Recent opposition to a development in

Recent opposition to a development in Suffolk, Virginia, shows the uphill battle that many developers of new urbanist projects face — even in a municipality with progressive zoning provisions. Driver Village, a 45-home subdivision, was narrowly approved by council, but new urbanist elements were stripped away in the planning process. Driver Development Associates originally proposed moderately small lot sizes ranging from 4,500 to 6,500 square feet with rear-loaded garages on alleys and traditional homes styles. In exchange, 45 percent open space would be preserved in the city’s first test of its Unified Development Ordinance. The project needed a conditional use permit. Opposition from nearby residents was so intense that the developer modified the plan to include minimum lot sizes of 9,000 square feet. The alleys and traditional homes were eliminated. Interestingly enough, this didn’t satisfy opponents, most of whom live in nearby subdivisions with lots sizes ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 square feet. Opponents equated smaller lot sizes with lower property values, and cluster planning with low- income housing — even though homes in Driver Village will be fairly expensive, according to Geryl Phillips, principle planner with the city. The Unified Development Ordinance includes provisions to allow true mixed-use projects in the form of village centers and traditional neighborhood developments (TNDs). These also require a conditional use permit. Given the intensity of opposition to even moderately small lot sizes, “it should be interesting to see what happens when somebody proposes a TND,” Phillips notes.