Goochland Shares Path Forward on Centerville and Courthouse Village Small Area Plans

On Tuesday, March 7th, 2023, Krystal Onaitis, Goochland’s Deputy County Administrator, and Jamie Sherry, Community Development Director, shared with the Board of Supervisors a path forward for Goochland County’s Small Area Planning efforts involving the Centerville and Courthouse Villages. This has been an ongoing priority for the County as both areas are part of the designated growth areas in Goochland County.

 For this Goochland has contracted with Timmons Group, a local firm based in Richmond, for a fresh perspective on the plans for the Courthouse and Centerville Villages. Timmons Group will be reviewing all community and stakeholder feedback received to build upon the work done to date. 

“This path forward, is rooted in our desire to accurately reflect what we have heard from the community and those involved in the village planning process,” said Krystal Onaitis, Goochland’s Deputy County Administrator.

A central goal of Goochland and Timmons with this effort is to ensure that community input/feedback received is compiled and coalesced it into a regulating plan that provides a workable guide for our residents, business community and Planning Staff to shepherd development over time within these two unique Villages.

“Timmons Group is proud to provide a fresh perspective for Goochland County’s plans for the Courthouse and Centerville Villages,” remarked Tim Davey PE, Principal with Timmons Group.  “We are excited to deploy our local Planning and Economic Development professionals to help the County staff shape the future of these important communities.”   

Timmons has extensive experience with land use and planning, given their work with regional planning organizations and Economic Development Departments within the greater Richmond region. Additionally, Timmons Group has a longstanding working relationship with Goochland County.

“Through this review process, Timmons will propose a framework for the plans that will focus on regulating principles that identify appropriate development zones while balancing the unique character of each Village and highlighting preservation,” noted Jamie Sherry, Community Development Director. “Once completed, the plans will include a guide for future land use decisions to allow for flexibility of development within acceptable guidelines.” 

Next steps for Timmons include a review of all community input and work sessions with the Planning Commission.  In the next couple months, Goochland County and Timmons will hold Community Update Meetings to present the revised plans.  Once completed the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will consider these plans for adoption as agenda items, after public hearings are held for them in late Spring 2023.

Small Area Plan Process

Goochland County is finishing two small area plans, one for the Centerville Village and one for the Courthouse Village. 

The final draft plan comes out of a months-long process that kicked-off in February 2022 to create small area plans for each of the County’s major villages. The planning process for both villages aim to ensure that Goochland County elected officials’ decisions relate to and are made in accordance with the desires of the community. The village plans will provide guidance for land use, economic and physical growth, recreation, public facilities, and community development.  Once complete, these plans will be adopted and incorporated into the County’s Comprehensive plan. 

Goochland County held community meetings for the Small Area Plans in November 2022. Each meeting was recorded and have since been uploaded to their individual pages for viewing. The meeting included a short presentation of the draft concept of the plan, plus an community question and comment session . 

Previously, during the summer, community meetings were held in both Villages.  

The presentations for these meetings were recorded and can be viewed at the page titled:

 Previous Community Meeting Videos.

Resources

Village Plans Presentation - Planning Commission & Board of Supervisors Meeting - January 11, 2023

Village Plan 2022 Comments (YTD) from Initial Kick-Off to Midway Plan Community Meeting

The Breakout Poster Boards from the Community meetings can be seen on the individual Village Plan pages (Courthouse Village Plan & Centerville Village Plan)

Goochland County 2035 Comprehensive Plan

Bike/Walking Path and Transportation Plan

Zoning Code of Ordinances Goochland County

Goochland County Strategic Plan for 2014 - 2018

FY2021 GOOCHLAND COUNTY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ADOPTED BUDGET 26 APPROVED 25 YEAR PLAN

Arterial Management and Interstate Access Plan for Us Rte 250 and Rte 623