A rezoning request for 742 East Second Street was heard by the Blue Ridge Planning Commission during a February 4 meeting, and ultimately the rezoning from C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial District) to CBD (Central Business District) was approved with conditions recommended on a Staff Analysis.
The final decision rests with the city council.
Following the recommendation of the staff, a motion by board member Will Kirchoffer to deny the rezoning failed.
Then, board member Mike Panter moved for it’s approval with the conditions listed on the Staff Analysis, which included a Conditional Use Permit and Special Exception Variance Request.
That motion was seconded by Chairman Greg Arnold and passed with William Whaley adding a “yes” vote and Kirchoffer voting against it.
City Attorney Chuck Conerly called for a separate motion for or against the special permits, but no motion was made.
The property is owned by Leigh Ann Hobgood with the intention of creating a “boutique hotel that will consist of 60 hotel rooms, 125 seat restaurant and a 50 seat bar on 2 adjoining parcels located on E. Second Street,” according to the application.
While Hobgood currently owns the property, it is under contract with V2 Holdings.
City Clerk and Zoning Administrator Jennifer Bates said “the proposal is inconsistent with the future land-use map.”
The analysis, which was prepared by Bates and Planning Consultant Eric Soroka, noted that the intent of C-1 districts are to serve as a buffer between residential and “more intense” businesses.
Additionally, the analysis concluded that the proposal would add to traffic and potentially “have a negative impact on the economic value of the adjacent residential units.”
Matt Hullander of V2 Holdings spoke in favor of the development along with Hobgood and, working with V2 Holdings, Paul Shaheen and Craig Peavy.
David Whitener spoke in opposition; though, he said, “I don’t really want to say right now that I’m in opposition, but I do just have a few concerns that I would like to voice.”
He said that he lives across from the property in question. His concerns were about the quality of the establishment, parking, serving alcohol and water runoff.
Whitener added, “It does seem very odd” that the meeting was held on a Wednesday when they’re typically held on Tuesdays.
He said First Baptist Church of Blue Ridge is on one side of the property, making it hard for them to attend due to Wednesday services and himself as pastor of another church.
Panter said he had showed up the previous night, and Arnold said the planning commission does not set the meeting dates.
Bates apologized as she and Deputy Clerk Mary Walker were out of town for training Tuesday.
Of the development, Hullander said, “We just want to do what’s right by the city and what makes sense for us.”
He said he felt the town needs such a business and has been working toward the project for a year now, and was “blindsided” by the recommendation to deny it.
Hullander added that they are “open” to developing other options as allowed. Shaheen also reiterated that thought.
Shaheen said, “We wanted to work with the city, so we beat down the doors to get Mandi (former co-interim city administrator) on the phone. And, through that process, we had a meeting with Mandi. ... This was a year-long process of hearing the feedback of what y’all wanted it to be, what it could be.”
Peavy spoke of his town having reworked their zoning in the last 15 years to align with growth while Blue Ridge hasn’t done so in 30 years.
Hobgood told of her mother who was on the city council for many years, and that her “hope was that our property would be developed into a business that would be welcoming to visitors and residents alike.”
Panter said coming up with another plan would be better while Arnold said he was concerned with the location and height.
Kirchoffer asked if the team was working to obtain property on the corner of East First and Depot streets for parking to which Hullander said that is an option along with parking underneath the hotel.
Whaley said he took offense to the developers comments about being under a different impression.
The former city councilman added that the city has continually been against spot rezoning.
He went on to speak in favor of the city’s requirements for height and concerns for infrastructure.