Draft Land Use Map Proposes Lower Residential Density Across County
TL;DR: Chesterfield County's draft updated comprehensive plan proposes roughly 10 percent less residential density and 7.5 percent less commercial density countywide, with the biggest reductions in Bermuda and Matoaca districts south and west of Route 288.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield County Planning Department (PlanMod project)
- What: Draft land use map reducing residential and commercial density designations
- When: Draft released summer 2026; comment period through Sept. 11, 2026
- Where: Countywide, with largest reductions south and west of Route 288
The story
Chesterfield County has released a draft land use map as part of PlanMod (Comprehensive Plan Modernization Project), proposing significantly reduced residential and commercial density across multiple areas of the county. The draft map decreases countywide residential density by approximately 9.6 percent and commercial density by 7.5 percent compared to the comprehensive plan adopted in 2019.
The most substantial changes are concentrated south and west of Route 288, particularly in the Bermuda and Matoaca districts. The Matoaca district alone would see a 14 percent reduction in residential density, largely reflecting updated projections for development patterns in the Moseley area. The draft map also shrinks zones designated for mixed-use development and replaces them with less-intensive uses.
The proposal maintains opportunities for higher-density infill development north and east of Route 288, where county infrastructure can support growth. According to travel demand modeling, the density reductions would decrease average daily traffic volumes on many primary and secondary roads, particularly in the Bermuda and Matoaca districts where the most significant land-use changes are proposed.
The revised map reflects the Board of Supervisors' decision in 2025 to remove the 25-mile East-West Freeway from the county's long-range thoroughfare plan. That freeway, envisioned as a limited-access road connecting with the Powhite Parkway Extension and terminating at I-95, had been included in the plan since 1989. County officials determined that travel demand projections for 2050 no longer supported the need for the freeway facility, and the proposed alignment is now blocked by the Richmond Metro Zoo, a solar facility, and a property protected by a conservation easement.
County officials stated that the density reductions respond to resident feedback about traffic congestion and growth pace, and reflect the need to "catch up on infrastructure" to support the county's growing population. The plan also aims to preserve the county's rural character in southern and western areas through larger lot sizes, lower densities, and limits on extending water and sewer services.
The draft document and interactive land use map are available for public comment through 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing in October 2026, followed by a Board of Supervisors public hearing and decision in December 2026. The county expects to adopt the final comprehensive plan by the end of 2026.
Key players
- Chesterfield County Planning Department: Leading the PlanMod (Comprehensive Plan Modernization) update project
- Board of Supervisors: Will hold public hearing and vote on final plan in December 2026
- Planning Commission: Holding public hearing on draft in October 2026
Key dates
- 2026-09-11: Comment deadline for draft map and comprehensive plan
- 2026-10: Planning Commission public hearing on draft PlanMod
- 2026-12: Board of Supervisors public hearing and vote on final comprehensive plan
The case for
Lower residential and commercial density designations can ease pressure on the county's road network and infrastructure systems, slowing sprawl and allowing time for public facilities to catch up to growth demands. Preserving rural character and larger lot sizes in southern and western areas aligns with resident concerns about traffic and quality-of-life impacts of rapid development.
The case against
Reduced density designations may constrain housing supply at a time when the Richmond region faces affordability challenges, potentially limiting options for residents seeking homes in Chesterfield and driving up property costs. Lower mixed-use zoning could limit walkable, mixed-income development patterns that some planners favor as alternatives to car-dependent sprawl.
Why it matters: The comprehensive plan and land use map are the county's primary tools for guiding development decisions and infrastructure investment over the next 20+ years. The proposed changes will shape where and how new housing, commercial development, and public facilities are built, directly affecting traffic patterns, property values, housing availability, and the character of neighborhoods throughout Chesterfield County.
Places
- Route 288
- Bermuda district
- Matoaca district
- Moseley area
- Richmond Metro Zoo
- Powhite Parkway Extension
- I-95
Development timeline
- 2026-03PlanMod project kicks off with Planning Commission: Comprehensive Plan Modernization project officially begins [source]
- 2026-07Draft comprehensive plan and land use map released: Planning Department releases initial draft for public review and comment [source]
- 2026-09-11Public comment period closes: Deadline to submit written comments on draft plan at 5 p.m. [source]
- 2026-10Planning Commission public hearing: Planning Commission holds public hearing on PlanMod draft [source]
- 2026-12Board of Supervisors public hearing and vote: Board of Supervisors holds public hearing and votes on final comprehensive plan adoption [source]
Related links
- PlanMod's Draft Land Use Map Significantly Reduces Residential Densities in Many Areas
- Comprehensive Plan Modernization (PlanMod) Project
- PlanMod's Proposed Density Reductions Would Ease Pressure on Chesterfield's Road Network
- Planning Division
Read the original at Chesterfield on Point →
Sources
- PlanMod's Draft Land Use Map Significantly Reduces Residential Densities in Many Areas
- Comprehensive Plan Modernization (PlanMod) Project
- PlanMod's Proposed Density Reductions Would Ease Pressure on Chesterfield's Road Network
- Chesterfield's draft comp plan decreases residential density, adds housing affordability strategies
- Chesterfield bucks Richmond-area trend with lower-density plan