A Master Plan for Courthouse Village - College of Humanities and ...

Appendix F: Courthouse Village Focus Group Village Recommendations
TO: Janet Lehre
FROM: Courthouse Focus Group
DATE: February 20, 2002
Members:
Eleanor Towers
Bill Haskins
Mollie Lennarz
Dee Philips
Claudia Lawton
The Courthouse Village Focus Group makes its recommendations for the development
of the Courthouse Village using the information gathered from the Town Meeting, the
Survey results, and our discussions with many of our neighbors. We have studied the
Courthouse Plans prepared by Richmond Regional and we have familiarized ourselves
with many of the County’s current documents on Planning and Zoning. We have also
read and recommend that the model ordinance language by Randall Arendt in
Conservation Design be adopted in the Courthouse Addendum to the Comprehensive
Plan. We want an overlay; or, some other means for developing specific design, scale,
land use, landscaping, and ordinance language that will insure the Courthouse village
develops as the citizens in the Courthouse wish.
In keeping with previous Comprehensive Plans for the Courthouse Village, we recognize
and encourage the combination of residences, government buildings, retail and other
commercial uses within the village. Because this village serves as a hub for the entire
county (e.g. site of county government offices, of the high school, of the regional
community college campus, the public library, a soon-to-be-built YMCA) and because of
the irreplaceable historic buildings and history of the courthouse, we want development
to accommodate density --- of the built environment and people.
VILLAGE BOUNDARIES
The existing boundaries of the courthouse should not change, with the exception of the
northeast corner. We want the core, or heart, of the Village to develop before any
commercial development along the rim of the Village. We want the fringe outside the rim
of the Village to keep its rural character and A-2 zoning. Due to the importance of
Maidens Rd as a scenic rural road to a vast number of citizens, we reject the changes
suggested to that area in the July 15, 2001, report titled, “Goochland Courthouse Village
Plan Phase 11,” prepared by Richmond Regional Planning District Commission. We
recommend prevention of any new roadways adding traffic onto Maidens Rd.
We recommend that the Village boundaries be extended on the northeast corner to
include the area between Rt 634 on the east up to the back of Log Cabin subdivision to
the north. Within that area are three public parcels of land, residences, a veterinarian
with a conditional use permit, and an historic home. We believe all these properties are
appropriate for inclusion in the village.
A Master Plan for Courthouse Village Page 85 of 96
Spring, 2006
Goochland County