BEDFORD -- A special-use permit for a 104-unit town home development in one of the fastest growing areas of the county will be delayed until next month.

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 Monday night to postpone the vote for the Perrowville Road development. Liberty District Supervisor Gary Lowry was absent.

Stewartsville District Supervisor Dale Wheeler initiated the motion to postpone the decision in anticipation of proposed legislation regarding proffers and development impact fees, which is being discussed in Virginia's Senate.

"A rose is a rose is a rose," he said. "I want to see if any flowers come of that next week. I think we are at the very most a day early in this very big decision."

M&J Developers of Huddleston submitted plans to build the town houses near the intersection of Perrowville Road and U.S. 221 in Forest.

The parcel is a district zoned for planned commercial development. The ordinance permits 30 percent of that district to be developed for residential use, but requires a special-use permit for town houses.

"I am the biggest property rights guy out there, but when we talk about commercial development this doesn't seem to fit the plan for the county," said Forest resident Robert Holmes, who spoke at Monday's public hearing.

M&J is collaborating with the Bedford County School Board to build a connecting road through the development to align the entrances to Jefferson Forest High School and Forest Middle School. The road, which is vital to the development, would be funded by the developer, said civil engineer Russ Orrison of the Lexington-based firm Perkins & Orrison.

He urged the board to "put your residences where you have public water, public sewer and a great transportation infrastructure."

The special-use permit will be considered again at the board's March 10 meeting.