Martinsville council rejects rezoning for Rooted Oaks 23‑unit townhomes after safety and neighborhood concerns

Martinsville — The Martinsville Common Council voted Monday not to move forward with Ordinance 2025‑1910, a rezoning petition from Rooted Oaks Construction LLC to convert six parcels at 1209 South Main Street to R‑3 for a 23‑unit townhome development.

Attorney Steven Brown, representing Rooted Oaks, told the council the proposal would demolish an old vacant grocery store and produce 23 townhome units with sidewalks, added curb and drainage improvements. Brown argued the project would support the comprehensive plan’s emphasis on revitalizing existing parcels and could attract younger professionals to the city.

Council members and residents raised repeated concerns about safety and traffic. One councilor said, “this is not safe,” and multiple members noted they had received constituent complaints and that the developer had not yet produced a traffic study. A council member also said they had been told earlier plans were for condominiums at higher price points, not rentals, and that the change had not been clearly communicated to neighbors.

Those concerns and the absence of needed traffic and drainage assurances prompted a motion not to approve the rezoning. The motion was seconded and the council voted to not approve Ordinance 2025‑1910.

Attorney Brown said the planning commission had recommended approval (reported as a 6‑2 vote) and argued the project would add sidewalks, green space and address drainage compared with the existing hardscape. Council opponents said the proposal did not fit the neighborhood’s character and that additional study and neighbor engagement were required.

Outcome: the council rejected the rezoning petition; the developer may return with revised plans or after providing additional technical studies and community engagement.