Rockbridge
Rezoning OK’d For Apartments
A rezoning for a proposed 192-unit apartment complex that is to be developed behind Devils Backbone brewery off of U.S. 11, north of Lexington, was approved March 23 by the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors.
The conditional rezoning for a 12.44-acre tract of land, from general residential (R-1) to residential mixed (R-2), comes with proffers for eight, 24-unit apartment buildings that are to be constructed in three phases. R.P. Fralin Inc. is the developer and the property is owned by John W. and Christine A. Fix.
The apartments are to be accessed via U.S. 11 to Northwind Lane, a private road owned by Mountain View Brewery LLC, owner of Devils Backbone brewery and restaurant. Northwind Lane is paved for the first 500 feet from U.S. 11, then turns to gravel before becoming paved again at the bottling facility, where Fast Lanes bowling alley used to be located.
Robert Fralin said the development will provide “quality, affordable housing” that was shown to be in high demand by a regional housing study conducted a couple of years ago by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission. Fralin has developed similar garden-style apartments in Alleghany County and Christiansburg.
Rockbridge County’s office of economic development unsuccessfully applied for a Virginia Workforce Housing Investment Program grant that would have provided funding to assist with the workforce housing development.
At a public hearing, two citizens – Marina and Ben Williams – questioned whether there was indeed a demand for the type of housing that the development is to provide. The apartments planned won’t be affordable for working families, they contended. They also asserted that there currently exists a surplus of workforce housing in the Rockbridge area.
Storage Business Planned On U.S. 11
A self-storage business is planned for a 1.42-acre parcel at the southwest corner of the intersection of Maury River Road (Va. 39) and N. Lee Highway (U.S. 11), north of Lexington. The property has long functioned as a fill site, making conventional commercial development problematic.
Michael Stearns of Renovating Rockbridge LLC appeared before the Rockbridge County Planning Commission on April 8, along with Russ Orrison of Perkins & Orrison, to explain the details of the project and request a special exception permit.
The property is in the Kerrs Creek magisterial district and the general business (B-1) zoning district in which “wholesale business, storage or warehouse” are considered uses by special exception. The site is across Maury River Road from a Super 8 Motel, which is soon to be razed and replaced by a Sheetz convenience store and gas station.
“The proposed climate-controlled self-storage facility represents a practical and appropriate use of the site,” said Stearns. “It would address a growing need within the community, approve the overall appearance of this prominent corner and contribute to the county’s tax base.”
The Planning Commission recommended the Board of Supervisors approve the SEP contingent upon site plan approval of the Tourism Corridor Overlay review board.
