CHESAPEAKE - The developer of a mixed-use community in the Western Branch section of Chesapeake withdrew the application on the same day City Council was to vote on whether to grant rezoning.
Breckinridge at Western Branch was to have more than 1,500 residential homes on 482 acres on Portsmouth Blvd. and Jolliff Road. The company also planned a grocery-anchored retail shopping center with office buildings, a hotel and a variety of single-family homes, townhomes and condos to accommodate families, young professionals and seniors.
Bonaventure Realty Group says it would be a huge tax boost for the city - $46 million over 20 years - and create 850 permanent jobs and 160 jobs for the construction industry each year.
People who live in the area say the city is not prepared to handle the increase in children who would attend schools and the increased traffic the development would generate.
Residents and the company have created online petitions in hopes of swaying Council members.
The Planning Commission in December recommended approval of the project with some stipulations.
In a letter to the City Tuesday, Bonaventure Reality said it was requesting the continuance over considerations of school capacity and consistency with the comprehensive plan.
City spokesman Heath Covey told WVEC.com that the developer must wait a year before reapplying with a proposal that is substantially the same.
"They can present a substantially different application at any point," Covey added.
Residents opposed to the project had gathered more than 1,200 signatures and had planned to attend tonight's Council meeting.
