Growth and Development: Frequently Asked Questions

Planning Success Often Overshadowed by Growing Needs (PDF)

1. What is Chesterfield County's growth rate?

Since 2000, Chesterfield County has been growing at a rate of about 2.3 percent per year. This translates into approximately 2,750 new residential dwellings annually. The county's growth rate has been significantly higher in the past than it is today. In the 1970s, growth averaged 6 percent a year, and in the 1980s it was approximately 4 percent per year. Different parts of the county are growing at different rates, of course. The fastest growing part of Chesterfield County is the Midlothian Community, with an annual growth rate of 7.4 percent between 2000 and 2006.

2. How does Chesterfield's growth rate compare to other Virginia localities?

In 2006, Chesterfield County was the fourth largest jurisdiction in Virginia, but was ranked only 22nd in total percentage growth. Loudoun County, in northern Virginia, was the second fastest growing locality in the nation between 2000 and 2006, with an annual growth rate of 8 percent. Locally, Henrico County's population growth was 1.5 percent, Hanover County's was 1.9 percent and Powhatan County's was 3.1 percent.

3. How does the county manage growth?

The Chesterfield County Planning Department works with the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, other county departments, citizens, and business and property owners to guide and manage growth. There are many different tools available to help guide the County's growth, though the Commonwealth of Virginia confines the tools a locality can use to those the state authorizes. The principal tools used to guide growth in Chesterfield are the county's comprehensive plan and zoning regulations.

4. Can the county control the volume of homes built each year?

Chesterfield County does not regulate the number of new homes constructed each year. Housing- construction volume is determined by the private market, based on the demand by individuals deciding to build or buy a home in the county. Through its Comprehensive Plan, the county does guide the location of new construction in order to minimize the cost of infrastructure and public facilities, and to protect the natural environment.

5. What is a comprehensive plan?

A comprehensive plan enables local government officials and citizens to anticipate and deal constructively with changes occurring within the community. Though its format varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the comprehensive plan is a broad effort to address a wide range of community issues and concerns, understanding the important relationships between each part. Virginia state law requires that all local governments have an adopted comprehensive plan. Typical topics addressed in a comprehensive plan include the analysis of population change, land use and economic trends, natural and environmental features, housing, transportation systems, and community facilities and services.

6. How does Chesterfield County use the Comprehensive Plan to manage growth?

Chesterfield County will grow by approximately 100,000 residents over the next 20 years. The Chesterfield County Comprehensive Plan outlines where new residential, commercial and employment uses shall locate. It proposes a deferred growth area, known as the "Green Area," where development should not occur for the feasible future.

7. What is the relationship between the Comprehensive Plan and zoning?

Zoning is the legal means by which local governments regulate the use of land and provide standards for development of land. The Comprehensive Plan forms the foundation for all zoning in Chesterfield County, and can be considered a "blueprint" for future zoning decisions. While land-use-plan designations are only recommendations of possible future use, they are used as an important guide for the changing of any zoning classification.

8. Does the County plan for future roads, schools and other public facilities?

Yes. The Comprehensive Plan includes elements which propose new roads, schools, parks, libraries, fire stations and other public facilities. Population and land use studies are prepared to determine the optimum location and pattern for these public facilities. These public facilities plans are coordinated to support the land use plan and the locations designated for new development.

9. Why are our roads so congested?

Road congestion is a national problem, especially in growing metropolitan areas. Travel in the United States has grown significantly faster than population and transportation-revenue resources. From 1980 to 2000, the U.S. population increased by 24 percent, yet miles driven increased by 80 percent. Yet, congestion in Chesterfield County is significantly less than that experienced in Northern Virginia and Richmond's West End.

10. Who pays for new roads, schools and other facilities needed to support new development?

The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors has an established goal of “Growth to Pay for Growth.” Therefore, new residents and businesses pay their share of the expansion of the county water and sewer systems through connection fees. However, for roads, schools and other public facilities, it is not so simple. A system similar to utility-connection fees, called impact fees, is not legal in Virginia for these other facilities. Instead, a system of cash-proffer payments promised at the time of rezoning was enacted in 1989 by the state for Chesterfield County and other jurisdictions. Cash proffers are helping finance roads and infrastructure. Currently, 37 percent of dwelling units permitted are paying a cash proffer. Over time, this percentage will increase as earlier-zoned properties, not subject to cash proffers, are developed.

11. What is in Chesterfield's future?

No one can perfectly predict the future, however, county planning studies illustrate that if the county follows its Comprehensive Plan, the cost of roads, schools and public facilities will be more efficient due to the planned pattern of growth and increasing effectiveness of county growth policies. For example, over the last five years, 58 percent of the residential growth occurred in infill areas where, generally, public-facility capacity exists to accommodate some of this growth.