioid-related claims with six wholesale drug distributors, adding to settlement funds available to the county.
Home-based businesses and uses in residential districts
Several neighbors sought permission to run small home-based activities — a hosted short-term rental and two in-home daycares — in single-family neighborhoods. How the board rules shapes what residents can do on their own property.
Setback and lot-area variances countywide
Applicants sought variances to build a screened porch and two carports that don't meet standard setback distances. Approval would let construction proceed closer to lot lines than the zoning ordinance normally allows.
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.
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.
Short-term rental permits in residential districts
A homeowner on Omega Road asked to rent her dwelling as a short-term rental, a use that requires a conditional use permit under county code.
AED program update
The county's automated external defibrillator program was set for an update — relevant to sudden cardiac emergency response in public spaces.
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.
Road project condemnation resolutions
The county couldn't strike a deal with the owner of 3800 Mechanicsville Turnpike, so it moved to condemn the land needed for new sidewalks. Property owners get paid fair market value, but it's a forced sale.
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.
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.
Fire Investigations
Henrico officials updated the Board of Supervisors on the ongoing fire investigations at the Darby House and SwimRVA-North. They stressed that investigators are prioritizing a thorough, careful process over rushing to a quick conclusion.
East End Water Extension
The Board was scheduled for a work session update on the East End water extension project, which affects water service for that part of the county.
Drive-through restaurant at S. Laburnum Avenue and Finlay Street
Cornerstone Midlothian wants to convert a 0.59-acre office-zoned corner into a drive-through restaurant with extended hours, near residential areas and within the Airport Safety Overlay District. Neighbors would weigh traffic, noise, and late-hours effects.
Mount Olive Avenue realignment easements
Resolutions 201-26 and 202-26 would condemn easements at 8825 and 8831 Trolley Lane for the Mount Olive Avenue Realignment Project in the Fairfield District.
Trucking and outdoor storage facility in Varina
DRB III Trucking's rezoning would allow outdoor storage and trailer parking on 5.9 acres at Darbytown and Miller roads, in the Airport Safety Overlay.
Data Center Development
Henrico is dealing with a major surge in public pushback over new data centers, leaving city leaders struggling to figure out fair zoning rules. Residents are worried about the heavy toll these massive facilities take on local resources, making it a hot-button local issue.
Countywide street preservation contracts
Two contract awards would keep countywide road maintenance going: slurry seal work by Slurry Pavers and asphalt paving and planing by Colony Construction and Finley Asphalt.
Tuckahoe Park design services contract amendment
The Tuckahoe Park bond project would add fully accessible restrooms, an accessible community playground, trails, a pedestrian bridge, and improved parking. Work is expected to start September 2026 and take about 515 days.
Industrial outdoor storage at Darbytown and Miller roads
DRB III Trucking wants to run outdoor storage and trailer parking on nearly 6 acres in Varina. The commission itself asked to postpone the decision to August 13, so neighbors have more time.
Crown Castle wireless tower height increase (withdrawn)
Crown Castle sought a permit to replace and raise a wireless tower near Gaskins Road and Stoneridge Lane in a residential area. The case was headed for a possible deferral to August.
Retail rezoning at Magellan Parkway and Brook Road
A small lot at Magellan Parkway and Brook Road would shift to business zoning for general retail — though a deferral to August 13 was requested.
Flood mitigation property purchase at 2304 Martin Street
The county planned to buy property at 6601 Glenwood Street in the Brookland District to address drainage and flooding problems.
St. Joseph Villa update
An afternoon briefing on the St. Joseph Villa property was scheduled for the Board.
Indoor Event Venue on Nine Mile Road
Whitehead & Chiocca Properties wants a permit for an indoor event venue on Nine Mile Road in Varina, with conditions meant to protect nearby uses.
Imago Dei School conditional rezone for private school
A private school wants to rezone 8.86 acres at Dill Road and Vawter Avenue from industrial to residential zoning. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval; a deferral to September 8 had been requested, so the Board's decision may wait.
Residential development review update
An afternoon briefing on the County's residential development review process was scheduled.
Varina on the James Phase I contract
A contract award for Phase I of the Varina on the James project, a major waterfront development in eastern Henrico.
Drainage and flood mitigation land purchase on Emporia Street
The county was set to buy land at 11490 Greenwood Road for drainage and flood mitigation — a stormwater investment in the Brookland District.
Imago Dei School Rezoning
A private school wants to rezone 8.86 acres at Dill Road and Vawter Avenue from industrial to residential zoning. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval; a deferral to September 8 had been requested, so the Board's decision may wait.
Zoning appeal of violation notices at 3401 Vawter Avenue
KGLI Properties, LLC appealed notices of zoning violation on three parcels at 3401 Vawter Avenue in East Highland Park, a light-industrial-zoned property. The board's ruling would determine whether the county's enforcement action stands.
Home-based conditional use permits
Several homeowners asked the zoning board for permission for things like backyard hens, a home daycare, accessory dwelling units, a short-term rental, and side-yard garages or storage buildings. These decisions shape what residents can do on their own residential lots.
Chesapeake Bay Protection Area Encroachment at Fairways Section 6
A stormwater level spreader would eat into about 1,567 square feet of the required 100-foot buffer along Stony Run — a small but environmentally sensitive trade-off tied to the Fairways housing development.
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.
Zoning violation appeals on Greenwood Road
A property owner appealed two notices of violation on his A-1 zoned Greenwood Road parcels, with photos in the record showing trucks and storage on site. The board's ruling would decide whether the county's enforcement stands.
Glover Park Phase II construction change orders
The county was set to hand over another ~12.6 acres of Glover Park to the Sports and Entertainment Authority, adding to land already transferred, for a tournament-class baseball complex.
Henrico High School athletic field renovation
Three engineering firms would get annual on-call contracts for parks work across the county — restrooms, sports fields, trails, parking lots, and master plans — up to $10 million a year.
Fees for household refuse disposal areas
An ordinance was scheduled for public hearing to set the fees residents pay at county household refuse disposal areas. The fee levels directly affect residents who use these drop-off sites.
New Chief of the Division of Fire
Douglas W. Clevert, Jr., was scheduled to be sworn in as Chief of the Division of Fire, placing new leadership atop the county's fire and emergency services.
School Construction Funding
Henrico just scored a piece of a $119 million pie using a targeted sales tax to fix up local schools. This means better classrooms for kids without hiking your property taxes to pay for it.
DRB III Trucking Industrial Rezoning
A trucking company sought to rezone 5.9 acres at Darbytown and Miller Roads for outdoor storage and trailer parking, in the airport safety overlay. The case was carried over from May.
Crown Castle Wireless Tower Replacement
Crown Castle sought a permit to replace and raise a wireless tower near Gaskins Road and Stoneridge Lane in a residential area. The case was headed for a possible deferral to August.
Bon Secours St. Mary's parking lot rezone
The hospital wants to rezone 1.6 acres at Maple Avenue and Paxton Street for a parking lot. Neighbors may care about traffic and how office use fits a mostly residential area.
Lakeside Avenue bridge replacement
A contract award would move the Lakeside Avenue bridge replacement project forward in the Fairfield District.
Landfill Fire
A fire broke out at the Henrico landfill, sending thick, black smoke into the air and keeping emergency crews scrambling. It’s the kind of sudden local emergency that makes you wonder about our waste site safety.
Zoning enforcement appeals
Three appeals of administrative decisions and notices of violation were on the docket, including one involving an industrial-zoned property on Vawter Avenue. Outcomes determine whether alleged zoning violations stand.
New Market Park conservation easement
A gift of a conservation easement would permanently protect key features of the future New Market Park in Varina, part of the county's mitigation bank.
SMART SCALE funding bid for FY 2028
The county planned to submit its letter of intent to compete for state transportation construction money through VDOT's SMART SCALE program, covering all five districts.