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The Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors voted 7-0 during its Feb. 11 meeting to approve a request from Blackstone Building Group (BBG) to rezone a large area south of Third Street in Farmville from R-2, General Residential, to R-3, Medium Density Residential.

The total area requested to be rezoned is approximately 126.53 acres, as stated in the board meeting packet. It is Tax Map Parcels 23-A-23, 23-A-40 and 23-A-40A.

A letter from Prince Edward County Administrator Wade Bartlett to owners of adjacent land noted the area adjoins the Town of Farmville with an entrance to the property on Third Street.

According to the application request for rezoning and request for amendment, the contiguous property owners to be affected by the now-approved change include Merk’s Place, Barbara Lini Et AL, The Woodland Inc. and Grant’s Glass Inc.

The rezoning request’s Schedule B form featured a list of 15 adjoining property owners.

Bartlett said if BBG’s project ultimately comes to fruition, it will include townhomes, single-family homes, duplexes and multi-family homes.

“The reason for this rezoning is that multi-family homes are not allowed in the R-2 zone, so that is the only reason to rezone this to R-3,” Bartlett said.

In a Wednesday, Feb. 19, interview, Bartlett said there is no population range for the R-3 designation. The designation simply states what type of residential structures can be built.

He also offered comment on what the county knows of BBG’s project.

“We do not currently have specifics in terms of population density,” he said. “… Information on population density will probably be in the site plan, which we do not have yet.”

Bartlett made a point during the Feb. 11 meeting to emphasize that the decision before the board was only approval or disapproval of a rezoning request from BBG and its principal.

“Before (the principal) could ever build anything, he has to submit a site plan,” Bartlett said. “He would have to submit erosion sediment control plans. He’d have to get his (Virginia Department of Transportation) entrance. He would use town water and sewer since this is in the town’s service area.”

Bartlett said the area in question is not in the town limits except for the little part that borders Third Street.

“This gentleman has a long way to go before there’ll actually be any construction out in that area,” Bartlett said.

Lockett District Supervisor Robert M. “Bobby” Jones suggested letting the Town of Farmville annex the territory and control the development because BBG would use the town water and sewer.

“And we would still gain the tax revenues from the increased value at the same amount we would if it just stays county property,” Jones said.

Bartlett said he has discussed that with both the mayor and the interim town manager, and they want to just see how the process unfolds.

He added the rezoning approval gives BBG the green light to start doing some planning.

“I would recommend that we look into a voluntary boundary adjustment with the town also,” Bartlett said.