Chesterfield County officials are inviting residents to participate in a public hearing on August 27 regarding the Northern Route 10 Corridor Special Area Plan. The Board of Supervisors will consider adopting the plan, which would become part of the county’s comprehensive plan if approved.
The proposed plan covers a 3.5-mile segment of Iron Bridge Road, stretching from Route 288 to Rock Spring Drive. It is designed to guide future development along this corridor but will not change current zoning or property uses within its boundaries. Any new projects would still require approval through the standard zoning process, which includes additional public hearings.
County planners note that the northern Route 10 corridor remains relatively undeveloped, with about 40% of its approximately 840 acres currently vacant. The area includes 835 parcels and serves as a key gateway, linking Chippenham Parkway with several county facilities such as the courthouse, airport, and administrative offices.
Officials say planning now will help manage growth and maintain unique characteristics of the corridor. “There’s an opportunity to maintain this area as a unique corridor, keep some of the greenery people love and help it develop a little differently than we’ve seen in other parts of the county,” said Brett Meadows, senior county planner and co-project manager for the special area plan.
The draft plan outlines recommendations for infrastructure upgrades, building design standards, and improved connections between neighborhoods and commercial areas. Currently, most travel in the corridor is by car; there are few pedestrian or cycling paths connecting residential communities with businesses along Route 10.
Two main development scenarios are highlighted: one suggests creating a walkable mixed-use hub at the site of a former Walmart in Watermark community; another targets increased activity at Route 10 and Whitepine Road near both the county airport and Harry G. Daniel Park.
The proposal also calls for shifting land use away from industrial or office development toward community-oriented businesses like restaurants and neighborhood-scale retail—reflecting feedback gathered through surveys, meetings, and online comments during public engagement efforts.
Environmental considerations are included as well. In response to citizen input, planners propose measures to protect mature trees along Route 10 and introduce landscaping requirements for new projects that align with existing vegetation in undeveloped areas.
To the north of this area lies Chesterfield’s Ridgedale Special Focus Area Plan—a similar guideline adopted in 2023 for land around Chippenham Parkway and Iron Bridge Road. Together with the new proposal under consideration, these plans cover over 1,400 acres along northern Route 10.
