Harrisonburg city planners decided Wednesday night to move forward with a plan to bring 466 new apartments to the southern part of town. A student housing project has been in the works since 2006, but now developers are asking city planners to make a few changes to the plan.

While construction hasn't started, people on the southern end of the city could see movement soon.

"Now they're back with a new developer with a new development plan and, although the characteristics of the development haven't really changed, there are some very specific changes that we are looking at as an improvement upon the approved plan," says Harrisonburg City Planner Adam Fletcher.

The 60-plus acres of land is between Main Street and Interstate 81 on the south end of Harrisonburg between East Kaylor Park Drive and Boxwood Road.

Jon Carter, the general manager of Valley Lanes, thinks it could be good for business.

"If people are capable of walking here compared to having to drive here, might affect our business and give us a little more income as far as people being able to get here easier," says Carter.

In 2007, when the plan was approved by the Harrisonburg City Council, the city Department of Planning actually recommended that the the plan should be denied.

"Even though we've always looked at it as a negative thing for the city, it's kind of the lesser of two evils. Do we go with the approved plan or, do we go with the proposed plan? Which as we see it is better for the city," says Fletcher.

The new changes make all 466 units one-, two- or four-bedroom apartments. Developers say road changes should help with traffic flow.

"Well it's going to make traffic a little bit more, but if people are smart and they drive carefully, it should be OK," says Carter.