It has taken the elusive Round Hill development envisioned for the town of Orange three years to rise from the ashes of its former self.
But this time, town officials hope it will fly.
The resurrection began Monday night when the Orange Town Council voted quickly and unanimously to add a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) district to the town's zoning ordinance.
It won't change the zoning classification of any existing parcels within the town. Instead, it will create a "floating district" that would be available to any property owner.
The property owner to be immediately affected is Carl Owens, owner of Round Hill Farm at the north end of the town, bordered by U.S. 15 and Radney Road.
Owens' Holiday Inn Express sits on the highest spot of his land. He has been trying to develop the surrounding acres since the mid-1990s.
His latest effort ended in 2006 after three years of disagreements with the town over infrastructure, design and proffers. But, with the support and encouragement of town officials, Owens has brought it back.
According to Director of Community Development Josh Bateman, Owens delivered a draft plan for Round Hill to his office yesterday.
Although it's in a preliminary stage, Bateman said, Owens' plan right now is to seek rezoning on 133 acres from agricultural to the new TND district. This will allow multiple housing types, along with commercial and passive areas.
Commercial zoning is already in place along U.S. 15. Twenty-six acres will stay agricultural.
The latest plans for Round Hill were made based on traditional neighborhood design. It reflects the town's comprehensive plan, which calls for the town to have three distinct, but compatible areas--downtown, midtown and uptown.
The Round Hill development would be the uptown area. Main Street is downtown. Midtown is between the two along Madison Road.
The new draft plan for Round Hill calls for about 170,000 square feet of commercial, retail, office and residential space. The plan does not break down how much of each, but calls for 730 housing units.
"There will be a mix of housing types," said Town Manager Cole Hendrix, "and all areas will be very walkable, with narrow streets and wide sidewalks and parking behind buildings instead of in front."
Residential options include single-family detached homes on both small and larger lots, townhouses, cottages, villas and apartments.
"This will be a neighborhood kind of community," said Hendrix. "There won't be any big-box stores or strip shopping malls. The housing can be integrated with businesses, restaurants and specialty stores. The size of the community won't support huge retailers."
He added, "This project will be built out over 15 to 20 years and will almost build out the town."
Bateman agrees. "This is the last undeveloped portion of the town of Orange," he said. "It's a big deal."
Tentative plans by staff see the project going before the Planning Commission within a month or two, then to the Town Council for final approval.
Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Email: rknepper@earthlink.net