Smithfield’s Planning Commission will hold a public hearing May 11 on a revised plan to develop the Mallory Scott Farm. This will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Smithfield Center at 220 N. Church St.

A previous proposal that went before the commission for a public hearing last fall showed 1,106 residential units, drawing numerous speakers in opposition who argued the buildout would negatively impact Smithfield’s small-town character and strain the already crowded public schools on Isle of Wight County’s northern end.

The revised proposal by Napolitano Homes, a Virginia Beach-based developer, shows 812 homes — a 25% reduction. This would include 107 townhomes, 198 duplexes and 507 single-family homes with starting prices of $225,00, $260,000 and $300,000, respectively. The four-plex and 10-plex residential units initially proposed have been eliminated but the latest plans still retain the proposed clubhouse, swimming pool, sidewalks and road expansions, including the creation of a roundabout at the intersection of Battery Park and Nike Park roads.

At the previous public hearing, held Oct. 13, 2020, John Napolitano, senior vice president of Napolitano Homes, argued the resulting population growth would be gradual over the next 10 to 15 years as the development reaches its ultimate size.

But that doesn’t seem to have placated the project’s opponents. Just over 700 people had signed an online petition titled “Citizens of Isle of Wight against Mallory Scott Farm rezoning” as of Oct. 26 last year. Now, as of April 28, the petition is up to 1,511 signatures. Not all the signers appear to reside in Smithfield, though; some listed ZIP codes for Carrollton, Windsor, Zuni, Suffolk and Franklin.