Proposed Pittsylvania County development denied

For the second time in a month, a developer’s attempt to build apartments in Mount Hermon hit a brick wall after community resistance and denial from the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission.

During a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday night, C-W Inc. withdrew its request to rezone a half-acre of land to construct an apartment building just east of Swanson Avenue along Route 41.

The withdrawal came after the county planning commission voted unanimously July 1 to recommend that supervisors deny the rezoning request.

Danville Attorney Greg Haymore spoke on behalf of the plan’s opponents Tuesday night and said 438 people signed a petition opposing the apartments. About 30 residents showed up at the meeting to object to the project. Traffic congestion and overcrowding at Twin Springs Elementary School were the two biggest problems cited regarding the plan.

Haymore expressed concern that a withdrawal of the plans could eventually mean a resubmission of a rezoning request.

It’s not the first time public disapproval has stopped a proposal for multi-family housing.

In late June, the Board of Supervisors unanimously denied a couple’s rezoning proposal to build a 60-unit apartment complex off Franklin Turnpike near Afton Road. Danville Investors LLC and Alex and Angela Perkins wanted to rezone three parcels totaling 4.63 acres to build 60 two-story townhouse units to lease yearly for $575 per month.

The county planning commission, which had recommended denial, cited residents’ concerns about traffic safety, impact on an overcrowded Twin Springs Elementary School, increased workload for the Sheriff’s Office and confusion over whether emergency calls from the area would be city or county calls.

In another matter, supervisors voted unanimously to reinstate $7,700 to purchase new badges for the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. Staunton River Supervisor Marshall Ecker led an effort at the June 7 meeting to withhold the expenditure until supervisors received further explanation for the purchase of new badges.

Sheriff Mike Taylor told supervisors new badges are needed so officers would have proper, federally required identification when assisting at major disaster sites.

In addition, each badge would have a serial number for the officer wearing it, and identification shows proper credentials, recognizes an officer’s rank and shows their attributes, he said.

The office has ordered 135 badges costing $55 each.

Contact John R. Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987.