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Neighbors raise sewer and runoff concerns at hearing on proposed duplex at 2016 Fourth Street
Summary
Owner Connor Compton requested a special-use permit to build a duplex at 2016 Fourth Street; neighbors voiced opposition mainly over potential rentals, sewer backups and water runoff, while the owner said he plans to live in one unit and city staff said utilities have capacity but will investigate sewer backups.
The Radford City Council and Planning Commission held a joint public hearing on a special-use permit for a duplex at 2016 Fourth Street after the single-family house on the lot was demolished.
Connor Compton, the property owner and applicant, told the commission he bought the property as a renovation project, decided the existing house was structurally unsound and chose to rebuild. "I plan on living on 1 side of the duplex," Compton said, adding the duplex is the more cost-effective option for him and would have a footprint similar to the original house.
Neighbors expressed opposition and worries about neighborhood impacts. Jimmy Simpkins, who lives at 1912 Fourth Street next door, said he was "totally against it" and argued duplexes tend to be rented: "When you build a duplex, you have 2 separate individual homes that people can rent, come and go as they choose." Nancy Smith, who lives across the street, said the area already experiences sewer backups and surface-water runoff; "will the sewer system accommodate 2 families?" she asked, noting sewage has entered basements when the sewer-cleaning truck operates.
Melissa Skelton, planning staff, explained the lot totals about 15,000 square feet (tax map 18-3, section 19, lots 12 and 13) and that by right the parcel could accommodate two single-family houses; the special-use permit would allow a duplex with shared wall construction. She reviewed dimensional differences: an R-3 duplex requires a 15-foot side setback to adjoining properties and two off-street parking spaces per unit. "The 15,000 square foot as is does provide opportunity for them to develop by right, 2 single family homes," Skelton said.
On utilities, Skelton said she had spoken with department heads and that they indicated there is adequate system capacity, but staff also committed to investigate repeated sewer backups in the neighborhood. "We're gonna go out and look and do some more exploration to see how that can get remediated," she said, referring to Vactor operations and potential root-bound lines.
Several neighbors provided written petitions and asked staff to examine sewer and stormwater issues before any decision. Planning staff closed the public hearing and said the Planning Commission will review public input and return a recommendation; no council vote or permit decision was made that night.
