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Volume 66 Number 8 • February 24, 2022
Celebrating Goochland History
Board denies rezoning for Dollar General By Roslyn Ryan Editor
Photograph Courtesy of Eleanore Andrews and the Goochland County Historical Society
In this 1942 photograph from the Goochland County Historical Society’s archives, members of a local family and their friends enjoy a beautiful day at the old Randolph School on Cardwell Road. Pictured in the front row are Goldie Allen, Patricia Dixon and an unknown person. In the second row are Cecil Allen, Joe Allen, an unknown person and Plummer Allen. In the second row are James Allen, Florence Allen, Harriet Allen and Caroline Allen. The driver is unknown. Can you or someone you know tell us more about this photo? Contact The Goochland Gazette at rryan@goochlandgazette.com or call (804) 339-7956.
Goochland GOP will hold mass meeting March 16 Contributed report The Goochland County Republican Committee has approved a mass meeting to be held on March 16, 2022, to elect local committee officers, members of the committee for the next two-year term, and delegates to attend the convention to nominate their party’s nominee for Congress. The mass meeting will be held at the American Legion Post 215, 3386 River Road
West, in Goochland on March 16 at 7 p.m. with registration beginning at 6 p.m. To participate, Goochland voters must file no later than March 7 at 7 p.m. All details are on the Goochland County Republican Committee’s website at https://goochland.gop. After redistricting, Goochland County is now a member of the 5th Congressional District. The 5th Congressional District Republican Committee voted to hold a convention to nomi-
nate the district’s candidate for Congress. The convention will be held on May 21 at HampdenSydney College in Farmville starting at 10 a.m. The filing deadline to attend this convention is also March 7 and all details are also on the Goochland County Republican Committee’s website. The current Congressman, Bob Good, is being challenged by the Charlottesville City Republican Committee chair, Dan Moy.
Citing concerns about safety, Goochland County supervisors have denied a request by Rhetson Companies, Inc. to approve a rezoning that would have allowed the company to open a Dollar General store on the north side of River Road West approximately 300 feet from the intersection of Hadensville Fife Road and River Road West. While the area is designated by the county’s comprehensive plan for commercial development, several board members noted that the 55 mph speed limit was a major concern for them, as was the property’s orientation with the nearby Cartersville Road intersection and other access points. A number of residents spoke out against the proposal, citing concerns over traffic and noting that the store would detract from the rural charm of the area. A petition against the rezoning, featuring 40 signatures, was also presented to the board. During the course of the hour-long discussion, supervisors noted that local governing bodies are not permitted to decide on such cases based on the potential impact to nearby similar businesses. “It is our job to guide development where it is safe and where it does not impact the community,” said District 1 supervisor Susan Lascolette. “It doesn’t matter what the store is—that’s got nothing to do with this.” Last December, the Goochland County Planning Commission had voted 3-2 in favor of the rezoning. The board of supervisors voted 4-1 on Feb. 1 in favor of denial.