Residents at Goochland meeting urge clearer family‑split rules and relief from near‑term road costs

During the public comment portion of a Goochland County subdivision ordinance update meeting, multiple residents urged the county to clarify 'by‑right' splits and family subdivision processes and to avoid forcing heirs to pay immediate, large road‑improvement bills when property transfers occur.

A resident described inheriting a 50‑acre tract split among five family members and said the county's configuration of paper rights‑of‑way could require the family to build a road through productive land at great expense. "We've gotta spend a 100 to $200,000 to put a road in," the resident said, asking the consultant and staff to preserve the original intent of family subdivisions so heirs can hold land without triggering costly infrastructure work.

Mark White acknowledged the problem and said the consultants will evaluate whether the ordinance needs a clearer, separate section on by‑right and family splits, better cross‑referencing and flowcharts to make it easier for landowners to determine what splits are available without extensive deed research. County staff noted the rewrite will also check for consistency with access management and VDOT standards where road improvements are required.

Participants also raised wider concerns about development patterns and housing costs in the Richmond region and asked whether the ordinance could be used to promote more affordable housing types; White replied subdivision rules can influence cost and process but are only part of a broader policy mix that includes zoning and comprehensive‑plan decisions.

The consultant and staff asked residents to submit written comments and review upcoming drafts posted to the county's subdivision‑rewrite webpage; formal adoption will come later through planning commission and Board of Supervisors hearings.