DATE: Thursday, July 26, 1990 TAG: 9002030839
PAGE: 18 EDITION: Metro
SECTION: Area/State LENGTH: 73 lines
SOURCE: By Hugh Robertson
News Leader staff writer
MEMO: (lka)

CHESTERFIELD BOARD AGAIN LOOKS AT WAYS TO CURB BILLBOARD USE

Chesterfield County's supervisors, treading the same beaten path of billboard restrictions from which they strayed two years ago, are trying to find ways to curb the growing number of billboards in the county.

The catalyst that renewed the supervisors' interest was the recent erection of two large billboards off Chippenham Parkway, just south of Midlothian Turnpike.

The Richmond News Leader published a front-page story July 7 on the Chippenham billboards. Because of the signs' high visibility, supervisors began to get telephone complaints, they reported at yesterday's board meeting.

Dale District Supervisor Harry G. Daniel urged that the county's billboard regulations be sent to the planning commission for review. The other supervisors agreed. "We're becoming the billboard dropping place," Daniel complained, noting that Richmond and Henrico County have adopted far stricter billboard regulations.

Midlothian Supervisor Maurice B. Sullivan suggested emergency action to forestall the erection of more signs. However, County Attorney Steven L. Micas warned that would be illegal. Sullivan asked that a staff report on what might be done be prepared for the board's Aug. 22 meeting.

Two years ago, the supervisors asked the planning commission to recommend a tough ordinance to keep billboards off Chesterfield's roads.

When the commission's regulations made their way to the supervisors, however, companies with billboard interests strenuously objected, the supervisors wavered and Chesterfield ended up with a watered-down ordinance.

For instance, billboards are permitted "as a matter of right" in industrialized areas and can be erected elsewhere under the county's conditional-use planned-development regulations.

The Chippenham Parkway signs were erected for the 3M National Advertising Co. under a permit granted by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

County records show that more than 20 new billboards were erected in Chesterfield last year.

In other action, the supervisors approved an ordinance designed to answer complaints of homeowners about the stench they contend arises from the outdoor disposal of fish and seafood scraps. The ordinance makes it unlawful for a restaurant, fish market or wholesale establishment to dispose of fish and seafood remains except by storing them in bags, which must be placed in cold storage until picked up by a garbage truck.

The supervisors also voted down a rezoning request that involved a business partner of board chairman C.F. Currin Jr.
Developer James T. Waddill IV, owner of a home called Circle Oaks off Centralia Road, wanted to sell the historic building to lawyer Stephen L. Bryant, who planned to convert it for use as a law office as well as a personal residence.

Centralia residents objected, contending the needed rezoning for the law office was a foot-in-the-door that could lead to further commercialization of their neighborhood.

They also raised qestions as to whether Currin had a conflict of interests because of Waddill. Currin, citing a county attorney's opinion that he had no conflict, declared last month that he would vote.

When the issue arrived before the supervisors, however, Currin abstained and the other four supervisors voted to deny the rezoning. Rezoning also was denied for Marteen Associates, which wants to build a convenience store with gas pumps and two small office buildings at Courthouse and Reams roads.

The supervisors had yielded earlier to demands of subdivision residents in the Courthouse Road corridor and agreed to hold off on any commercial rezoning for Courthouse Road until the state Transportation Department completes design plans to expand the road to four lanes. The plans probably won't be completed until some time next year, the
supervisors were told.