Christiansburg planning commission approves revised proffers for Madison Apartment Homes, including park dedication

The Christiansburg Planning Commission voted 7–0 on May 18 to approve amendments to proffers for Madison Apartment Homes LLC that remove a previously required public road connection and add parkland and other improvements.

Staff told the commission the request removes proffer No. 5, which required construction of a public road connecting Bozeman Trail to Walters Drive, because the applicant could not obtain the right of way necessary to build the road to town standards. In place of the road requirement, the applicant proffered three new conditions (Nos. 6–8) including the dedication of an approximately 0.97-acre parcel to the town for a public park, a commitment of $30,000 for playground or other park improvements, $20,000 for planting native species and removing invasive species, and a 20-foot sidewalk/trail easement to allow a future connection to Deedah Town Park. The applicant also offered to deed a roughly 0.21-acre parcel to the Grubb/Chapman family.

"The owner shall make the following improvements to said 0.97 acre parcel prior to dedication to the town," staff summarized, listing the $30,000 and $20,000 commitments and the acreage to be dedicated. Staff said the proposed 0.97-acre dedication equals about 9.6% of the original rezoned parcel acreage and that the deed language was revised to address town-code limits on park dedications.

Brian McHale, chief operating officer for RP Fralin Inc., said the changes were intended to return the land "to its highest and best use given the constraints we face," and noted that the Grubb and Chapman families would regain a backyard while the town would receive parkland. "The Grubs have just been a delight to work with," McHale said, and he offered to coordinate with staff on a proposed park name.

Commissioners discussed traffic impacts and a signal-warrant analysis provided by staff; the commission was told existing data do not currently warrant a traffic signal at the location. Commissioners also noted concerns about left-turn maneuvers and confirmed that the applicant had attempted to resolve right-of-way and access constraints before seeking the proffer change.

Commissioner Day moved to approve the removal of proffer No. 5 and the addition of proffers 6, 7 and 8; after a second, the commission approved the motion on a 7–0 roll-call vote. The commission scheduled a required second public hearing before Town Council on June 9; Town Council is expected to consider the item on June 23.

The planning commission record and staff packet state the original 2020 rezoning included the road proffer and that the new proffers were added in amended statements dated March 25 and April 10, 2026. The staff memo also notes the prior cash proffer ($50,000) was removed as inconsistent with town code and replaced by the in-kind and expenditure commitments described above.

Next steps: the item will be heard at Town Council's public hearing on June 9, and Council action is expected on June 23.