The Bristol Virginia City Council and Planning Commission opened a joint public hearing Sept. 23 on a zoning map amendment (ZM803‑2025) to rezone 185 Washington Lee Drive — the former Washington‑Lee Elementary School — to R‑3 moderate‑density residential to allow conversion of the building to multifamily housing.
Jay Dietrich, planning staff, said the property is currently a mix of R‑1, R‑1A and R‑3 and that the city initiated the rezoning process after selecting a bidder to purchase the property. “The proposal is to rezone the entirety of the property to the R‑3 multiple or a moderate density residential,” Dietrich said, and staff indicated the combined site is about 8.3 acres. Dietrich said the purchaser team (Clyde Stacy and Jim Bunn) plans to renovate the existing school footprint into roughly 28–32 apartments, with projected average rents of roughly $1,900–$2,300 per month; staff did not have a bedroom‑mix breakdown at the hearing.
Staff review and public comments: Planning and technical staff provided comments on utilities, fire protection and traffic. The fire marshal reported that hydrant flows at the entrance/exit exceed 1,500 gallons per minute and that the water system can support sprinkler needs in the area. Building officials noted that converting a school to apartments will require stamped architectural plans, fire sprinkler and alarm upgrades as required under the Virginia Construction and Existing Building Code and that dwelling units must include emergency escape and rescue openings; these code reviews happen during the building‑permit process.
Several nearby residents spoke during public comment, expressing concerns about tree removal (which they said provides a buffer to adjoining yards), traffic on narrow Washington‑Lee Drive, the possibility of lower‑quality or subsidized housing if plans change, and the long‑term maintenance of the building if a project stalls. Roberta Nakodam asked, “How tall? How many stories?” and raised concerns about subsurface conditions and one‑way street width; Todd Crucesberry and Lee Jones, who both live adjacent to the site, urged that the project protect property values and be built to a quality commensurate with the neighborhood.
Authorities and process: Dietrich said the joint public hearing was advertised under Virginia Code §15.2‑2204; the planning commission will consider a recommendation at its October meeting and council will later act on the rezoning. Dietrich also said staff will recombine multiple parcels into one parcel for the project and that stormwater, engineering and other technical issues will be reviewed at site‑plan and building‑permit stages.
Next steps: The planning commission will review the application in October and make a recommendation to council. No final action on the rezoning occurred Sept. 23; council and the planning commission kept the public record open through the joint hearing process.