The Henrico County Board of Supervisors and the Henrico County Planning Commission will hold a joint meeting and public hearing to discuss potential new regulations for data centers. The proposed new regulations would establish design guidelines for data centers as well as create a special focus area for properties zoned for industry in the White Oak Technology Park area.

Under the proposed regulations, new data centers outside of that area would require Board of Supervisors’ approval of a provisional use permit, which includes a public hearing process. Data centers would continue to be allowed by right within the special focus area. 

The meeting is set for 5 p.m., Thursday, May 15 at Highland Springs High School auditorium, 200 S. Airport Drive. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed. Individuals also will be able to participate in the public hearing remotely.

Participate in Bike to Work Day Friday

May 16 is Bike to Work Day, a national event celebrated annually on the third Friday in May. Henrico residents are encouraged to make plans now to commute safely to and from their places of employment on Friday.

The Department of Public Works has created a map that displays all bike lanes in Henrico County. Bike to Work Day participants are encouraged to plan their routes in advance — it could be very different from their driving route. 

Plan a safe route, put on your helmet and start pedaling!

The 1,800-acre site in northern Cumberland County houses a nearly 15-billion-gallon regional water supply reservoir that will secure Henrico’s drinking water needs for decades to come. After close to a year of pulling water from the James River, the facility’s six pumps — each with 1,250 horsepower and the combined capacity to move 150 million gallons a day — have gone silent for now.

Pet adoption event is Saturday

The Henrico County Police Animal Shelter will hold an adoption event from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at 10421 Woodman Road.

With the shelter nearing maximum capacity, the goal of the event is to find homes for the animals currently under care, including cats, dogs and a guinea pig. The William A. Harrison Jr. Foundation, Furbish Thrift and Henrico Humane Society have sponsored spay and neuter surgeries for the animals. Due to the generosity of these community partners, many pets are available for a $10 adoption fee and are ready to go home on the day of the event.

People interested in adopting a pet will need to bring a photo ID and must be 18 or older. A collar and leash or cat carrier are suggested for convenience but are not required. View PetFinder and AdoptaPet to see the animals available for adoption.

Renovations to the Three Lakes Nature Center are taking shape, with an outdoor classroom and new playground equipment scheduled to arrive soon and new animal exhibits planned for installation soon after.

Since county officials broke ground for the project in January, the Nature Center has been both an active construction and animal care site. Manager of Zoology Jim Weinpress said the animal care staff has taken the project in stride. "We have a lot of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates that call the Nature Center home still,” he said. “So, while it has been a transition, we are so excited to welcome the community back in here."

Next Board of Supervisors regular meeting is

Tuesday, May 27

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 27. The meeting can be viewed live online, and all agendas and recordings of meetings are archived.

If you wish to speak at this Board meeting during the public comment period, please fill out the meeting participation form.