Rightful reasons to rezone

President Jerry Falwell and senior VP give insight on current zoning rights

Liberty University is in the process of rezoning land on various parts of the ever-growing campus within the city limits by adopting a new zoning classification.

Notice —Signs around campus informed students of rezoning. Photo credit: RJ Goodwin

Notice —Signs around campus informed students of rezoning. Photo credit: RJ Goodwin

Plans for taking ownership of the land have been in the works for approximately five years, according to President Jerry Falwell.

From 1977 to 1992, Liberty had its own right to the land, but in 1992, those rights were taken away. With the loss of zoning rights, Liberty was under city orders as to how its land was used.

“Back years ago when Liberty built new buildings, they had to use a conditional use permit,” Falwell said.

A conditional use permit is a document that allows the property owner to use the land in a way that is not usually permitted within the zoning district.

Falwell explained when Liberty would reach certain numbers in enrollment, various constructions were required to take place. For example, building the tunnel and different private roads on campus were part of the installment deal.

In 2008, shortly after Falwell became president, students began voting in local and national elections. Prior to that election, students had to go home or get an absentee ballot to vote.

Once students began voting, Falwell said the city considered the idea that Liberty needed its own set of zoning rights.

“The city created zoning designation by giving back the zoning rights, because Liberty was voting locally,” Falwell said.

The conditional use permit provided by the city council in 2008 approved Liberty to increase the on-campus enrollment to allow 15,000 students.

With Liberty regaining ownership of its zoning rights, Falwell believes the university will be able to grow in its number of residential students.

Senior Vice President of Auxiliary Services Lee Beaumont said it has been a long time coming to gain the zoning rights. He explained the new rights are a result of hard work between city and university staff, which was all made possible by students becoming active in local elections.

“We are rezoning all Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church property in the city to IN-2, which is a new zoning classification geared specifically to large educational institutions not adjacent to residential areas,” Beaumont said. “Land owned by the university is not under a single zoning classification and consists of property zoned B3, B5, I2, RC, R1 and R2. The new IN2 designation provides both consistency and more freedom to develop the campus in a manner that best meets the needs of our student body.”

The other new designation, IN1district, is intended for schools, churches and colleges in a campus setting located near residential regions.

There are around 15-20 rezoning signs located throughout campus, but they do not signify any future construction projects.

“The signs are there simply for public notification,” Falwell said. “The code requires signs be placed within 500 feet of the land area.”

“The city ordinance has rules on where signage notifying the public must be placed,” Beaumont said. “Since we have so many parcels and so much road frontage, it resulted in quite a few signs placed around the campus.”

Falwell believes that with Liberty having ownership of the land on campus, decisions concerning land use will be easier to make as the campus continues to expand with new buildings and more residential students.

Coleman is a news reporter.

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