Planning commission denies Cornerstone Assembly rezoning request after neighborhood opposition

The Danville Planning & Zoning Commission voted to deny Cornerstone Assembly of God’s application to rezone a 3.61‑acre triangular parcel at 2035 Old Lexington Road from agricultural to highway business.

Pastor Tom Lane said the church is growing and wants to preserve the option to build in coming years. Staff and several commissioners responded that the church could proceed under existing zoning or through a conditional use or institutional‑campus designation without moving to highway business. Staff noted the parcel is designated Garden Neighborhood on the 2025 future land‑use map and that the proposed highway‑business designation is not consistent with that map.

Dozens of neighbors spoke during the public hearing opposing the rezoning. Sally Bright requested a postponement so residents could seek legal advice and reiterated that the newly adopted future land‑use map designates the area as residential. Melanie Thornberry, a local land‑use attorney, advised the commission the church’s existing conditional‑use status under agricultural zoning means the church can pursue needed expansion without a zone change. Susan Bloom, a long‑time neighborhood resident, said approving commercial zoning would “negate the work” performed to adopt the comprehensive plan and would risk further commercial encroachment.

On a motion to deny, commissioners cited lack of conformity with the future land‑use map, the comprehensive plan’s goals to protect existing neighborhoods, and that the applicant had not demonstrated a statutory basis to change the zoning. The denial preserves the parcel’s current zoning; staff said the church can pursue alternative zoning categories or apply for a conditional‑use modification for specific building plans.

The commission then returned to other agenda business, including later hearings on a separate but adjacent Newcomb Oil rezoning application.