Commission recommends rezoning of Vinton Hayes property to neighborhood residential, citing traffic and buffering concerns

City staff recommended approval of a rezoning application (DMA2024-04) from Elm Street Communities LLC to change roughly 180 acres from urban reserve to neighborhood residential, saying the proposal is consistent with the comprehensive plan's mixed-use residential/commercial designation. Staff noted the rezoning would require at least 10% of the site be non-residential (about 18 acres), roughly 60 acres of residential development, and 18 acres of open space.

"The applicant is proposing to rezone 180 acres of land to neighborhood residential," said James, a city staff member, laying out the plan and the comprehensive-plan findings. Applicant James Perry, vice president and principal at Elm Street Communities, told the commission the concept plan depends on a signalized intersection at Route 340 to be viable: "We believe that the Department of Highways will ultimately support a signal at that location." Nearby property owner Rich Smith urged the commission to reconsider the density, saying, "I think this is like about 600 homes into a 180 acres," and warned the plan would add substantial traffic to Augustine and Route 340. The commission voted to recommend rezoning to city council but emphasized that future development reviews and public hearings will provide additional opportunities to address access, buffering, and historic-property protections.