The Warrenton Town Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve a zoning map amendment for a 44-unit affordable housing development for senior military veterans.
The decision came after a three-hour public hearing where nearly 50 speakers addressed the proposal, overwhelmingly voicing support.
The affordable housing project, spearheaded by Fauquier-based nonprofit Hero’s Bridge and Warrenton United Methodist Church, aims to provide affordable rental housing for veterans aged 65 and older on a 10-acre site bounded by Sullivan Street to the west, residences to the north, Moser Drive to the east and Church Street to the south.
The “gentle infill project” required the rezoning of the property from low-density residential to a residential planned unit development, allowing for the higher density necessary to construct the village. The proposed development will include 22 two-family residential units.
The chambers at 21 Main St. were filled to capacity, with attendees standing along the walls and an overflow room opened to accommodate the crowd.
“[Hero’s Bridge] is so grateful for so many things, especially the overwhelming public support,” Hero’s Bridge CEO and Founder Molly Brooks told FauquierNow, reflecting on the project’s journey to this vote. “Last night, I really struggled to decide, should I speak or not? But in the end, I didn’t even need to. The public spoke for us. They spoke for our veterans.”
The veteran’s housing initiative has faced a number of challenges. Some opposition has come from neighbors. Three Warrenton residents who spoke during the public hearing voiced concerns about the impact on the surrounding area, as well as increased traffic, property values and the compatibility with existing neighborhood character.
The Warrenton Planning Commission recommended denial of the project in October, reasoning the proposed housing complex does not align with the town’s zoning ordinances or comprehensive plan.
Since that time, the nonprofit and church officials, represented by land use specialists John Foote and Jessica Pfeiffer with Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, have worked to revise their application. The latest version, submitted on Nov. 11 and approved by the council Tuesday night, presents updated proffers that reintroduce a veterans-preference as a covenant prioritization of local residents and commitments to infrastructure improvements.
Despite the revisions, Ward 2 Councilmember Bill Semple and Ward 5 Councilmember Eric Gagnon, whose ward includes the site, were the two dissenting votes against the project.
As Mayor Carter Nevill announced the council’s final decision, the room erupted in applause. Many attendees embraced, and some councilmembers descended from the dais to shake hands with audience members.
“We really didn’t know going into last night if we were going to have the votes or not. We’re so lucky that we prevailed,” Brooks told FauquierNow, reflecting on the culmination of years of planning and revisions. “We’re so grateful to this council for making, what we think, is the right decision. We knew it was going to be razor thin. We weren’t expecting a 5-2.”
Hero’s Bridge and Warrenton United Methodist Church framed the project as a response to both the affordable housing crisis in town and the unique needs of senior veterans. The church sought to use the land as a permanent part of its ministry, and the partnership with Hero’s Bridge aligned with its mission to serve the community.
“This is more than just housing. It’s about dignity and respect for our senior veterans, many of whom may feel isolated or forgotten,” Louis McDonald, the leadership chair at Warrenton United Methodist Church, said during the hearing. “This village project is a profound expression of our church’s mission to provide compassion, service and authentic relationships.”
Brooks expressed gratitude for Warrenton United Methodist Church’s partnership, describing it as a steadfast supporters of the project.
“They own one of the few largest undeveloped properties in our town. They could have profited greatly by just selling that land and letting the chips fall,” she said. “But here they are trying to do something small and meaningful for the town.”
Speakers at Tuesday’s meeting in support of the village described the project as an opportunity to honor underserved veterans while addressing a critical housing shortage. For supporters, last night’s decision was a victory not just for supporting local veterans but for the town’s broader vision of community care.
The next steps for the project include beginning to flesh out the design as well as navigating the site plan and permitting process, which Brooks acknowledged could be just as challenging as the rezoning phase.
“We’ve been warned that it’s a difficult process, especially for a unique project like ours,” she said. “We have a good team ready and are prepared for that.”
Brooks said Hero’s Bridge also plans to prioritize ongoing communication with neighbors, including quarterly updates on the project’s progress in the form of letters to neighbors and regular emails to supporters.
Additionally, the nonprofit’s board is hoping to explore opportunities to involve neighbors further, potentially offering them a seat at the table during the future planning stages, she said.
“This was one step in a longer overall journey. And in the new year, we have a lot of money to raise. We’ve raised about $3.7 million for this project, and we probably have $10-$12 million more to raise to do everything that we want to do,” she told FauquierNow. “That’ll be a huge focus in the first quarter.”