The amount and condition of the land base of Chesterfield County has a direct impact on other natural resources, the quality of life and the economy of the
county, as well as jurisdictions and ecosystems hundreds of miles away like the Chesapeake Bay.
Land provides the basis for other natural resources such as wildlife and plant habitat and species diversity. The land base also provides many direct benefits to humans by improving the quality of life through various health issues such as air and water quality, temperature abatement, and general aesthetic appeal. Finally, the local economy benefits from both the timber industry and recreational opportunities that occur with an undeveloped land base.
As the community of Chesterfield County continues to grow, land is developed into
stores, offices, public facilities, roads and homes. In most cases, vacant or
underutilized land is being converted from an agricultural or forestry use to a more intense use. However, infill development occuring in certain portions of the county. In 2009, Chesterfield County received 775 land disturbance permits accounting for 456 acres physically developed. This is both a decrease in the number of permits and acreage disturbed from 2008. Permits decreased by 25 percent and acreage by 31 percent.
Land disturbing activities include clearing for single family homes, subdivisions,
commercial development, roads and utilities. State, federal, gas and power projects are not subject to obtain a land disturbance permit.
Chesterfield County contains over 12,500 acres of local, state and federal parks. The condition of land contained in these parks varies from natural woods and wetlands to highly developed playing fields, building structures and parking lots. The acreage of the park lands also varies greatly from thousands of acres to less than one acre. Park land not only conserves natural areas that contribute to wildlife habitat, watershed protection and improved air quality, but they also serve as an important recreational and economic element to the community.
The Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation Department operates 57 parks and historical sites on over 3,500 acres. The largest park is the nearly 800 acre Dutch
Gap Conservation Area located along the original channel of the James River on Farrar’s Island. This park offers a natural setting for passive recreation such as hiking and paddling. Other parks offer playing fields, picnic shelters and community buildings. No park acquisitions were made in 2009.
Chesterfield County is home to Pocahontas State Park, the largest state park in
the Commonwealth. This 7,716 acre park is located in the center of Chesterfield
County and boasts a wide variety of environmental conditions from managed pine
stands to developed campgrounds. It was built in 1946 by the Civilian Conservation
Corps (CCC) and was the first park in the Richmond and Tri-Cities Region.
The federal government operates two sites totaling over 1,200 acres in
Chesterfield County. The Presquile National Wildlife Refuge is an island located in the James River greater than 1,000 acres in size. It is one of four refuges in the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex and serves as an important habitat to migrating waterfowl. The National Park Service operates the Richmond National Battlefield Park with one site of that system, Drewry’s Bluff, located in Chesterfield County. While Civil War sites are protected for historical purposes, they also serve as important green space.
