Application withdrawn for 22-unit rental building on Lakeview Drive

By Justin Faulconer

Published: July 24, 2008

A developer seeking to build an affordable housing complex in Madison Heights said he will keep looking for a site after receiving mixed feedback to his original plan last week.

Ron Mittelman wanted to rezone two acres for Lakeview Commons — a 22-rental unit building aimed for the elderly and disabled on Lakeview Drive, off U.S. 29 Business.

But he withdrew his application with Amherst County officials for that location after coming before the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission last week.

He pulled the request following a review of his plans and mixed feedback about the proposed location and the nature of the development.

The rezoning was intended to change the land just east of the Madison Heights Post Office from general commercial to multi-family residential.

Some officials did not agree with locating the three-story complex in that area.

“It’s a wonderful project,” said Mitch Heishman, a commission member. “It’s just not in the right place.”

Mittelman said he had looked at a number of sites in Madison Heights, but focused on this spot because of its flat landscape and access to bus transportation through the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company.

Supervisor Chris Adams said, as a fire and rescue worker who works for Lynchburg, he has concerns about residents with disabilities living in a three-story building, even with elevators.

Mittelman, who said he has worked in affordable housing projects for 20 years, said this housing is needed in the area.

“There’s going to be more of us that are going to need the kind of accommodations this property will provide,” he said.

Neighbors filed a petition with more than 75 names opposing the project.

Among their concerns: loss of tax revenue and jobs from potential businesses, lowered property values, trespassing, increased traffic, no safe place for a bus stop, and hardships on fire and rescue.

Mittelman touched on some of those concerns, saying he runs well-kept operations with zero tolerance for drugs.

Several among a crowd at Tuesday’s hearing applauded when he said he was dropping his plan for the time being, but others were there to support it.

Phil Theisen, director of the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living, said the county lost a good opportunity to provide a service to the area. “It would be unfortunate for that project to go to another locality,” he said.

When asked after withdrawing the application about future plans, Mittelman said he still intends to find a suitable place in Madison Heights for affordable housing.

.