By Roslyn Ryan
Editor

It’s big, it’s new and by the end of this week Phase 1 of Chesterfield’s Watkins Centre Development will be beckoning to Powhatan residents from just across the county’s eastern border.

Many residents who commute to Richmond have been watching the progress of the 640-acre development complex since its ground breaking on June 29, 2007 (see time line).

A 132,362 square foot Target store is expected to open March 8 in Watkins Centre’s Westchester Commons, the portion of the mixed use development that will eventually encompass 900,000 square feet of retail space.

Stores including PetSmart, Dress Barn and Gold’s Gym are expected to open soon, as well as a Regal Cinema.

Since the development is located in Chesterfield — just past the Powhatan county line — Powhatan will see no tax revenue impact from the development. But Powhatan County Planning Director Brandon Stidham said there may still be some benefit for the county in the long run.

Stidham pointed out the potential for some complementary businesses — those that will either serve the needs of the Watkins Centre business owners or piggy back on the success of those enterprises — to spring up in the near future.

County Economic Development Director Sherry Swinson agrees.

“I think we are definitely going to see an augmentation of what is there,” she said last week. Swinson pointed out that Powhatan does not have a gross receipts tax, which could also be a draw for businesses looking to capitalize on Watkins Centre traffic.

The development may hold other benefits as well: as Powhatan’s unemployment numbers continue to climb (see sidebar, right) Watkins Centre’s new businesses may help provide jobs for county residents.

While the Watkins Centre plan includes high density residential areas, the primary uses will be commercial according to the development company’s Web site.

As for any negative impact of such a large scale development located so close to the county, Stidham said it’s important to remember that county leaders still have control over Powhatan’s rate of growth.

“The fact that our residents want to maintain the rural character of Powhatan is something that has stayed consistent over the years,” said Stidham. He said he doesn’t see Watkins Centre as being a threat to maintaining the rural nature of the county.

For Powhatan Board of Supervisor’s Chairman Bob Cosby, the new development is something of a non-issue.

Despite the fact that the county won’t see any economic benefit, “I’ve never been too down on it,” he said last Wednesday, explaining that he didn’t think the development would mean an increase in Powhatan’s population.

“I don’t see it doing anything but helping us as far as our employment situation goes,” he added.