HENRICO'S FUTURE...

It's Varina’s Future too-
The future of our county is quietly being planned without reflecting residents input
concerning the need for agricultural "developmental rights" programs..

Let your Supervisor know now!
The 2026 Comprehensive Planning "process" is not complete
without in depth focus on resident's planning input.

"Best Practices" does not mean planning
behind closed doors.

...IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY, THEN DON'T SUPPORT COUNTY OFFICIALS AIMS TO MAKE HENRICO AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

On November 12th, 2008, Henrico County's Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission will 'review' input given thus-far by residents on the 2026 Comprehensive Plan "draft".

This is the plan that has been created by county officials and their paid consultants to set the pattern for how Henrico will grow during the next 18 years. Never heard about the plan?

Not surprising,
because our officials have put forth only the minimum effort required by law (plus a
tiny bit more... say $2,300) to educate residents that the Comprehensive Plan exists.

Even though Henrico's scientific "2005 Citizen Survey" showed
71% of those polled didn't even know what the "Land-Use Plan" is.

Shouldn't a survey result like that show the county that they need
to tell residents what they're up to?

Did you know that Henrico's "Zip-Code Campaign"
cost the county over 106 thousand dollars?

And $2,300 is all they'll spend out of the 2008 one billion dollar Henrico budget to advertise and educate us about the plan for our county's future?

Does this make it seem like they want us to know about "their" plan?

So we're encouraging Henrico residents to let our county officials know that

None of us moved here to watch every square
inch of Henrico become "developed"

None of us moved here to watch
bulldozers destroy forests and farmland

There is enough traffic already, focus on the need for alternative
and mass transit prior to encouraging more development, please.

Henrico contains many "aging neighborhoods" that deserve attention and repairs- prior to the county focusing on further aiding developers to "build-out" farmed and forested areas.

Current residents 'quality of life' deserves as much attention as those who aim to keep developing Henrico for profit. (Isn't our environment worth more than that?)

If all of our neighboring counties and the City of Richmond each involve their residents in planning. So WHY hasn't Henrico?

Let your Supervisor know that the current "2026" Comprehensive Planning "process"
is not complete without residents participation.

...any resident of Henrico can voice this concern- whether you live in Varina or not- because the decisions Supervisors are making will affect all Henrico residents. And if you don't care about the environment, then what about your taxes?

because farmed and forested tracts in Varina actually keep
other districts taxes lower... got your attention now?
* want a free bumpersticker like the one above?
want to find out about the future of your taxes
in Henrico? read on.

This May 2026 Comp Plan meetings began. Henrico did only the minimum to advertise them, so don't be surprised if you didn't hear about them.

Please take the time to educate yourself and neighbors about Henrico's current 2026 Comprehensive Plan 'draft', which suggests the urbanization of many green areas in Henrico.

To find out if your neighborhood would be affected, look at the 2010 and 2026 Land-Use and Major Thoroughfare links in the right column. Compare the two and see the changes being desined for your area (without your input).

You can get up to speed by reading this blog, joining 'Envision Henrico' (it's free) and spreading the word to other Henrico residents. Tell them our future depends on it.

Ask yourself: how much "development" is too much? Because

the future of our county is quietly being planned without reflecting public input.

* * * * * * *
Some Stats:

2004 Department of Environmental Quality reports made public the fact that many Henrico watersheds have high 'tmdl' counts.

In Varina, they reported that over 60% of the watersheds are polluted. Similar patterns exist in other Henrico districts. Non-profits and residents have been volunteering to change this for several years now. We need County planned watershed cleanup programs started now.

Henrico currently has no ordinances planned to prevent "light pollution". One solution would be a simple as requiring all exterior lighting in new developments and businesses to be down-turned to face the ground.

Henrico County has still not taken the opportunity to join the Cool Cities- Cool Counties campaign, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Other surrounding areas have, but not Henrico.

'Cost of Community Services Analysis' or 'COCS' (which Henrico should make public, under the Freedom of Information Act) show that each acre of open-space, forest or farmland requires less tax burden for the creation of necessary infrastructure, than each acre of residential, commercial, or industrial-use land does.

Each acre of residential, commercial, or industrial-use land requires additional financial input from the county. That means Henrico has to spend more than each tax dollar which residents pay into county coffers to support development than to preserve open-space, forested or farmed land. This may be the reason behind the county's marketing itself as a prime location for business developments to be built by the Chinese.

OPEN SPACE IN HENRICO HELPS KEEP RESIDENTS TAXES LOW.

But as outlined in the Richmond-Times Dispatch on April 9th, 08, in 'Development Debated at Session'. The article subtitled "Speakers, supervisors offer explanations about growth impact".

County officials 'explained' that they don't ask developers to pay 'proffers' (like other counties) which would help foot the bill for local infrastructure (schools, roads, firestations, etc) made necessary by new development, because instead:

Henrico plans to keep revenues rising by supporting more and more 'economic development'. If developers don't 'pay in' to support the infrastructure needed for each 'housing unit' they build, then doesn't that mean development is increasing your taxes? Don't let them fool you.
Yes it does.

Sure- we all need jobs, but do you want commercial and retail establishments to be built IN your neighborhood? What about high-rise buildings?

Because those are among the guidelines for growth that the 2026 Plan 'draft' will set for many areas of Henrico.

..this list could go on and on, but if you clicked the 'Varina's Future' tab above to find out what you can do, check out Envision Henrico. They aren't asking for money. It's free and takes little effort on your part. You could sign a petition, or attend the upcoming Henrico Comprehensive Plan "hearings". Voice your support for a sustainable future.

Get involved in keeping Henrico the kind of county you would want your children and grandchildren to live in in the future.

If you have no children or grandchildren, then come share some of your time, and help us build a brighter future- while surrounded by like-minded residents who will be happy to meet you.

Thanks for your time. Now: talk with your neighbors, call or write your district Supervisor asap, and help spread the word!

* * * * * * * *

again...IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY, THEN DON'T LET THE COUNTY BECOME AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT!

...and if you'd like a bumpersticker like the "Farmland Lost is Farmland Lost Forever"one shown above, click here to visit The Piedmont Environmental Council (the sticker is free, just sign up for PEC environmental email alerts- and you'll feel great about your small part in protecting our Virginia's environment)