Board approves West Petersburg rezoning to Residential‑Urban after applicant meeting neighbors

The Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve rezoning case PDash25‑3, allowing several R‑1 lots in West Petersburg to change to the Residential‑Urban (RU) district to enable future single‑family development.

Mark Bassett, county planning staff, told the board the RU district was created to address legacy lots that do not meet current R‑1 minimum lot and setback standards. He said public water and sewer are available in the area and the county’s comprehensive plan supports residential urban uses in the West Petersburg town‑center area.

Applicant Ray Heller said the rezoning will allow him to retain most of a family parcel while selling or developing the old home site. "This was my mother's home, and it's part of the farm that we've had for decades," Heller told the board.

At the prior meeting several neighbors had objected to the application and criticized the applicant’s earlier representative for not answering questions. At this meeting the applicant’s local representative and the applicant presented sample floor plans and elevations for the houses they plan to build and said units would be rental properties priced between about $1,400 and $1,600 per month. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval; the planning commission’s recommendation was unanimous.

Board members said the developer’s willingness to meet neighbors and show house plans addressed concerns raised previously. Supervisor comments emphasized the need for a balance of rental and owner‑occupied housing and encouraged quality construction that fits neighborhood character.

The final motion to approve the rezoning passed on a roll call vote with all present voting yes.

Ending: The rezoning clears a procedural hurdle; future subdivision and building permits will be required before construction can begin.