University City rezoning would add mixed rental and for‑sale units with affordability commitments

Developers advocating for a rezoning near Neil Road and Veil Road in University City described a mixed‑use housing proposal that would add roughly 397 residential units, including a developer commitment to make a tranche of for‑sale townhomes attainable.

Petitioner James Scruggs (Kingdom Development Partners / Ascension CDC) said the project would provide a mix of 324 rental apartments and 73 for‑sale townhomes and that the for‑sale homes would include deed restrictions and homebuyer education programs administered by a community development partner. "We will put a 15‑year deed restriction on these properties and Ascension does have the first right of refusal to ever buy them back," Scruggs said, adding the goal is to maintain attainable homeownership for teachers, social workers and first responders.

Planning staff noted the petition is inconsistent with the current 2040 policy map in its existing form because it increases residential intensity compared with prior entitlements (157 townhomes previously approved on the site), and staff requested a higher proportionality of townhomes across the site to provide a better transition to adjacent lower‑density neighborhoods. Council members and the petitioner discussed recent nearby approvals and cumulative impacts; staff also highlighted transportation and pedestrian infrastructure commitments proposed by the developer (shared‑use paths and sidewalk improvements) and the need to reconcile those improvements with the site’s entitlements and phasing.

Why it matters: The project promises mixed‑income development and a for‑sale affordability model that integrates homebuyer training and deed restrictions, but council must balance density increases and infrastructure needs with neighborhood transitions and school capacity concerns.

What’s next: Staff will continue discussions with the petitioner on unit mix and site design before a future decision.