Chesterfield County has gotten a lot of bad press lately for lack of foresight and good planning. There has been much concern expressed about our roads, schools, and environment and the strains of rapid growth.

Chesterfield County does, in fact, have a Comprehensive Plan to guide growth. It is divided into sections or areas, such as the Upper Swift Creek Plan, the Midlothian Plan, and so forth. Periodically, the Plan or a portion of it must be reviewed and revised/updated. NOW is the time for the Upper Swift Creek Land Use Plan.

The County Board of Supervisors has ordered the Planning Department to review and update the Upper Swift Creek Land Use Plan because of the explosion of growth in the Matoaca District, and because of the problems being experienced in this area with overcrowded schools, bumper-to-bumper traffic, and concerns about the Reservoir. This process will begin on January 27^th with the first of several public meetings. At these meetings, to which everyone is invited, there will be explanation of the Plans, legal constraints, options for change, and requests for input from residents. This will be YOUR opportunity to vent your frustrations about the roads, schools, or other concerns of the area, as well as opportunity to offer ideas, suggestions, or requests.

The meetings will be held monthly, weather permitting, between now and May or June. Then during the summer the Planning staff will work on a draft revision which will be reviewed again by the public next fall before it goes to the Board of Supervisors for adoption.