Bristol council adopts zoning change for multiple parcels and approves Keyes Street property sale

Bristol City Council on Nov. 25 adopted a zoning-map amendment and approved the sale of several city-owned parcels on Keyes Street to a Pentecostal church, actions council members said would create middle-class housing opportunities and put a vacant school building back into use.

At the start of the meeting, the presiding officer (Speaker 1) described the redevelopment as "very much needed" and said the property owners "have done many great things in the city." Council discussion emphasized that the project is intended as middle-class housing rather than low-income subsidized housing; one council member noted the planning commission’s recommendations were included with the first-reading materials and that a second reading must conform to the first.

Speaker 5, a council member, highlighted broader local benefits, saying the project would "increase our population" and the tax base, and noted it would reuse an empty school building. "Super duper excited to see how it turns out. And super duper excited to vote for it," the member said.

Before the first vote, Speaker 6 asked about a neighboring house that appears close to the parcel line. City counsel/staff (Speaker 2) said historical records did not explain the close setback and noted that part of a pool had been on an adjoining owner’s property; the proposed buyer, counsel said, is aware of the situation and would likely resolve it with the current owner.

Ordinance No. 25-8, read by caption, amends the city zoning map to change listed parcels from single-family residential (R1A and R1) to moderate residential (R3). A motion to adopt the ordinance "by caption only" passed on a roll-call vote recorded as unanimous.

The council then addressed Ordinance No. 25-9, a second-reading ordinance approving and authorizing sale of city-owned parcels on Keyes Street to a Pentecostal church. Counsel said the council held a public hearing on Oct. 28 and that no additional offers were received during the subsequent advertisement period. After brief procedural clarification about motion language, the council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 25-9; the recorded roll-call vote passed with four yes votes and one no vote.

Later in the meeting the council moved into a closed session "pursuant to the Code of Virginia" for consultation with legal counsel regarding probable litigation; the motion carried by roll call and, on return to open session, council members certified that only matters lawfully exempted were discussed.

The consent agenda, approved unanimously, included a supplemental appropriation of $30,910 and approval of the council meeting minutes. The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance No. 25-8 (zoning map amendment to R3): Motion to adopt passed; roll-call recorded as unanimous yes votes.

- Ordinance No. 25-9 (sale of city-owned parcels on Keyes Street to a Pentecostal church): Motion to adopt passed; roll-call recorded as four yes, one no.

What’s next

Ordinances adopted at second reading typically take effect according to the city’s ordinance schedule; the record shows no additional offers were received for the Keyes Street parcels and that staff/counsel expects the buyer and current adjoining property owner to resolve any boundary questions. No public commenters were signed up at the meeting.

(Reporting based solely on council proceedings as recorded in the meeting transcript.)