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Neighbors raise safety and flooding concerns; Planning Commission defers Sport & Health Drive rezoning to allow outreach
Summary
After lengthy public testimony and technical questioning, the commission agreed to a date‑certain deferral (05/28/2025) for REZ202400024 (13000 Sport & Health Drive) so the applicant, staff and VDOT can address neighborhood concerns about emergency access, pump‑station capacity, flooding and narrow roadway conditions on Devil's Reach Road.
The Planning Commission voted to defer consideration of a proposed rezoning for 13000 Sport & Health Drive after neighbors detailed emergency‑access and flooding problems and asked for additional study and coordination with VDOT.
Austin Haines, the applicant's planner, presented a plan to rezone 7.8 acres from R‑4 to Planned Mixed Residential (PMR) to allow an 80‑unit single‑owner rental townhome community with about 55% open space, 243 parking spaces (including 63 guest spaces) and a proffer package that would include 10% affordable dwelling units at 80–120% AMI. Haines said the developer had prepared a suite of technical studies — traffic, noise, geotechnical and stormwater — and committed to pump station easements that would increase local sewer capacity.
Residents told commissioners the existing road (Devil's Reach Road) is narrow, lacks sidewalks, regularly floods and has a pump station that is near failure; they cited a December fire at the former Sport & Health facility that constrained emergency access. "If you're gonna build 80 townhomes behind my home and they can't even get a fire truck in to put out the fires that were already happening..." Rhonda Harris said, describing the danger she fears in a major emergency.
Staff acknowledged the community's concerns and confirmed the applicant's technical submissions had been reviewed. The applicant agreed to further outreach and to coordinate more closely with VDOT and county transportation. To allow that work, Commissioner Sheikh moved to defer the rezoning to a date certain, May 28, 2025; Commissioner Justice seconded. The motion carried on roll‑call vote.
Why it matters: Neighbors described ongoing infrastructure problems — damaged storm drains, an aging pump station on private property, and a tight two‑lane VDOT road that residents say already handles heavy peak‑hour cut‑through traffic. Commissioners and staff asked the applicant to continue community meetings and to pursue VDOT coordination before the item returns to the commission.
Direct quote
"If you're gonna build 80 townhomes behind my home and they can't even get a fire truck in to put out the fires that were already happening on a business and a home, how do you think what happens is gonna happen if there's a fire? My house is gone," resident Rhonda Harris said during public comment.
Next steps
The applicant agreed to host additional outreach and to work with staff and VDOT. REZ202400024 will return to the Planning Commission on May 28, 2025, as a date‑certain item so commissioners can review updates on traffic, stormwater/pump station easements and emergency access measures.
