Council narrowly approves 57‑unit Pine Tree Drive apartments after contentious debate over enforceable rents

Petersburg City Council on April 28 approved a special‑use permit allowing a three‑story, 57‑unit apartment building at 3060 and 3090 Pine Tree Drive, moving the project forward after a contentious exchange about rent commitments.

Jared Cruz of the Planning and Community Development Department presented the application and said the project conforms to the comprehensive plan’s “community mixed use” designation. Cruz said the Planning Commission recommended unanimous approval subject to conditions including lot consolidation, adherence to the provided site plan and elevations, streetscape and landscaping requirements, and on‑site management and security measures.

The applicant’s representative, Jared Anderson of Roth Jackson, described the proposal as market‑rate multifamily infill and said the developer intends the units to be “affordable for people that are looking for one‑ and two‑bedroom apartments in Petersburg,” while stating the project would not depend on federal tax credits or income‑restricted financing.

Councilman Jones pressed the applicant repeatedly on whether “market‑rate” is defined in city zoning and whether rents could be held to a particular range. Jones said the council previously denied a different application for subsidized units on nearby land and called the current situation inconsistent and discriminatory if decisions varied by developer rather than substance. "When a minority developer stated his intention to build affordable housing... we said no. When a different developer states his intention to charge more with no enforcement mechanism, we say yes," Jones said during the exchange.

Anderson replied that the developer planned a market analysis to set rent levels and declined to commit to a fixed rent range for 10 years, saying, "we can't know what the market's gonna be like in 10 years." He reiterated the developer’s incentive to set rents at levels that make the project viable and occupiable.

Councilman Kupfer moved to grant the special‑use permit with the Planning Commission’s recommended conditions and an added condition that the properties be used for market‑rate apartments only. The motion passed on a roll call vote, with Council members Cuthbert, Westbrook, Smith Lee and Vice Mayor Hill voting aye and Council members Jones, Myers and Mayor Perrin voting no.

The council action authorizes the city to proceed to site plan review and building permitting under the stated conditions. No timeline for construction or a required rent schedule was included in the council motion; the applicant will proceed to the permitting stage under the approvals and conditions the council attached.