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Buena Vista votes against allowing the Blue Ridge Abbey to rent out additional rooms
5 Mins Read
By Shay Bowman Buena Vista City Council has voted against a zoning request that would have allowed the owners of the Blue Ridge Abbey bed and breakfast to rent out more rooms.
“The rezoning that increases occupancy and commercial activity must be supported by a record showing that the structure can safely accommodate that intention,” Miller said. “Right now, that record does not exist.”
The owners of the Blue Ridge Abbey had asked the city to rezone the property from limited residential to mixed use. The change would have classified the business as a hotel and allowed them to rent out six additional rooms. On Thursday, the council voted 4-3 – with Mayor Jesse Lineberry casting the tie-breaking vote – not to allow the change. Lineberry said he voted no because he heard several residents oppose the zoning change and did not hear enough support for allowing additional rooms. “I would encourage anybody in the future who’s trying to start a business or take a case in the city, certainly bring those who support you with you in numbers,” Lineberry said. “Because numbers matter in this world.” The bed and breakfast is made up of two buildings – the Jordan House and a separate carriage house that is under renovation. The Jordan House has nine rooms and the carriage house has seven. Under its current conditional use permit, the bed and breakfast can rent out five rooms in each building.
Blue Ridge Abbey looks to rezone
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The Blue Ridge Abbey opened as a bed and breakfast last spring and is permitted to rent out five rooms in both the Jordan House and the separate carriage house. The owners are now seeking to be rezoned as a hotel, allowing them to rent out six additional rooms for a total of 16. Photo by Shay Bowman
At the meeting, three residents spoke about their opposition to the proposal. Heather Madison addressed council first, citing concerns about what precedents changing the zoning might set – and questioning the need for the expansion. Only the five rooms in the Jordan House have been in operation so far because of renovations in the carriage house. “Blue Ridge Abbey, as of yet, has not been fully open and cannot present verified, consistent data to support the need for an increase in size that necessitates rezoning,” Madison said. Jerry Miller, who also spoke against the rezoning proposal at a previous meeting March 19, raised concerns about the safety of the buildings. “The rezoning that increases occupancy and commercial activity must be supported by a record showing that the structure can safely accommodate that intention,” Miller said. “Right now, that record does not exist.” Council then read the ordinance for the second time and council member Ron Cash made a motion to adopt the request. Council member Michelle Poluikis seconded the motion. Cash, Poluikis and council member Stephanie Noel-Branch voted in favor of passing the motion, while council members Amy Gilliam, Danny Staton and William Kerr voted no. Lineberry’s vote broke the tie, so the motion did not pass.
“You say it’s a residential area, but there’s other things going on there than just residential homes,” Poluikis said. “It really seems like a good place for [the Blue Ridge Abbey expansion], and the reason I voted for it is I’m afraid that arguments against it just don’t line up.”
After the vote, Cash said he was saddened that they were unable to move forward with the expansion for the Blue Ridge Abbey. “Folks, if we do not start doing things differently in Buena Vista than how we’ve done them in the past, if we are not open to change, if we are not open to being stretched a little bit and being a little bit uncomfortable at times, we’re going to dry up and blow away,” Cash said.
The Blue Ridge Abbey opened as a bed and breakfast last spring and is permitted to rent out five rooms in both the Jordan House and the separate carriage house. Photo by Shay Bowman
Gilliam said she took offense to what Cash said and did not appreciate being called closed-minded. She said she voted no because of the concerns expressed by residents. “We sat here in this room two nights in a row and heard people that live in the area stating some opposition,” Gilliam said. Noel-Branch responded, saying that both sides need to be fairly considered. “We can’t stand up here and only listen to one and not listen to the other one,” Noel-Branch said. “Even if those individuals have not lived here their entire life, they still pay taxes like everybody else does.” Poluikis said she thinks the Blue Ridge Abbey business is being targeted. She cited that other non-residential buildings are in the area, such as churches. “You say it’s a residential area, but there’s other things going on there than just residential homes,” Poluikis said. “It really seems like a good place for [the Blue Ridge Abbey expansion], and the reason I voted for it is I’m afraid that arguments against it just don’t line up.” For now, the Blue Ridge Abbey will continue operating as a bed and breakfast that can only rent out a total of 10 rooms.
