After being deferred for 60 days to allow more public input, a new plan for how to develop Midlothian’s historic village area was approved at the Chesterfield County Planning Commission meeting Tuesday night.
The Midlothian Special Area Plan is part of the county’s Comprehensive Plan. It gives developers a roadmap on what the county wants with any new construction, without losing the historic character of the village. The plan also aims to make the area more pedestrian and bike friendly by slowing down traffic.
Project Manager Joanne Wieworka said the county made changes to the proposed plan after many citizens expressed concerns about overdevelopment.
“To try and reduce some of the fears that we were Short Pumping or really urbanizing the Midlothian Community, which is something that they don’t want to see, and was never the intent of the draft plan either,” Wieworka said.
But some residents are still unhappy with the changes. Barbara Rowe, a member of the group Citizens for Midlothian, found about the proposed plan back in August, when the Commission held public meetings.
“I hope that they will keep working to make this a plan that reflects the village and not maybe somebody’s dream of what it should be here,” she said.
Rowe said she’s concerned the size of buildings along Midlothian Turnpike could create a tunnel effect. The buildings could go up to three stories in the current proposal. She also wanted to make sure local schools don’t become overcrowded with more residents moving to the area.
The public can still weigh in on what happens to Midlothan’s historic village area at the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors' meeting on December 11th. To take a look at the plan, click here.
