City Council will consider approvals on Tuesday that would allow an apartment development on property along Kempsville Road that now includes Back Bay Brewing’s Farmhouse brewery, a tasting room, coffee shop and small farm.
Developers want to build two four-story apartment buildings with 251 units and six parking garages on an 8.5 acre parcel but neighbors oppose the plan. The farmhouse, which is more than 100 years old, on the property would be preserved, though.
Council will consider a subdivision variance and a conditional rezoning that would allow the project.
City staff and the Planning Commission have recommended approval with conditions. The developers would offer $100,000 toward pedestrian crossing signal at Kempsville Road and are creating community space at the farmhouse.
BH Farmhouse LLC, affiliated with Bonaventure Property Company, will make 7% of the units priced for households earning at or below 100% of the area median income.
Councilmember Cash Jackson-Green, who represents the district where the project is, said the developers have met with the community and adjusted plans.
The applications for the Attain at Farmhouse project would preserve the farmhouse for a commercial use similar to a coffee house there now and include a courtyard and outdoor amenities.
Back Bay Brewing, which is still operating, is not part of the development plan and is seeking a new home.
Samantha Roaquin is president of the Charlestowne Area Civic League and chairs the Kempsville Coalition, which includes neighborhoods near the property. Roaquin said neighbors don't want the tall apartment buildings to change the character of nearby single-family home communities and worry about impacts on services and traffic.
“We want to keep our community the residential and historically charming one that made us want to move in here in the first place,” she said.
She said opponents hope the council will delay its decision. She said community members have suggested other uses for the land such as a farmer’s market.
In July, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approving the applications after a public hearing with comments by critics and supporters.
Attorney Rob Beaman represented the developer and said extensive public outreach led to changes such as expanding outdoor amenity space around the building, repositioning garage buildings and ensuring meeting space at the farmhouse.
Travis Powell, director of operations at the brewery, said this will likely be its final year on the property.
“Keep supporting us through this time,” he said.