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Council approves 17‑unit townhome special‑use permit at 2311 Morris Mill Road

2319051 · February 15, 2025
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Summary

Staunton City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 13 to approve a special‑use permit for 17 townhomes at 2311 Morris Mill Road, concluding a Planning Commission review and public hearing process.

Staunton City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 13 to approve a special‑use permit requested by First 5 Cousins LLC to develop 17 single‑family attached dwellings (townhomes) at 2311 Morris Mill Road.

Planning Manager Tim Hartless told council the property is zoned R‑4 (high‑density residential) and the city's comprehensive‑plan map designates the site for high‑density residential use. The Planning Commission reviewed the project, held a public hearing and, after additional documentation from the applicant about ownership and maintenance of common elements, voted 4–0 to recommend approval with conditions.

Conditions included: lighting wholly contained on the site with poles not exceeding 24 feet and no up‑lighting of building elevations; property‑line lighting at no more than 0.5 foot‑candle; screening of dumpster or trash collection areas with opaque fencing or walls; compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code; and an architectural condition that the front facade of all dwellings face Morris Mill Road. Hartless noted that the city's approval extends to the restrictive covenants only to confirm an entity is responsible for ownership and maintenance of common elements; the city does not become a party to or an enforcer of the private covenants.

The applicant's design engineer, Steve Driver of Terra Engineering and Land Solutions, said site‑plan and minor‑subdivision plats have been submitted to and accepted by city staff and that staff comments have been addressed.

Councilor Arrowood moved to adopt the resolution approving the special‑use permit; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote with all members present voting aye: Park, Sheppard, Woods, Campbell, Overholzer, Arrowood and Mayor Edwards.

Hartless told council that a site plan will still be required for construction of the parking lot and stormwater facilities and that minor subdivision platting will be required for lot‑line adjustments before building permits could be issued.