Zoning Changes for Blue Ridge’s Business District

Monday Feb. 22, Blue Ridge City Council called a special meeting to vote on zoning for two potential developments in the city’s business district.  The only other items on the agenda were hiring of lifeguards and promotion of two city employees. New regulations regarding public comments at the City Council were not presented in new business nor was there talk about when these regulations would be presented.

Lehigh Homes and Development, owner Brendan Walsh pictured in feature image,  breathed a sigh of relief at the zoning changes City Council voted on.  At stake was the earnest money the company had put down to buy and develop the old Temple Baptist Church property on West Main Street.  The development, consisting of three- to four-story residential buildings, will cost upwards of $7 million to construct.  Hindering the start of the project are several zoning ordinances that have to be changed, namely minimum average square footage per unit and allowable stories.  The City Council took this opportunity to change residential parking requirements and setback of building from the street as well

Another developer, Tom Huegal, also presented his ideas for a potential hotel/residential hybrid which he wishes to build on the Methodist church site on Depot Street.  He is currently in the process of purchasing the land.  Huegal’s vision is an 85-unit hotel with an additional 10-12 residential suites in the hotel.  The residential suites would be sold as homes, but can be rented out for short periods of time, much like family cabins which are also vacation rentals for part of the year.  The street level of the building will be approximately 6,000 square feet of retail space.  The roof of the building will be a bar and restaurant terrace.  In order to accommodate parking for hotel guests, Huegal believes that he will have covered deck parking and a second-floor entrance into the hotel.

To make it possible for the two developers to continue their projects, Blue Ridge City Council voted on the following changes to central business district (downtown) zoning ordinances.  First, maximum height on buildings will move from three stories to four stories with residences allowed on all stories.  Residences must have a minimum average of 1,000 square feet, meaning that residences of 1,200 square feet could offset those of 800 square feet.  Entrances to residential units must face secondary streets, for instance East or West 1^st Streets but not Main Street. Developers must provide sidewalks, curbing and guttering along the perimeter of the property.  Once built, the city will maintain these.  Parking can only be behind or to the side of the buildings and there must be two spaces for each unit.  No discussion was made on how to accommodate parking for an 85 plus unit hotel/residential hybrid.  Now, the changes go to the City of Blue Ridge Planning Commission for approval.