River Bend rezoning draws debate over traffic, schools and donation of former VDOT building; action deferred 30 days

A conditional rezoning proposal for the River Bend site on North Main Street drew extended discussion Sept. 16 as developers proposed up to 497 residential units, riverfront public access and the conveyance of a historic former VDOT administration building to the city for use as a new school administration facility. The Planning Commission voted to defer action to its Oct. 21 meeting by a 5–3 vote to allow additional input from the Suffolk School Board.

The applicant sought to rezone 72.2 acres from B-2 (general commercial) to RU-18 (residential urban 18) conditional zoning, retaining parts of the site in B-2 and MUD (mixed-use development) to preserve commercial frontage. Gonzalo Borges, staff planner, said the conceptual master plan includes a 1.3-acre public park, trails, a small marina and public boat launch, and a range of housing including 168 age-restricted units and 329 single-family attached units. Borges said the proposal would…