Residents welcome new housing project after opposing RV resort
A Florida developer who faced strong opposition from residents for his proposal to build a luxury RV park in Danville has decided to change his plans and build a subdivision of single-family homes instead. Joe Cubas, the developer, said he withdrew his special use permit application for the RV park after meeting with the neighbors and understanding their concerns.
The new housing project, which will be located on two parcels totaling 101 acres off Goodyear Boulevard and Jenny Lane, received unanimous approval from the Danville City Council on Tuesday. The council also approved rezoning applications to allow more units per acre on the parcels, from two to three.
The subdivision will help address the city’s housing shortage, especially in the $300,000 to $350,000 price range, which is in high demand but low supply, according to a housing study. Councilman Lee Vogler said the city has been “begging developers to bring us projects like this one” for years.
The new subdivision will add more than 300 single-family homes to the Danville housing market, which has a pent-up demand for more than 600 homes.
RV park faced backlash from residents and county officials
Cubas originally planned to build a 46-acre luxury RV park on one of the parcels, which would have included 333 RV sites and amenities like pools, spas, restaurants, a clubhouse and a pickleball court. He said the project would have brought $1.3 million annually in tax revenue to the city and boosted the local economy.
However, the RV park proposal met with fierce resistance from residents who live near the site, who said they were worried about issues such as traffic, safety, noise and property values. They also argued that the RV park did not fit in with the character of the neighborhood, which is mostly residential.
“We’re not opposed to a campground, we’re just opposed to one in our neighborhood,” Roger Barksdale, who lives on Jenny Lane with his wife, told the Danville Planning Commission in May.
The planning commission recommended approval of the RV park project, but with a condition that a traffic impact analysis be conducted. The city council was scheduled to make a final decision in June, but the project was tabled indefinitely.
Cubas also faced challenges from Pittsylvania County officials, who rejected his request to rezone another 55-acre parcel adjacent to the city parcel for the RV park in November. The county board of supervisors cited similar concerns as the residents, as well as the lack of sewer and water services on the site.
Developer hopes to create a quality community in Danville
Cubas said he decided to withdraw the RV park project after listening to the feedback from the residents and the county. He said he wanted to create a quality community in Danville that would benefit everyone.
“I think this is a win-win situation for the city, for the county, for the neighbors and for us as developers,” he said at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Cubas said he plans to build homes that will range from 1,800 to 2,500 square feet, with three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. He said he expects to start construction in the spring and complete the project in three to four years.
He said he hopes the subdivision will attract more people to Danville and enhance the quality of life in the city.
“We’re very excited about this project,” he said. “We think this is going to be a great addition to the city of Danville.”
