The fate of Roanoke’s largest undeveloped parcel remains unresolved more than two years after city council approved a master plan for the 150-acre Evans Spring property. No development contracts have been signed, and private landowners still control whether the land is built on or preserved.
According to WDBJ, the city of Roanoke owns roughly 30 acres of the site, including a retention pond. The remaining 120 acres are held by a combination of LLCs, a family trust, and individual property owners — potentially more than ten parties in total if counted separately.
Council Revises the Master Plan
In May 2026, Roanoke City Council amended the original master plan, dropping a proposed interchange linking Evans Spring to Interstate 581 and shifting the land’s designation away from large-scale retail. The updated framework now allows for a mix of uses including parks, open space, education, and commercial development.
Mayor Joe Cobb said the most meaningful addition was formally opening the door to conservation as a possible outcome. He noted that the original plan had always preserved at least 70 acres covering wetlands and stream restoration areas, but the amended version went further by explicitly allowing for full conservation if circumstances permitted…