Projects that could result in 72 apartments and 20 new homes received Richmond Advisory Plan Commission approvals June 25.
Commission members voted 8-0 in favor of the development plan presented by Powers Properties Investments LLC to expand Chester Heights Apartments. The expansion into the former Berryfield Park will add three buildings and 72 units. Gordon Moore, who represented Powers Properties and owner Jake Powers, said prospective tenants have already signed up for the new apartments.
The expansion, which is the second since Powers bought the complex, would give Chester Heights 16 buildings and 274 units.
Moore said that with the development plan’s approval, construction on the new buildings could begin during the second or third week of July.
The 20 prospective new homes would complete the west-side Hidden Valley subdivision that began in 2004. Trademark Construction LLC is developing the second phase as part of the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County’s housing accelerator project that awarded $10,000 for houses on each of 82 lots in five existing subdivisions.
Plan commission members approved Trademark’s secondary plat request 8-0. The new homes would be south and east of the existing subdivision homes.
In another 8-0 vote, the plan commission approved the primary plat request of Heritage Land Company LLC to divide a 186-acre parcel along Wayne Road and Union Pike into four tracts of about 102 acres, 56 acres, 22 acres and 6 acres.
Moore said Heritage planned to market the tracts, which all have street frontage. Dustin Purvis, the city’s planning director, said dividing the parcel fits the area’s development plan because it supports agriculture and rural residential uses.
North West Fifth Street
Purvis requested plan commission approval to initiate an investigation into rezoning the stretch of North West Fifth Street from Richmond Avenue to the bend into Williamsburg Pike.
The corridor is now zoned outdoor commercial, which is meant for businesses that display inventory outside; however, only 16 of 148 parcels conform to that zoning. Purvis said existing commercial lots could be more appropriately zoned as general commercial and residential lots as urban residential.
Gary Turner, a plan commission member and member of Richmond Common Council, said that an ongoing update of the city’s comprehensive plan is looking into upgrading that corridor with projects such as moving its wiring underground.
Dakota Collins, a plan commission member and director of community relations at Earlham College, enthusiastically supported the idea. He said the corridor is a first impression for many students and families visiting Earlham and any development would be a boon for the college and city.
Plan commission voted 8-0 in favor of Purvis’ request.
Purvis also updated members about the refresh of the 2019 comprehensive plan under the guidance of consultant HWC Engineering. A steering committee has been meeting and stakeholder workshops are planned, he said. A public workshop is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 31 in the Starr-Gennett Building.
A version of this article appeared in the July 2 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.