[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6654870,"mediaKeyId","5442264-7480d5b1a0bd034561134b6c9abaf288","parentId",5442264,"title","Residents raise concerns about DSS hair‑follicle testing; local nonprofit thanks county for grant funding","audioSeconds",3036,"startMs",3302000,"endMs",6338000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442264-7480d5b1a0bd034561134b6c9abaf288&start=3302&end=6338","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442264-7480d5b1a0bd034561134b6c9abaf288/thumbnail_3302000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6654870/Henrico-County/Virginia/Residents-raise-concerns-about-DSS-hairfollicle-testing-local-nonprofit-thanks-county-for-grant-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654870-e5c40556838dac1609947f2e96216f1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770912880&Signature=R9m52WU5D0ZUtepU4gjxegn0Q-xWtfAhDY9tNpCW2I5VIc1uuUkhQKJIAZE7mGOkZYRfgz9ukUWV1vBZY4-FZjRxAYnc5museXRkkKcEBXf-lcrHHI4eSpzm5YrvphTSxQirwdFt~JNXa71PFHFRjD5aS-fdBzJkgh2-CiKzyzAoHlQhUttMoiSqSRztUVXNaY1zsoL0mlOoAEpz1IryiJtG0BysTiHo-a2FkUNA17YS6lh3eevUfflCmJbrrcII3i8WaQWQSC8RzVDqG4FrrJxXHGXJIVbptvGOdJhgmRdUSnSGsnC1kU4gHwBwGve8TyeHCfiCe4CvIdlas1T4LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Henrico County","date","2025-07-22T00:00:00Z","article","Several citizens used the July 22 public‑comment period to raise policy and customer‑service concerns and to thank the county for recent grant support.

A resident, Melissa (Elisa) Jones, told the board she is “a voice for families” and criticized Henrico Department of Social Services’ (DSS) use of hair‑follicle drug testing in child‑welfare cases, telling supervisors that the test can be “scientifically flawed, racially biased, and carries heavy consequences, particularly for families of color.” Jones described the real‑world consequences she attributes to testing practices, including parental‑rights terminations and lengthy legal battles. “I support the mission of DSS to keep children safe,” she said in her remarks, “but that mission is undermined when we rely on testing practices that are not only scientifically questionable, but socially discriminatory.”

Supervisor comments acknowledged the concern and noted prior follow‑up discussions between board members, the juvenile court, and DSS leadership. The board chair referenced prior conversations with the department's director and said the public comment has prompted additional internal discussion.

Kathy Easter, executive director of Safe Harbor, a Henrico‑based nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, thanked the board for approving CDBG funding that will allow her agency to buy a house it has been renting for transitional shelter. Easter said the purchase and a matching gift will give the program “permanent residence” and stability.

Cassandra Ziegler, a longtime Henrico resident, said her recent experience with the planning office left her feeling unwelcome and urged staff to provide clearer guidance to members of the public who seek assistance with planning matters.

The board did not take formal action on the public‑comment items but several supervisors said the remarks would inform future conversation with DSS and county staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Henrico County - Board of Supervisors - Jul 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment at the July 22 Henrico Board meeting, residents urged reconsideration of Henrico DSS use of hair follicle drug testing citing racial and scientific bias; Safe Harbor's executive director thanked the board for CDBG funding to purchase a transitional housing property.","taxTitle","Henrico County, Virginia","taxId",58541,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6654875,"Board approves CDBG/HOME plan and routine contracts, leases and easements in consent and general business",2070,5283000,7353000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442264-7480d5b1a0bd034561134b6c9abaf288&start=5283&end=7353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442264-7480d5b1a0bd034561134b6c9abaf288/thumbnail_5283000.jpg","/articles/6654875/Henrico-County/Virginia/Board-approves-CDBGHOME-plan-and-routine-contracts-leases-and-easements-in-consent-and-general-business","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654875-606bdf5e97cfa19b7f8db1925b4e528b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770912880&Signature=ccqzxOutq6-sRm7XCTp-Su8n2exH~7C~OiSr8Nl30LZJA05RqirpSi-bkpQMC3dOxGui3zU9pCoqsmzPcS1yNnxz6XS4waLSINdzCOEBkau65NbbOg-nqveA400rZ4X75MmY1yb0C~yHdhGN43HgpnqkfDeguEFlMTAcEhaCllCL-L-mcN2HW94K0CDGUN0HOaKzQK2s06Xg-v8MTAC3WsHAaKGM6HNOVTZPAR6FiOrmr7-zKY-Fp5FvIYafDCMJDQd8DoXZiRbRwSRlT33-RP095eOxYO3ItQufkCLAN5~IRxzrTE98V-9cXIpbzgq6h07qI2yFZm8v5aZa-sPNXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Henrico County Board of Supervisors on July 22 approved a package of program plans, contracts and real‑estate actions covering federal housing grants, county leases, construction contracts and engineering supplements.

Key board actions at the meeting included:

- Authorization for the county manager to submit the fiscal year 2025–26 Consolidated Plan and the CDBG and HOME program plans and to execute related HUD contracts and subrecipient agreements. The board approved the resolution after a motion by Supervisor Cooper and a second by Supervisor Rountree.

- Approval of a five‑year lease to the Commonwealth of Virginia for space at 8600 Dixon Powers Drive (the Henrico Human Services building). The lease will begin on or about Aug. 1, 2025; the board approved the lease following the presentation by the county’s real property staff.

- Authorization of an agricultural lease with Creamfield Farm LLC for approximately 7.626 acres at 7160 Dale Road; the lease includes automatic one‑year renewals.

- Acceptance of easements needed for the Old Washington Highway sewer extension; the county will acquire temporary construction and permanent utility easements across property owned by Carolyn F. and Robert W. Bumgarner for a negotiated payment of $50,000.

- Purchase authorization of approximately 6.1 acres at 9301 Patterson Avenue for conversion to a public park, for $2,900,000; the board appropriated funds from the general fund and fund balance to the capital projects fund for the acquisition.

- Award of construction and engineering contracts and supplements, including:
• A fixed‑price contract of $2,258,044 to Waco Inc. for the Shady Grove Water Pump Station Improvements (new pumps, piping, electrical/mechanical work, roof replacement); work is expected to begin in October and take 570 days.
• A construction contract of $1,800,000 to Abernathy Construction Corporation for the Meadow Road culvert replacement project.
• An amendment adding $898,637.79 in design/engineering services for the 3‑Chop Road improvement project to update permits, NEPA re‑evaluation and utility coordination.

- Several ordinance amendments were introduced for advertisement and public hearing on Aug. 12, 2025, to reflect changes in state law and county programs, including revisions to transient occupancy tax filing procedures, CPACE program rules, expansions to the Henrico Investment Program (HIP) areas and clarifications to fee waivers for certain affordable housing types including community land trust developments.

Most items were presented by department directors and recommended by staff; the board approved resolutions and motions by voice vote with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the transcript. Several items were described by staff as required to comply with recent state law changes or to continue long‑running capital projects. The CDBG/HOME funding allocation and related contracts will enable federal grant execution and subrecipient work for the coming fiscal year.","At its July 22 meeting the Henrico Board approved the county's CDBG and HOME program plan, a lease to the Commonwealth, agricultural lease, several construction contracts and real‑estate actions, and introduced multiple ordinance amendments; most items were approved with little debate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6654879,"Henrico supervisors approve rezoning to allow up to 99 townhomes in Landmark development",3587,1235000,4822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442264-7480d5b1a0bd034561134b6c9abaf288&start=1235&end=4822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442264-7480d5b1a0bd034561134b6c9abaf288/thumbnail_1235000.jpg","/articles/6654879/Henrico-County/Virginia/Henrico-supervisors-approve-rezoning-to-allow-up-to-99-townhomes-in-Landmark-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654879-269d95fa0c956b0f7f08a287d2ee27c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770912880&Signature=XXOXfeCXSdGRDlc35mVgmcuR4-6T9dETEGzYdITicUK0mXoRJ8F~Qi7XXCnHccvnoZ5IQJ1WTWVGwZkvhN89QSudcNLvCVjsvWwzlk7JH3-Ka2k2-EVk2JooO0ISBgstmZQpjPSVAVRecAQa86UGlPGzq6v3qEmewcR1NUAEiuRPC8CeKkfaps3brJXTAjCc7EEagRrhDtBuXfppIi4E9It74jeZAgJPKj0yez32t0TJe76RQZcpi2W19olEL-cS-w0d7sASmqt7guZ700TJ0l7Iq7ZygZRHAZ2ew03gq4wnewa43YM-9TNNESipGsNlHxOtVUBcBB3jx5kE7JA5xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Henrico County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a conditional rezoning that will allow up to 99 townhomes on a 15.65‑acre parcel within the Landmark development, located on the east line of Dry Bridge Road south of Old Williamsburg Road. The board recommended approval of REZ2025‑100474 with proffers dated June 9, 2025.

County planning staff told supervisors the 2026 Comprehensive Plan designates most of the site as urban residential and that townhomes would be “a logical continuation of the Landmark development,” with agency reviews identifying no substantial concerns. “This request is acceptable and recommends approval,” Planning Director Joe Emerson said during the hearing.

Supporters and the applicant described the project as a market‑driven change from an earlier plan for 41 single‑family lots and, prior to that, age‑restricted apartments. Attorney John Montgomery, representing the applicant, said the change aims to provide a product at lower price points and to make more efficient use of land: “The housing market is just extraordinarily expensive. In order to build the homes for the folks that we were hoping to be able to live here … this is the method in which we can accomplish that.”

Proffers attached to the rezoning set minimum dwelling sizes and building materials, call for 89 units to be no less than 1,550 square feet (10 units may be as small as 1,280 square feet), and guarantee garages for most units. The plan retains underground utilities, a stormwater BMP consistent with previously approved plans, sidewalks throughout the development and two points of access on Dry Bridge Road. The applicant also agreed to a 25‑foot transitional buffer along the line with the adjacent Pine Grove neighborhood.

The project includes a redesigned pocket park of roughly a half acre and connects to an existing trail system tying multiple sections of Landmark together. Montgomery described an adjacent 1.5‑acre park elsewhere in the larger development, saying the change in park locations results in a net overall amenity gain: “We increased the size of a park immediately adjacent to it to 1 and a half acres.”

Supervisors and staff discussed traffic and pedestrian safety at the Dry Bridge/Route 60 intersection, where planned road improvements and signalization were said to be funded by the developer. Montgomery said the developer has placed funds in escrow for the signal work and that design and procurement are underway; he gave an escrow figure for intersection improvements of just under $850,000. Board members pressed staff and the developer to continue coordinating with VDOT and county public works on sidewalks and crosswalks to improve pedestrian access to Taylor Farm Park and nearby destinations.

Board members also asked whether the housing trust fund would be used in the project. County housing staff said the trust fund reduces purchase prices for buyers and that in a nearby development the county provided roughly $112,000 per closing; Montgomery and county staff said partnerships with builders have already resulted in 16 units in the broader Landmark/Gateway area being committed to affordable purchase prices, with some sales expected to be below $200,000 once land‑trust or trust‑fund subsidies are applied.

Following the public hearing, Supervisor Tyrone Nelson moved to recommend approval of REZ2025‑100474 with the proffers of 06/09/2025; the motion was seconded by Supervisor Rogich and carried. The board’s vote was recorded as an approval during the July 22 meeting.","The Board of Supervisors voted to rezone a 15.65‑acre parcel in the Verona District from R-5 AC to RTH to permit up to 99 townhomes, with proffers including buffers, sidewalks, and a half‑acre park; the planning staff and planning commission recommended approval.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents raise concerns about DSS hair‑follicle testing; local nonprofit thanks county for grant funding

Board approves CDBG/HOME plan and routine contracts, leases and easements in consent and general business

Henrico supervisors approve rezoning to allow up to 99 townhomes in Landmark development