Williamsburg City Council took the rare step of overturning the city’s Architectural Review Board Monday, ruling it overstepped its bounds in denying a developer design approval for two new homes in the Indian Springs neighborhood that residents fear will house more college students.
City council heard an appeal from the developer at a special meeting Monday morning and voted 4-0 to overturn the board’s decision. Council Member Barbara L. Ramsey abstained.
“It’s a difficult and emotionally charged decision,” said Vice Mayor W. Pat Dent.
He said he sympathized with Indian Springs residents who repeatedly told him “we’re at a tipping point between owner occupied and rental” homes in the neighborhood. But “there are certain limitations we have to abide by under the law.”
The board voted in October to deny the application from the developer, 206 and 317 Indian Springs Rd LLC, for two single family homes in the…