Roanoke council sends zoning amendments to fourth review, after being told that creates problems
The Roanoke City Council voted to unanimously approve new zoning restrictions for data centers, requiring them to be allowed only by special exception in planned unit development districts. Concurrently, the council sent proposed residential density amendments back to the planning department for a fourth review, despite staff concerns about capacity, indicating ongoing debate over housing density.
The Roanoke City Council, by a 4-3 vote, decided to send proposed residential zoning amendments back to the planning department for a third review in two years, despite unanimous recommendation from the planning commission and warnings from City Manager Valmarie Turner and Planning Director Catherine Gray about the planning department's severe understaffing and lack of capacity for a fourth review. The majority, comprising four newer council members, expressed importance for community opinion, particularly considering a citizen-submitted proposal for increased density restrictions.
Separately, the council also considered other ordinance changes. It unanimously approved new restrictions for data centers, stipulating that they will now only be permitted by special exception in planned unit development districts. The council then removed the contentious residential dwelling issues from the larger ordinance package, passing the rest unanimously.
Mayor Joe Cobb and Councilman Peter Volosin voiced frustration over the ongoing zoning disputes, which began in 2024 with a citywide rezoning package aimed at increasing housing density. This past action had faced a lawsuit from citizens and subsequent reviews. The current debate on residential density, however, remains unresolved, with no clear timeline for revisiting the recommendations.