Approve changes to allow added apartments at DTC

The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors decided it wants a more “holistic” approach to considering whether to make a change to how the future land use is designated on the west side of US 220 just north of Botetourt Center at Greenfield.

And because of that, the board took no action on a request for a public hearing to change the county’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan to designate 185 acres just north of Botetourt Center at Greenfield for Medium Residential Density.

The board did approve county zoning ordinance text amendments, proffer changes and an SEP that allows Fralin & Waldron to increase the number of apartments that can be built in the core area at Daleville Town Center. The changes also allow two four-story apartment buildings in the development in Daleville.

Summers Properties LLC asked the supervisors to make the change to the county’s Future Land Use Map in the Comprehensive Plan so 40 acres the company owns and 48 acres it has an option on might be zoned for higher residential density.

The property is on the west side of US 220 and south of Country Club Road. The request points out that the Future Land Use Map already designates property on the east side of US 220 as Medium Residential Density. Parts of Ashley Plantation lie behind the property that fronts on the east side of US 220.

Bobby Wampler of Engineering Concepts Inc. made the request on behalf of Summers Properties LLC, whose principals are Dale Wilkinson and David Spigle.

The county’s planning and zoning office recommended the proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan go before the Planning Commission for a public hearing, then to the supervisors.

But the supervisors decided they’d like to have an informal meeting with the planners to discuss the options for changing the future land use for that area.

Supervisor John Williamson worried that making the whole area Medium Residential Density might landlock the Greenfield industrial area. He thought it might be worth considering having part of the area next to Greenfield considered for additional industrial development.

“It looks like (the future land use change) landlocks Greenfield,” Williamson said, who added while he was not opposed to thinking about a change, “not in this form.”

Amsterdam District Supervisor Todd Dodson said he’d like to take a more holistic look at that area rather than make a future land use designation change out of hand.

Daleville Town Center Changes

Fralin & Waldron representatives had asked for the text amendment changes to the Traditional Neighborhood (TND) section of the zoning ordinance so the ordinance would provide a consistent set of regulations for the zoning district.

With the changes, the updated ordinance provides residential density levels in a TND, rather than the proffers the company made when the property was rezoned several years ago.

Under the original proffers, the 117-acre mixed commercial/residential development was allowed to have 300 residential units with 120 multi-family units.

Without the proffers, there would be no limit on the number of apartments; however, the only place that apartment buildings can be built is in the Core area of the DTC that’s identified on the original concept plan.

The changes also increase the maximum height of buildings and structures, with an SEP, from 50 to 60 feet and remove a requirement that 50 percent of approved dwellings may be built prior to construction of at least 50 percent of the approved commercial component of the TND.

The SEP request was related to the height restrictions. Fralin & Waldron wants to build two new apartment buildings with 95 units that will be up to 60 feet tall— four stories with parking below.

Another text amendment increases the maximum commercial uses to 25 percent of the gross development area, decreases the maximum industrial uses to 15 percent of the gross development area, and clarifies that the ratios refer to gross development area. Together the commercial and industrial areas cannot exceed 30 percent of the gross development area.

The supervisors also approve an SEP for Botetourt Funeral Home so the company can build a residence on the second floor of what is proposed to be a new reception area for the funeral home on US 11 south of Buchanan.

The supervisors also approved Larry C. Cecile Jr.’s request to rezone a 1.17-acre lot at 61 Sycamore Lane, Cloverdale, from B-2 to RR in order to change the status of the existing single-family dwelling from a nonconforming to a conforming use, therefore allowing expansions to the house and associated accessory structures.

— Ed McCoy