Planning commission recommends approval for Bluestone multifamily special-use permit

The Harrisonburg Planning Commission on March 12 recommended approval of a special-use permit allowing multifamily buildings with more than 12 dwellings per building on a 5.5-acre parcel in the South Main/County line area.

Staff said the parcel was rezoned and had its land use amended in February 2021 from commercial to medium-density residential and from B-2 (General Business) to R-5C, and that the total unit count would remain capped at 72 units under previous approvals. “This is an aerial of the plot. The area in red is the 5.5 acre, multifamily development area,” staff said during the public hearing presentation.

Applicant representative Seth Roderick of Monteverdi Engineering described the applicant’s design change as primarily a construction efficiency: “Pretty straightforward request here,” Roderick said, adding the owner revised the original plan of six 12-unit buildings to three 24-unit buildings, with a firewall separating paired units and two breezeways per building. He said the change “creates some efficiencies on construction, helps keep some of those costs down” while tying the design into infrastructure already under construction in the adjoining Rockingham County portion of the development.

Commission discussion focused on the fact the total number of units does not increase and that the county portion of the project is already under construction. Staff said it had no outstanding concerns and recommended approval. After discussion, the commission voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to city council. A roll-call recorded all five commissioners voting in favor.

The decision is a recommendation only; city council will consider the special-use permit on April 8.