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More homes could soon be on the way to Layne Street in Farmville. During their Wednesday, Oct. 2 work session, town council members got their first look at the site plan. In Farmville, the council approves any site plans. 

This would be known as the Zion subdivision, currently planned for 37 lots covering 5.484 acres in the R3 high density residential area. It would have a 60-foot right of way, with 5 f. sidewalks on one side of the street, with 2.652 acres in common space. Under the town’s zoning requirements, there can’t be more than 16 units put within an acre. 

“The developer has built some homes on Layne Street (before) and this will kinda be a continuation of that,” said Ashley Atkins-Austin. She works as Farmville’s Director of Community Development. 

But the question council members had is why the current plans show limited sidewalks mainly inside the subdivision, rather than extending out and making it more walkable and connected with other parts of town. Atkins-Austin pointed out there’s no current town ordinance saying it has to be that way. 

“We don’t require where a sidewalk is, just that it is provided,” Atkins-Austin said. 

Also, she and Farmville Town Manager Scott Davis pointed out, some of the streets involved don’t actually exist yet. The developer will have to build the street and then build the sidewalk. Still, council members wondered why there’s not a sidewalk all across the perimeter of the planned subdivision. 

“It seems like it’s an investment in the community, not just in the developer’s houses,” said council member Adam Yoelin, talking about a sidewalk. “These walkable neighborhoods are what people strive for. There are websites that rate your town as far as walkability.” 

As this was the first time council members saw the proposed subdivision, it’ll be back before them later for a site plan approval.