Roanoke County approves rezoning for 175 townhomes at Vinton Business Center amid neighbor objections

The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Dec. 16 to rezone about 36.501 acres in the Vinton Business Center from Planned Technology Development (PTD) to R‑3 medium‑density residential, clearing the way for a developer to build roughly 175 townhomes.

Philip Thompson, Roanoke County director of planning, told the board the petition from the county’s Economic Development Authority and the applicant is a second reading and that staff and the planning commission recommend approval. The concept plan accompanying the application removes a previously discussed Muse Drive connection and includes buffering and preservation of wetlands, Thompson said.

Chris Burns, agent for the Economic Development Authority and Balzer and Associates, told the board the site is largely undeveloped and that market conditions have limited industrial growth there for two decades. Burns said the plan proposes 175 ownership townhomes — about 121 on the west side and 54 on the east —…