Used to be a farm...

[Deuce]

...now, it's a condo. You'd think that they would learn from how disgustingly artificial, commercial and strip mall after strip mall-esque the West end of the greater Richmond metro area has become...then again, it's Richmond.

Change is coming. It's as clear as the rumble of truck traffic in the distance and the for-sale sign on a soybean field.

How it will affect the rural areas of the Varina District has been one of the hot topics in the 2026 Comprehensive Plan, which is up for final approval Tuesday by the Henrico Board of Supervisors. Envision Henrico and the Partnership for Smarter Growth have asked supporters to attend the meeting to protest redesignation of Varina Farm for Suburban Mixed Use development.

In response to residents' concerns, county planners have recommended adding agriculture as an economic objective in the plan and backing it up with policies that support agriculture for current and future generations.

William Gallmeyer, 72, would appreciate the help. He's one of the few farmers still trying to survive in eastern Henrico. When he grew up on Millers Lane, he could count the nearby houses on one hand and knew everybody who lived in them.

Now, White Oak Village shopping center is at the end of the street where he operates his farm stand. Housing developments encroach on his 97 acres. He rents about 250 additional acres to plant more strawberries, pumpkins and vegetables.

"New people that move in the area, a lot of them are customers here," he said as he showed rows of tomato plants. "That part is good, as far as the population increase. But they're taking away the farmland. Development is taking over the East End as well as it does in the West End.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/ ... 07/284922/

 

[Natty]

so gross...

 

[BigE]

half of Richmond used to be farmland youngter
Richmond used stop at Willow Lawn

 

[ShoeSh1ne]

I'm on the other side where I think this is good for the area. All the jobs, money, etc that are now in the area is great. There's still plenty of farmland in VA. Plenty.

Plus, it's not like the farmers don't get a large paycheck if they sell their land. And if they decide not to sell, let's be honest... their children/grandchildren will.

 

[MarcusNation]

I'm on the other side where I think this is good for the area. All the jobs, money, etc that are now in the area is great. There's still plenty of farmland in VA. Plenty.

Plus, it's not like the farmers don't get a large paycheck if they sell their land. And if they decide not to sell, let's be honest... their children/grandchildren will.

I gotta be honest, that sounds bleak. You may be right, but I hope you are wrong.

Just my opinion of course, but I would disagree.

 

[ramathon74]

When I went to VCU in the early 70s there was very little development past Willow Lawn. I think the Krispy Kreme was a little further down Broad Street and the Caddy dealership.

Goochland was considered the sticks then.

 

[artRAMinMN]

Goochland was considered the sticks then.

even though I've been gone for over 10 years now, I'm pretty sure 99.9% of Goochland is still the sticks


...and I say that as a Bulldog alum and resident of 20-or-so years

 

[Sometimes]

I love that I am now further away from the suburbs and strip malls than I have ever been. You guys can join me in Brooklyn whenever you'd like.

*NOTE:* Living in Brooklyn makes attending VCU basketball games infinitely more difficult.

 

[Deuce]

I'm on the other side where I think this is good for the area. All the jobs, money, etc that are now in the area is great. There's still plenty of farmland in VA. Plenty.

Plus, it's not like the farmers don't get a large paycheck if they sell their land. And if they decide not to sell, let's be honest... their children/grandchildren will.

People can keep on saying there's plenty, until there is none. There is no need or really any true demand for this type of development. And by jobs, money, etc you mean new roads(which require repairs), increased congestion, unchecked urban sprawl, pollution, loss of rural character(thus becoming part of the mindless masses that piss in their pants when their fantasy Twitter world crashes), increased volume in the public school system...thus the need to build new schools. Just look at NOVA, they had plenty of land too! There is nothing attractive or semi-beneficial about this...especially, once you consider the wide scope of its impact.

But you know, I used to think the same exact way, Shoeshine....then I "moved" to Richmond. I guess you really don't realize that until you see the difference. The disconnect from actually reality is amazing...but that's okay...it's just a farm!

 

[row6ram]

From another point of view, if I owned 2,250 acres on the James River, I should have the right to do with that land what I want to do with it as long as I apply for proper zoning. I know the Stoneman's personally, and they are good people. They would not want to turn Varina into northern Virginia. But they should have the right to rezone THEIR land.

 

[Mercury]

Might be a good spot to live when I move back that way!

 

[artRAMinMN]

From another point of view, if I owned 2,250 acres on the James River, I should have the right to do with that land what I want to do with it as long as I apply for proper zoning. I know the Stoneman's personally, and they are good people. They would not want to turn Varina into northern Virginia. But they should have the right to rezone THEIR land.

well it's not just applying for the rezoning, it's also having that rezoning approved ...which shouldn't be a problem if the new use would be reasonable/good for the area, but granting changes should never be automatic just for asking, otherwise what would be the point of zoning at all?

 

[Deuce]

From another point of view, if I owned 2,250 acres on the James River, I should have the right to do with that land what I want to do with it as long as I apply for proper zoning. I know the Stoneman's personally, and they are good people. They would not want to turn Varina into northern Virginia. But they should have the right to rezone THEIR land.

Hypothetically, you could put a 6 story Super Wal-mart on you land that covers every square inch....yet, that doesn't mean that's the right or responsible thing to do. No one was deeming anyone a "bad" person, or labeling them with various character traits, so I'm not really too sure why that's being addressed. This is more a reflection of mentality, ideals, awareness, our country's ideology and, to a degree, intellectual reasoning.