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Council approves rezoning for 14 Leesville Road townhomes over traffic concerns; 6‑1 vote
Summary
The council rezoned 663 Leesville Road to allow 14 townhomes as part of a larger Cedar Ridge Townhomes development, with proffers for parking, preserving an existing house, and offering single‑story, for‑sale units. One councilmember opposed, citing traffic and a need for corridor study.
Lynchburg City Council voted 6‑1 to approve rezoning 663 Leesville Road from R‑1 low‑density residential to R‑4C high‑density residential conditional to allow construction of 14 townhomes as an extension of an adjacent approved development.
City planning staff said the property is approximately 1.68 acres and that the city’s Future Land Use Map recommends medium‑density residential for most of the parcel. The petitioner, representing Martin Ridge Homes, told council the rezoning would add the parcel to the previously approved Cedar Ridge Townhomes project and would provide single‑story, for‑sale units aimed at older or mobility‑limited buyers. The petitioner said the development would reduce the number of access points on Leesville Road, add parking, and preserve the existing single‑story house at 663 Leesville Road with its own lot and sidewalk connection.
Key project details cited to council included:
- 14 townhome units proposed on approximately 1.68 acres; petitioner reported a density for the new portion of 11.29 dwelling units per acre, below the FLUM threshold of 12 units per acre. - The petitioner proffered design commitments to protect the existing single‑family home on the parcel and to reduce access points to Leesville Road. - The developer said the combined development would provide approximately 159 parking spaces for 69 units across the larger development, exceeding minimum parking requirements.
Several councilmembers praised the proposal as a for‑sale development that adds housing options, improves a blighted or underused parcel and increases parking and safety at the site. One councilmember said the plan "sweetened the deal" by reducing access points and adding parking and single‑story units intended for aging in place.
Dissent: one councilmember voted against the rezoning citing traffic and safety concerns on Leesville Road. That member said neighborhood residents reported long delays exiting North Street and argued the cumulative impact of multiple nearby developments meant traffic infrastructure needed a deeper study before adding more units. The dissenting member clarified the objection was not to the developer or housing type but to unresolved transportation impacts.
Planning commission recommended approval at a public hearing on Sept. 10. Council’s vote completes the rezoning approval; construction will proceed subject to site plan review and the developer’s proffers.
Ending: Staff and the petitioner noted the rezoning lowers the density metric for the overall site, adds parking beyond minimums, and preserves an existing dwelling; council discussion emphasized balancing housing supply and neighborhood traffic safety.
