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real estate developer is taking the Lynchburg City Council to court after four members voted against rezoning a property for housing. Tom DeWitt, a local real estate broker, wants to build 20 affordable housing units on Wards Ferry Road but was denied by the city council in March.

    DeWitt claims that every other entity involved in the process supported his project, including the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission. However, the city council voted against it, citing concerns over safety and traffic congestion.

    The property in question is a two-acre plot with existing utilities, making it an ideal location for development. DeWitt argues that the zoning restrictions are unfair and have held up his project for too long. He points out that the city council approved a much larger housing development on Wiggington Road just days after rejecting his proposal.

    DeWitt believes that the city council's decision was inconsistent, given that his project would have had the same density as the larger development but with significantly less impact on the area. He is now seeking a judge's ruling to allow his project to move forward and provide much-needed affordable housing in the community.