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Lynchburg planning commission approves Belvac rezoning to allow standalone office at 205 Grays Mill Road
Summary
The Lynchburg Planning Commission unanimously approved a request from Belvac Production Machinery to rezone part of 205 Grays Mill Road to permit a stand‑alone office unrelated to the adjacent industrial facility; staff said the change would allow the owner to lease the building to a third party and recommended approval.
The Lynchburg Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a rezoning petition from Belvac Production Machinery that would allow a stand‑alone office at 205 Grays Mill Road and let the owner lease the building to an unaffiliated tenant.
Planning staff told the commission the city's future land use map recommends employment uses for the site and that the proposed B‑3 community business district would allow small‑scale office uses that fit the map. "The planning division recommends approval," Rachel said during the staff presentation.
Staff described the property as containing a structure built as a residence in 1945 that was later converted to office use and is roughly 1,800 square feet, and a separate roughly 4,200‑square‑foot structure used for industrial purposes by Belvac. The petition would change zoning on the portion shown in the staff display to permit an office not associated with the adjacent industrial operations, while the industrial portion would remain zoned I‑2.
Chris Gentry, representing Belvac and Gentry Commercial Real Estate, told the commission the smaller building had long been used as corporate office space but "they no longer need it for their own purposes, so they would like the ability to lease it to a third party." Gentry said there are no proposed exterior modifications and the building is served by its own entrance and parking.
Commissioners asked for clarification about when office uses are allowed in the I‑2 district and whether leasing to an unrelated tenant required rezoning; staff confirmed that the current I‑2 rules permit office use only when associated with the industrial user on site. After a brief discussion a commissioner moved to approve, a second was called, and the commission approved the petition by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The commission's approval is a recommendation; the rezoning request will be forwarded to Lynchburg City Council for a final decision.
