New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

Redistricting becomes next priority for New Kent supervisors to address

By Andre Jones | October 27, 2021 7:17 pm

With New Kent’s population clocking in at 22,945 according to the 2020 census, county leaders looked at recommendations regarding redistricting within county borders.

New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway presented four proposals to New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors at the Oct. 27 morning work session. By law, all localities within Virginia must redistrict based on population. Set criteria is also required as part of the redistricting process.

Hathaway’s first recommendation was also the one he preferred the most. Among the changes proposed according to his comments and his slideshow presentation include District 3 losing residents on Farmer’s Drive and most of Polish Town Road (to District 5), most of the area to the southeast of Interstate 64 (with Mt. Pleasant Road serving as the boundary) belonging to District 5, Ed Allen’s Campground and a mobile home park in the area going to District 4 (while Rockahock remains in District 5), the west side of Cumberland to become part of District 1, District 3’s boundary expanding to Old Roxbury Road, and District 2 taking over Peace Road and adding Wood Edge’s subdivision.

Option two follows most of the above, with additional changes that would see District 1 take over a portion of Vinaterra, and District 3 taking a subdivision near Criss-Cross Road. Option 3 mirrors option one, with changes seen with areas west of Dispatch Road going to District 1 (from District 2) and District 2 claiming the Woodhaven Shores area (from District 4). The final option also includes most of the first recommendation, with the key changes being District 1 taking over a significant part of the center part of the county, and District 4 losing area west of Route 155 (Courthouse Road) to Olivet Church Road (to District 3).

Board members will continue to evaluate the plans during the process. However, according to Hathaway, the redistricting must be completed by the end of the year. Some board members commented that they may hold a town hall or reach out to the community to receive feedback. All redistricting maps can be found on New Kent County’s website.