Appearing before the Fredericksburg Planning Commission on Wednesday night, Zoning Administrator Kelly Machen prefaced her presentation on Jeremiah Community by stating the obvious.
“So,” said Machen, taking a deep breath, “this is a big request for the planning commission to look at.”
After hearing once more from staff and applicant Micah Ecumenical Ministries as well as a handful of public comments, the commission recommended for approval four requests related to the supportive housing development, which first appeared on its agenda back in July.
In separate votes, the planning commission approved a comprehensive plan amendment, zoning map amendment, special use permit and a vacation of right-of-way to Roffman Road.
Commissioner Kenneth Gantt voted against all four measures, while member Mary Margaret Marshall was absent from the meeting. Chair David Durham and member Dugan Caswell attended remotely.
The special use permit would allow for institutional housing, to consist of 189 units (single and dual-occupancy small homes and an apartment complex operated by Virginia Supportive Housing).
“I can’t think of an area in our small area plans where we planned for institutional housing,” Building and Planning Director Mike Craig said. “It’s not something we actively plan for. That’s really the crux of this application is that it’s different than any of the other land uses in our transect.”
Sam Shoukas, who oversees the Fredericksburg Continuum of Care, said that on any given night in the Fredericksburg region, as many as 215 people are experiencing homelessness.
“The solution to homelessness is really simple,” Shoukas said. “If you put someone in housing — a house or apartment — they’re no longer homeless. The hard part for us, is it hasn’t always been easy to find housing to put people in.”
During the public comment portion of the hearing, local business owner and former Marine Joel Griffin said he believes the project will support veterans, who he said are overrepresented in the local homeless population.
“The Jeremiah Project directly addresses this issue, offering homes, services and support to those who have been left behind, including those veterans suffering from PTSD,” Griffin said.
Another commenter, city resident Frank Wittig, stated opposition to the project, citing the number of land-use exceptions being made and writing that “it’s like trying to fit a round peg in a square hole.” Wittig also opined that the adjacent Bragg Hill neighborhood is “ill-suited for dealing with individuals suffering from drug or alcohol addictions or mental health issues.”
The project will next go before city council and could be discussed as early as the Nov. 26 meeting.
Joel Griffin, an individual central to this story, is a member of the Fredericksburg Free Press board.
