Following a public hearing for a conditional use permit for a proposed 10-unit multiple family dwelling, 20 spoke in opposition to the project, which would offer housing for approximately 30 students. Members of the Farmville Planning Commission voted in favor of denying recommendation to the Farmville Town Council for the project on Wednesday.

The property is zoned as District R-3, which can be classified for multiple family dwellings with a conditional use permit, according to the planning commission meeting agenda.

The conditional use permit for the one-acre property in the area of Appomattox, High and Oak streets was requested by Robert R. and Sherry P. Martin, who previously requested a proposed five-story, 95,000-square-foot student apartment at that site.

Mike Kelley, the developer for the project, spoke about security measures including enclosing the breezeways, or hallways to match the rest of the property. He said the apartments can fit 30 beds. Kelley said following a suggestion from At-large Planning Commission representative Chuck Ross, he compared different houses along the neighborhood and returned to the drawing board to put designs, such as columns and window shutters, that matched the majority of houses in the neighborhood.

“By enclosing that, it really presents a complete, secure building,” Kelley said.

“I did take it to heart and I went back and tried to redraw the elevation to be more in keeping with the upper High Street,” Kelley said.

Concerns offered by speakers included the effects the dwelling in the area, termed a historic neighborhood, could have on its residents.

Ruth Gowin, of Farmville, spoke about living in the area for most of her life

“The town needs to preserve the neighborhood around it as much as it can,” Gowin said about the expansions and projects of Longwood University. “I don’t think it works so well to have students living next to single-family homes. I think their lifestyles are different.”

Bob Webber, of Farmville, spoke about a question of whether the proposed building, which is connected by the breezeways, are legitimately considered one building.

“If Mr. Kelley and I hold hands, does that make us one person?” Webber asked.

Harlan Horton, of Farmville, read the landmarks in Prince Edward County that are included in the National Registration for Historic Places, including one for Farmville Historic District.

“We were registered, we have a National Register of Historic Places number, we were designated as such and we have a number also with the Department of Historic Resources,” Horton said. “Everything that we have that is privately owned that is listed is within this historic district because the district itself is the designated entity for the national register of historic places … having that designation allows owners within that district to make investments in that district and to achieve historic tax credits … To the extent that the designation is lost, those tax credits are no longer available. And our ability to attract investments to the rest of downtown. The thing that we are trying to do, the things that we have been so successful at doing, could be put in jeopardy.”

Following a closed session where commissioners discussed legal consultations, members reconvened and heard from two attorneys, Frank Rennie, of CowanGates, and Gary Elder, of Elder & Watkins.

Both determined that the project, with the attached enclosed breezeways, matches the definition of a single building given by town code.

Ross offered a motion that the commission delay a vote on the project until Kelley and various community members could meet to work out a solution.

Jerry Davenport, planning commission member representing Ward E, offered a motion to recommend denying the conditional use permit to the town council.

“It doesn’t fit the historic nature of the neighborhood, and I believe it would have a pretty significant, detrimental impact to surrounding properties,” Davenport said.

Planning Commission member representing Ward D, Patrick Crute, said he was supportive of the project and saw it as a long-term solution to renovating old houses.

“It’s an unrealistic expectation to continue to see hundred-year-old homes be student housing indefinitely,” Crute said. “The wear and tear that they have, I just don’t see how this is a long-term, sustainable solution to renovate houses and expect students to keep them up. I think an alternative to that is to try to create a middle ground, and I think the Martin project represents a goodwill effort.”

Ross rescinded his motion.

The vote came 5 to 2, with Ward C Representative Cameron Patterson, At-large Representative Chuck Ross, At-large Representative Abbey O’Conner, Ward A Representative L.D. Phaup and Ward E Representative Davenport voting in favor of denying recommendation and Ward D Representative Patrick Crute and Chairperson Sherry Honeycutt voting in opposition.