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Vol. 3 No. 27| Richmond Suburban News | February 7, 2018
Community meeting airs Comp Plan draft By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
Metro Creative Art
Hospitals change guidelines for visitors due to flu RICHMOND – As of Tuesday, Jan. 30, hospitals and health systems that are members of the Central Virginia Healthcare Coalition updated their visitation guidelines to protect patients, visitors and health care providers during flu season. VCU Health System facilities, Bon Secours, HCA Virginia, Southside Regional Medical Center, Centra Southside Community Hospital, and Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center are limiting visitors in patient care areas to include only healthy adults who are 18 years or older, and no more than two adults per patient at one time. The guidelines apply to visitors, and do not affect children who need to be hospitalized. In close collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the limitations are implemented in years when the flu is a widespread concern. Signs at entryways to the health system facilities will alert the public of the limitedvisitation policy.
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ANOVER -- After months of public community informational meetings and a host of Planning Commission workshops, Hanover County’s Comprehensive Plan 2017-2035 draft proposal is ready for the Hanover County Board of Supervisors’ consideration. The Planning Commission began working on the draft document last May followed by a group of community meetings in the summer. After a number of board workshop sessions, another group of community meetings was held in the fall. Commissioners adopted the draft in September. Even with the numerous informational sessions that took place in the last 12 months, some officials thought one more informational meeting was needed. About 60 citizens took advantage of a public meeting regarding the Comp Plan last week as Planning Director David Maloney fielded questions regarding the 2017-2035 update and the changes contained in the plan. One of the most significant recommended changes is the expansion of the Suburban Service Area to include areas in the western part of the county that
Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
David Maloney, director of the Hanover County Planning Department, fielded questions last Wednesday during a public meeting about the Comprehensive Plan.
borders Goochland and Henrico counties. Maloney said the expansion was prompted by requests by two landowners who are developing
properties in the area and coordinates that mostly commercial growth with Henrico and Goochland. “As a result of requests of property owners just west of that line, it’s better to coordinate our land use and growth with Goochland County and Western Henrico. The Planning Commission received a request for a minor expansion and that was included in the draft,” Maloney said Comprehensive Plan Citizens Engagement Committee member Martha Wingfield voiced her objections to the expansion, especially the reason that prompted the change. “I’m a little confused about your explanation of why the Suburban Service District is expanding around Hylas,” Wingfield said. “In all the years I’ve gone to Comp Plans here, I’ve never heard anybody say we’d like our land use to look more like Short Pump and that looks like an encroachment of Short Pump coming over to Hanover.” “The two people who requested this are not Hanover residents -- I think they are business owners in Henrico or Goochland,” Wingfield continued. “ It seems we ought to listen first to what Hanover residents are saying they want their county to look like.” Wingfield added that she was not aware there would be any expansion of the SSA in this update. Another point of contention was the inclusion of see PLAN, pg. 5
Survey underway about changing names of two county schools Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND -- The Hanover County School Board is collecting community feedback in response to recent public interest and discussion surrounding the names and mascots of Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School. Chris R. Whitley, public informa-
tion officer for Hanover County Public Schools, said Hanover County residents, organizations, and other community stakeholders may provide feedback online by visiting https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/CGMNYXQ. All community feedback must be received by Friday, Feb. 23. Printed copies of input forms also may be obtained at the following locations during normal business hours:
Hanover County School Board Office, 200 Berkley St., Ashland. Ashland Branch Library, 201 S. Railroad Ave., Ashland. Atlee Branch Library, 9161 Atlee Rd., Mechanicsville. Hanover Branch Library, 7527 Library Drive, Hanover. Mechanicsville Branch Library, 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place, Mechanicsville.
Montpelier Branch Library, 17205 Sycamore Tavern Lane, Montpelier. Rockville Branch Library, 16600 Pouncey Tract Road, Rockville. “Once all input has been received and considered by the school board, the board will determine and publicly announce what, if any, next steps may be needed,” Whitley said.