Lynchburg council approves rezoning for 750-unit West Point development after hours of debate

Lynchburg City Council on Wednesday approved amendments to the city’s future land use map and rezoned about 53.33 acres on Wigginton Road to allow the construction of a residential project called West Point that the developer said could include up to 750 units.

The developer and supporters said the proposal would add a mix of condos, townhomes and patio homes intended to expand homeownership options and bring tax revenue to the city. Opponents — many of them residents of neighborhoods near Wigginton Road — urged council to delay or deny the petitions because of traffic-safety concerns and uncertainty about the timing and funding of proposed road improvements.

The planning commission recommended approval before the council hearing; the council recorded multiple votes during a longer-than-usual debate before ultimately approving the land use and rezoning actions as reflected on the meeting record (final rezoning vote recorded as 5-2). The council also accepted a substitute motion related to the future land use action during the meeting (motion tallies recorded in the minutes).

Developer and project team presentation

Greg Lester, a partner with Elevate Communities, and project engineer Trent Warner described West Point as a mixed residential community with amenities including a clubhouse, pool, pocket parks and trail connections to Peaks View Park and Ivy Creek Park. Lester said the development was intended to provide “a diverse mix of housing options and styles, sizes, and price points,” including one-level condos and patio homes intended to be affordable entry…