Neighbors win: council denies rezoning for nine-unit project at Wards Ferry Road

Lynchburg City Council voted to deny a rezoning request for 1701 and 1703 Wards Ferry Road that would have allowed a nine-unit apartment development adjacent to a planned VDOT roundabout.

City staff described the petition to rezone two duplex lots (currently four units) from R-3 to R-4 to permit a nine-unit townhouse-style development with 22 parking spaces. Developer Jamie White said the change was timed to align with a planned roundabout and shared-use path and that the proposal would include buffering and more parking than required. "We're looking to increase 5 units on this property... the roundabout coming to town in this location provides us a unique opportunity to develop this site," White said.

But multiple College Park residents told the council the project would worsen safety and congestion near Heritage High School and the new roundabout, would likely attract student renters and cause parking overflow, and would damage a historic neighborhood character. "We are asking you to deny the rezoning… Increasing density without proper infrastructure raises real safety concerns for pedestrians, drivers, and residents alike," said Tommy Meadows, speaking for the neighborhood association.

Councilors debated traffic and neighborhood continuity; several said they wanted to see how the roundabout performs before approving additional density. A motion to deny the rezoning carried after a voice/roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the motion as passing; councilors voting to deny cited traffic and character concerns.

The denial preserves the current zoning and leaves the property under R-3 development rules; the developer said the proposal was reduced from an earlier 10-unit concept and that the plan included more parking after commission feedback.