The Williamsburg Planning Commission on Wednesday approved the Willow Creek Apartments site plan to create an affordable housing complex off Parkway Drive.
The housing parcel was previously an Econo Lodge with 48 rooms.
In June, the Planning Commission voted to rezone the Econo Lodge, 216 Parkway Drive, to allow the hotel to change into adaptive housing units.
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Bajrang Inc. owns the lodge and decided to repurpose it into flexible long-term housing after declining hotel stays over the years.
The occupancy rates were about 24 percent from January through December 2018.
The two-story building is roughly 365,000 square feet and includes a leasing office, a lounge area, laundry facilities, an exercise room and a pool, according to the application.
The building will have 34 efficiency and eight one-bedroom units ranging from $750 to $1,050 per month depending on the unit, according to the application.
Bajrang plans to add landscape features such as willow oak, azalea, holly and crepe myrtles. In addition, parking would consist of 42 spaces with two handicap and van accessible spaces.
Each resident requires a decal and if a resident does not have a vehicle, the parking space will become a “provisional parking space”.
The Site Plan Review Committee recommend the site plan and asked Bajrang to add bike racks, dog waster station and recycling containers.
The company agreed to add a bike rack but is holding off on incorporating dog waste stations because it is not sure if the complex will be pet friendly.
In regards to recycling containers, Bajrang is “investigating the feasibility of recycling but have not found a good location without losing parking which is problematic”, according to the agenda supporting documents.
The Willow Creek Apartments site plan will now go to City Council with the Planning Commission’s recommendation.
The next City Council meeting is Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Stryker Center.
