Henrico residents are encouraged to help shape the county’s future by participating in a series of open house-style meetings hosted by the Department of Planning between April 14 and May 5.
The meetings, called Suggestion Sessions, are part of the HenricoNext process to update the county’s comprehensive plan. They will offer the public an opportunity to review draft maps showing potential land use designations for properties in the county. The land use categories — such as suburban residential, office, open space/recreation and urban mixed-use — may or may not be different from the designations shown in Henrico’s existing comprehensive plan. That plan was adopted in 2009 and is known as the Henrico County Vision 2026 Comprehensive Plan.
Planners are now working to update the plan to imagine the county in 2045. Land-use designations, even once adopted by the Board of Supervisors, do not change the zoning of a property but instead serve as a recommendation to guide future decision-making.
The Suggestion Sessions — one in each magisterial district — will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. as follows, with the same information available at each meeting:
- Monday, April 14 at Deep Run High School, 4801 Twin Hickory Road
- Wednesday, April 16 at Freeman High School, 8701 Three Chopt Road
- Monday, April 21 at Hermitage High School, 8301 Hungary Spring Road
- Monday, April 28 at Henrico High School, 302 Azalea Ave.
- Monday, May 5 at Highland Springs High School, 200 S. Airport Drive
Community members are encouraged to attend a meeting at the location and time most convenient for them. Planning staff will be available to show maps for a particular property or neighborhood as well as explain zoning, answer questions and collect feedback. Residents are encouraged to bring a smartphone or tablet to facilitate the collection of input.
“We strongly encourage residents and other stakeholders to attend one of the upcoming community meetings, ask questions and provide feedback on the draft land use maps,” said Joe Emerson, director of the Department of Planning. “These maps and the recommendations associated with them will help form the foundation of Henrico’s next comprehensive plan. They also will help guide decisions on everything from zoning to county investments in facilities and infrastructure for the next 20 years.”
In addition to being available at the Suggestion Sessions, the draft land use maps will be available at henriconext.us beginning the afternoon of April 14. Reports and other information also are available on the website. Public comments provided at the meetings and through the website will be considered before the land use maps are revised for eventual review and approval by the Planning Commission, and then ultimately by the Board of Supervisors.
