In March, the Danville City Council approved an apartment complex on a West Main Street parcel that was designated for low-density residential housing.
Two months later, the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission recommended approval for a large data center on a piece of land that was designated for residential and commercial use, not industrial.
Both of these decisions came via special use zoning permits, despite resident opposition and counter to recommendations in the localities’ comprehensive plans.
Comprehensive plans, while not contractually binding in any way, are meant to guide localities and provide a framework for future development.
But the growth in Danville and Pittsylvania County has largely outpaced what was anticipated in their comprehensive plans, which were adopted in 2015 and 2010, respectively.