Commission approves PD amendment to schedule amenity construction and cap permits until key amenities are complete

The Midlothian Planning and Zoning Commission approved a text amendment to a planned development ordinance that defines the sequencing and timing for building amenity centers and ties issuance of building permits to completion of specified amenity areas.

Planning staff described the amendment as clarifying the schedule for four amenity centers in a large PD and said the change was requested by the developer to avoid situations where amenities are built before homes are occupied. Under the amendment, no building permits will be issued until Amenity Areas 2 and 3 are complete; permits are capped at 250 until Amenity Area 1 is finished; and Amenity Area 1 must be completed by Oct. 1, 2029, or all permits will be suspended.

A staff member explained the rationale: without sequencing, “you have all these amenity centers, no houses out there,” which raises security and funding concerns for homeowners associations. The amendment further provides that no Phase 3 permits are issued until Amenity Area 4 and Trail 2 are complete, and no Phase 2 permits until Trail 1 is complete.

The applicant was present but did not raise objections; staff stood for questions. Commissioners asked for clarification about enforcement and what “suspended” permits would mean in practice. Staff responded that permits already pulled would not receive further inspections or completion until the amenity is finished.

The commission closed the public hearing and voted to approve the amendment as submitted.