Waynesboro City Council on Oct. 15 introduced an ordinance to consider a conditional-use permit that would allow Miller and Associates to convert the former General Wayne Hotel at 620 West Main Street into a multifamily residential building.

City planning staff member Miss Tate said the applicant seeks a CUP because the proposal would be residential without a commercial ground-floor use, which requires discretionary review in the Central Business district. Staff said the planning commission recommended approval and noted minimal traffic and school impacts.

Developer Jesse White, representing Miller and Associates, told the council his firm specializes in renovating vacant or blighted historic buildings into multifamily housing. White said the General Wayne project would yield roughly 38 to 45 market-rate units, a mix of efficiencies and one- and two-bedroom apartments. He said the firm has the building under contract and that the CUP would allow them to proceed with design and permitting. "We're gonna buy this building. We're gonna turn it into great apartments," White said.

White said the company plans to lease 20 parking spaces in the lot across the street and expected to secure additional parking along the alley and on nearby streets. He said the building contains asbestos and that the developer has applied for environmental cleanup grant funds; he told council his target start date is April 2026 with completion about 12 months later, though he said that schedule depends on permits and financing.

During questions, White said rents were not finalized and would depend on the local market; he suggested interested parties could review his companys existing properties for context. No members of the public signed up to speak on the CUP; council members made a motion to introduce the ordinance contingent on the real estate transaction, and the item was scheduled for final consideration Oct. 27.

Why it matters: The project would add market-rate downtown housing and could affect parking and downtown housing supply. The CUP process subjects the proposal to case-by-case conditions aimed at protecting surrounding properties.

Whats next: Council introduced the CUP and scheduled final action for Oct. 27; the motion was made contingent on Miller and Associates completing acquisition of the property.