City councilman Peter Volosin’s application to rent out his two-bedroom basement in south Roanoke was vehemently opposed by his neighbors, and narrowly denied by a partial composition of the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday.
The citizen board voted 3-2, with two members absent, on the application by Volosin and husband Malcolm Quigley, who requested to use the basement of their home at the corner of Richelieu Avenue and Serpentine Road Southwest as a homestay.
Volosin was not present; it was Quigley who spoke on the couple’s behalf. Quigley said a maximum of four guests would stay for no longer than 14 days, and he and Volosin would be home whenever guests were renting.
“We certainly understand and respect our neighbors’ opinions and value their input,” Quigley said. “And we also value of the character and stability of south Roanoke.”
They intended to rent their basement out on Airbnb, a popular platform for short-term vacation rentals. A grey-haired crowd of opponents groaned at the board’s 3-2 vote, until Vice Chair Meg Smith clarified.
“The application needed four votes to pass,” Smith said. “So this application has failed.”
Boos turned to applause, and the crowd of 50 or more opposing neighbors marched triumphantly out of the meeting room. More than 400 people from the south Roanoke area had signed a petition opposing the homestay, one speaker told the board.
“Almost the entire room is here in opposition to the homestay,” said George Vogel III, a lawyer who spoke on behalf of several neighbors.
The only supporter to speak was Volosin and Quigley’s next-door neighbor, Katherine Brown.
“I can say without hesitation that they are responsible, thoughtful neighbors who care deeply about our community,” Brown said. “I understand there are common concerns with short-term rentals, like parking, safety and property values, but in this case, I believe those concerns have been thoughtfully and proactively addressed.”
Other neighbors were not convinced. Scott Avis, a real estate agent who lives about eight blocks away, said a homestay in the neighborhood would negatively impact property values and resale marketability.
“It’s a great idea,” Avis said. “The problem is, it’s just not in the right place.”
The city previously has approved two homestay special exceptions within three-quarters of a mile of the Volosin-Quigley property.
Board of Zoning Appeals member Christopher Miller challenged the opposing neighbors.
“My concern for people who are a number of blocks away, is it’s basically garden-variety NIMBYism,” Miller said. “You know, Not In My Back Yard. You don’t have any evidence-based argument against this proposal.”
In special exception rulings, the board — which is appointed by the city council — is supposed to vote based on six criteria defined by city code: neighborhood compatibility; demand on public infrastructure; traffic generation; flood potential; zoning conformance; and fit with the city’s comprehensive plan.
“We understand what the concerns are,” said board member Robert Logan. “But unless the concerns are specific to one of these six items, I can’t consider it in my decision.”
Logan, Miller, and the vice chair Smith voted to approve the special exception that would allow the short-term rental. Board members Edward Garner and Byron Hamlar voted against it, causing the request to fail due to insufficient support.
“Neighborhood objection based upon the fact that it possibly, or probably, would increase crime in the neighborhood, even though that’s not one of the six criteria, that still came into play,” Garner said. “That seemed to be something the citizens are concerned about, and I’m concerned about as well.”
Hamlar said it was the overwhelming community input that tipped his vote.
“We have to listen to the community as well, even though it met the standard,” Hamlar said. “When you have so many in your community who is against something, I think that you need to go back and talk some more on that.”
Crucially for the applicants, two members of the board were absent at the 1 p.m. Wednesday meeting. Chairman Jason Varney had informed city staff ahead of time that he would be absent, staff members said.
Board member Andrew Raduly resigned April 25, citing scheduling conflicts, a staff member said. His term that began in January 2024 is set to expire at the end of 2026, and the vacancy is posted on the city’s website for applicants.
If one more board member had been present to vote in favor of the application, it would have passed. Before the vote, Smith gave Quigley the option to continue his application until a later date, but Quigley declined.
“I would like to be able to discuss with my neighbors in more depth, but from listening here today, I don’t think I would actually get through, so it’s difficult,” Quigley said. “No, I think we’ll just go ahead.”
Also prior to the vote, Smith asked whether Quigley had considered renting the property out for longer-term stays of 30 days or more. It’s a use that is allowed by-right on the property, not requiring any application for special exception.
“Honestly, we haven’t,” Quigley said. “Depending on today’s result, we may look into that, yes.”
Volosin did not return a phone call requesting comment.