Virginia County Grappling With Growth Expected From Planned 4,886 Unit Subdivision

The planned subdivision in Chesterfield County, Virginia, is symbolic of the issues facing many jurisdictions in Virginia and throughout the Country - how will they provide adequate facilities and infrastructure to serve new residents? And do they have access to the needed planning tools to ensure that growth does not have unintended consequences?

"Magnolia Green, a massive subdivision planned for Chesterfield County's western Hull Street Road corridor, could bring up to 2,785 new students to the county. That's enough to fill two elementary schools, half a middle school and half a high school. A major concern with Magnolia Green is that it was rezoned without cash proffers."

"Underscoring the conflict between residential growth and the need to provide for adequate schooling facilities Chesterfield Schoolboard Chairman Marshall W. Trammell Jr. says, 'We don't control the growth, it's kind of frustrating for us. We have absolutely no control over what gets approved.' "