The Blacksburg Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 7:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting featured two public hearings on rezoning requests: a controversial proposal for a 20-unit senior housing development on Airport Road (Huckleberry Vista) and a Habitat for Humanity project for seven income-restricted townhomes on Church Street. After extensive public comment, the commission failed to recommend approval of the Huckleberry Vista rezoning (2-2-2 vote) and unanimously recommended approval of the Habitat for Humanity rezoning (6-0).
Proposal: Rezone 5.98 acres at 801 and 803 Airport Road from R-4 Low Density Residential to PR Planned Residential to construct 20 residential units (mix of single-family, duplex, and multifamily) in nine buildings around a central green space, with an age restriction (one resident over 55, limited temporary stays for younger adults). The applicant, representing The Lester Group, emphasized the need for senior housing and the project's infill, smart growth design.
Staff Presentation (Kinsey O'Shea): Detailed the proposal, including 20 units (density 3.34 units/acre), 45% open space, 20-foot buffer yards, a public pedestrian path, and age-restriction proffers. Noted the by-right R-4 development could yield up to 23 single-family homes, potentially more traffic and larger homes ($400k–$500k). No adverse traffic impacts anticipated.
Public Comment (26 speakers):
Applicant Rebuttal (Donna Morrison, The Lester Group): Stressed that the development is a needed senior housing type, transitional use between commercial/institutional and residential, with less impact than by-right R-4 development. Noted age restriction, buffer yards, public path, and two single-family homes facing Airport Road.
Commission Discussion:
Key Outcomes:
Proposal: Rezone 0.69 acres at 712 Church Street SE from R-5 Transitional Residential to PR Planned Residential to construct seven income-restricted townhomes (three bedrooms, two stories, end units ADA-accessible). The property was donated by Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. The applicant (Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley) sought a reduction of the required open space from 20% to 19% and a waiver of the 4-foot vegetated buffer between curb and sidewalk.
Staff Presentation (Kinsey O'Shea): Noted the site's grade change, proposed density of 31 bedrooms/acre (higher than R-5's 20), but cited the affordable housing need and the applicant's proffer of 50-year income restrictions (30–80% AMI). Recommended separate action on the open space exception.
Public Comment (6 speakers): All spoke in favor. Tom Sherman (board member, difficult site, affordability), Rev. Catherine Taylor (church's mission), Mary Ann Bonadeo (vice chair, professional opinion on appropriateness), Don Mullins (longtime habitat supporter), Bob Miller (example of economics for common good). No opposition.
Commission Discussion:
Key Outcomes:
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 PM. The next Planning Commission Work Session is February 20, 2018, and the next regular meeting is March 6, 2018.
All right, I'm going to order this February 6th, 2018 Planning Commission meeting to order. This is our regular meeting. We meet the first Tuesday of every month here at Roger Hedgepath. We'll call it the arena tonight since there's so many of you tonight. Roger Hedgebeth Arena at Town Roxburgh Town Hall. And we're going to start this meeting with a call order and a roll call. Oh, you know, I want to, as part of the roll call, I should introduce we have two new members of the planning commission. We have Tim Collie, we have Jack Davis. I'd like to welcome them to be part of the uh planning commission. They hit the jackpot, this first meeting here. And so since you since their first meeting, please be kind to them. I'd like to see them next month too. Okay. So if you could do the Michael, too. Michael's been around. You know Michael. Michael's on town council. He's our new council representative on the planning commission. So all three of them. I welcome them to the planning commission. Of course, thanks for coming. All right. Go ahead. Mr. Davis. Ms. Murray Hunt? Yeah. Mr. Collie. Present. Mr. Reim Rare. Present. Mr. Sutton. Mr. Jones. Ms. Jones is absent. Manager Cassov, I'm present. We have a core. All right. Start starting off with the consent agenda. We have uh first item is approval of our previous planning commission minutes from January 2nd. And then we are putting on a on the schedule for March 6th another rezoning. Uh rezoning number 18001.483 acres from general commercial and R for Low Density Residential to Planned Residential at 200 Dowdy Drive. So that public hearing will be held on March 6th. We'll move on then Morgan. First, we have to have the vote on the consent agenda.