ROANOKE, Va. – A hot-button issue that could provide more housing in the Star City is back in the spotlight.
On Monday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. inside the municipal building, the Roanoke City Council plans on meeting for a public hearing about zoning changes, which could bring townhomes and duplexes to neighborhoods.
Council members passed a package of zoning amendments brought to them by the city’s planning commission in March.
However, the following month, several people filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming they were not informed about the proposed changes and didn’t have enough time to make their voices heard. Subsequent to this, Roanoke City Council voted to reconsider a set of major changes in June in a 4-1 vote. After the lawsuit, the city council also requested that they start the process again.
“We have gone back through a process of study, and we have gone through a planning commission public hearing,” said Director of Planning, building and development Chris Chittum. “We’ve had five community meetings to discuss the context and our current situation and the projected results that we would get from the zoning amendments.”
Just last month, the Roanoke Planning Commission voted to not recommend the changes to city council. Ultimately, the changes would remove “single-family district” and change the zoning language to “residential districts,” allowing a duplex or apartment to be built in a single-family district neighborhood.
It’s important to note that, the zoning amendments were not repealed, meaning the amendments that were passed in March are still in full effect, according to Director of Planning, building and development Chris Chittum. However, the meeting on Monday will determine whether to repeal or move forward with the proposed amendments.
Chittum said that if they vote ‘no’ the ordinance will remain the same as it was earlier this year but the lawsuit remains in limbo.
Councilwoman Stephanie Moon said she is not in favor of the zoning changes.
“It affords developers to be able to go in and build on vacant lots sale lots, buy lots from land owners rather and not have any concerns about the neighbors,” she said.
10 News also spoke with Roanoke City Mayor Sherman Lea about the matter, who said in part: “I am inclined at this time to believe that Council is ready to make a decision that I feel will be in the best interest of Roanoke for the future. As far as being more specific, I will wait until Monday’s meeting.”
Here’s a look at the zoning amendments report and study.