On September 27, 2022, the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors approved a new zoning district designed to encourage redevelopment in the I-81 Exit 150 area. The Gateway Overlay District updates old suburban-based development regulations with new standards and guidelines that create opportunities for a mix of new commercial and residential development.
“The overlay district is based on years of planning and visioning in partnership with the community and area property owners to foster an attractive entrance to the county,” said Nicole Pendleton, the County’s Director of Community Development. “It does not require a change for any existing uses in the district and creates new opportunities for this particular area that is so important to the identity and economic vitality of the county.”
The Exit 150 interchange was dramatically changed in 2014 with the construction of a new roundabout and other highway improvements by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Those improvements provided access to vacant properties making them available for new development. In 2015, the county began a public process to reimagine the area that culminated in approval of the Gateway Overlay District.
The County’s Board of Supervisors reaffirmed its vision for the Exit 150 area earlier this year as: “A nucleus of restaurants, lodging, entertainment, trails, and residential options, the Gateway Center lures travelers off the highway, hosts visitors, and provides convenient housing in the midst of varied amenities.” That is what the new zoning district is all about, according to Pendleton: bringing the Board’s vision to life and making it a reality.
In addition to approving the Gateway Overlay District, the Board approved a special exception permit for a new 240-unit apartment complex planned for the current Howard Johnsons motel site in Daleville. Thomas Builders of Lynchburg plan to build, own and operate the resort-style complex, offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.
There are no taxpayer cost or budget associated with the zoning change. We have heard from the community that there is a need for more restaurants, shopping, and housing in the county. We have also heard about the need for safety and walkability. This zoning overlay will lay the groundwork to support these requests to become a reality.
To learn more about the Gateway Crossing Zoning Overlay, click here or call the Botetourt County Department of Community Development at: (540)928-2080 or email [email protected] .