Density, housing zoning changes back on Roanoke council's agenda
The Roanoke City Council is set to vote on proposed zoning amendments, including changes to housing density and new regulations for data centers. The data center proposal would restrict them to industrial planned unit development districts, requiring special exception and review by the planning commission, city council, and Board of Zoning Appeals. This vote follows a previous meeting where the item was continued due to time constraints.
The Roanoke City Council is preparing for a Monday vote on significant zoning amendments, including a rollback of controversial pro-density housing rules enacted in 2024. These previous amendments, which allowed for a greater mix of housing, faced backlash and a dropped lawsuit from residents concerned about increased density. City staff have proposed softening some of these changes, such as increasing minimum lot area and reducing allowed dwelling units per lot in certain residential zones, and requiring one off-street parking space per unit for larger multi-family developments.
The proposed changes are contentious, with figures like Tony Stavola advocating for even stricter rollbacks than the city's proposal, arguing for limits on density in existing neighborhoods. Conversely, Michael Gembola from the Strong Towns chapter in Roanoke supports the original 2024 amendments, highlighting their role in addressing the housing crisis by increasing supply and lowering costs. Roanoke Interim Planning Manager Katharine Gray noted the 2024 changes generated an additional 27 units in their first year. The city's planning commission has recommended the staff's proposed amendments, with member Ryan Calder seeing them as a compromise to prevent a complete repeal of the 2024 rules.
Beyond housing, the slate of amendments also introduces new regulations for data centers, vape shops, and outpatient substance abuse clinics. Critically for data centers, which are currently unregulated in the city code, the proposal would restrict their development to industrial planned unit development districts. Furthermore, new data centers would require a special exception, subjecting them to thorough review by the planning commission, the City Council, and the Roanoke Board of Zoning Appeals. The council's zoning discussion, continued from a May meeting, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday.