Suffolk on Wednesday postponed a vote to rezone 72 acres near downtown for a housing development that’s drawing strong opposition from some residents.
Councilmember Ebony Wright proposed deferring until February to give the city more time to address school capacity needs, which is a primary concern. Not all on council, however, believe the additional time will make a difference.
Ryan Homes wants to transform an unused Virginia Department of Transportation property into Riversbend, a nearly 500-unit housing development.
Most, 329 units, would be market-rate townhomes; the remaining 168 would be condos for people aged 55 and older. An additional 16 acres would stay zoned for commercial and office use.
The developer pitched the project as a walkable neighborhood with park space and access to the Nansemond River, which addresses Suffolk’s need for “missing middle” housing and options for older adults.
If approved, Ryan Homes proposed to phase in occupancy of the townhomes, filling up to 100 per year from 2028 through 2031. To address traffic concerns, the company said it will add turn lanes, extend side roads for additional points of access and install a traffic signal at the neighborhood's entrance.
It would also transfer VDOT’s building to the city for renovation into an administrative office for Suffolk Public Schools. The alternative to that office would be a new building at an estimated $22 million, while keeping staff at its current office for several years at a cost of $500,000 per year.
Ryan Homes representatives told council that rejecting the rezoning doesn’t mean the site won’t be redeveloped. They may pursue a commercial plan that's allowed under current zoning rules and it wouldn’t include the VDOT building, road work or other amenities.
“That’s not meant as a threat,” attorney Grady Palmer said during Wednesday’s public hearing. “It’s a reality check.”
Several residents, however, think the project will choke traffic and burden overcrowded schools.
“Let’s fix what’s broken before we add more weight,” resident Jenny Willman said.
Riversbend is projected to put more than 5,000 additional cars on the road each day and more than 100 new students in the zone, which includes Hillpoint Elementary and Kings Fork Middle and High schools. That concerned the Suffolk School Board and it doesn’t support the project.
Superintendent John Gordon said at a joint meeting with city council that Hillpoint is already at 98% capacity. Coupled with other approved housing, he fears Hillpoint will exceed capacity and require buying mobile classrooms if the division’s space needs aren't addressed first.
“If the Riversbend project goes through, we have to immediately address Hillpoint,” Gordon said earlier in December.
The city, though, is trying to balance school construction with multiple major road upgrades to keep up with growth in the region's fastest-growing city. Wright said if Riversbend moves forward, council needs to reconsider its capital improvements program.
“We can’t say yes to this and not come up with some type of compromise in our CIP,” she said.
Some on council, however, argued the developers are addressing concerns with updates to the proposal and that the project is better than what’s allowed under current zoning.
Vice Mayor Lue Ward also didn’t think waiting two months to make a decision would open up more money for the CIP.
“I understand what you want to do, but sometimes we can’t do it now,” he said.
Council will consider the issue at its Feb. 18 meeting.
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