Sanderson Drive development denied by Supervisors 2-3 vote

A rezoning proposal on 6.8 acres off of Sanderson Drive in the Cloverdale area stymied the Board of Supervisors in the late portion of the June 28, 2022 meeting.

The project would have brought 13 single-family townhouses and 15 single family homes on property located at 8277 Sanderson Drive near several other subdivisions.

However, in what seemed to be an unprecedented series of failed motions, the Supervisors ultimately denied the project on a 2-3 vote.

The New Beginnings Church of Cloverdale, with Al Woodie (Holly Hill Lane, LLC, contractual purchaser), had requested a Commission Permit for the construction of public roads and utilities; a rezoning of 6.8 acres from Residential R-1 to Residential R-3, and a special exception permit for the development to have a private road.

However, the Supervisors could not come to terms with the project, asking multiple questions about private roads, drainage, and a home owners association. The property is steep, and the Supervisors reminded one another about issues with other private roads, particularly one in the British Woods subdivision, during discussion.

The Planning Commission had recommended approval of the request with conditions, which included development of the private road to Virginia Department of Transportation standards even though the road would remain private and not become part of the county’s secondary road system.

Drainage beneath the road instead of a retention pond also concerned the Supervisors. Valley District Supervisor Mac Scothorn said he wanted to see renderings of the types of homes that would be constructed, but none were available.

Amsterdam District Supervisor Steve Clinton said he did not like private roads, and Scothorn agreed. A representative for the applicant said the roads would be built almost to state standards and should last for many years.

However, the supervisors remained unsatisfied with the project. In a series of motions, the Supervisors first had a motion to table the project withdrawn, and then another motion to table failed for lack of a second.

A motion to deny the project because of the private road concerns also failed for lack of a second.

A motion to approve the project finally received a second, but received only two yes votes. The motion received three no votes, meaning the motion was denied and the project was not approved.

The Supervisors discussed the project for an hour and a half before denying the motion to approve the rezoning.

                                                — Anita Firebaugh, Special to The Botetourt Bee